What Compass Group Equity Partners does

Compass Group Equity Partners is a St. Louis-based private equity firm founded in 2014 that invests in lower middle-market companies with enterprise values of $20M-$200M and EBITDA of $2M-$15M. The firm employs a thesis-driven investment approach, conducting months or years of sector research before approaching target companies, and concentrates on niche verticals within business and consumer services, light manufacturing, and value-add distribution. Its investment thesis areas include Central Plant Services, Industrial Instrumentation & Calibration Services, Security Integration & Access Control, and Electrical Testing & Safety.

The firm manages three closed-end private equity funds (Fund I independent sponsor period, Fund II at $255M closed in 2022, and Fund III at $408M closed at hard cap in April 2024) and invests alongside management in founder-led and family-owned businesses. Its differentiated Compass Guides program embeds senior functional experts (FP&A, Strategic Marketing, Digital Transformation, People & Performance, and Chief Legal Officer) directly into portfolio companies to support operational execution. The firm currently holds 17+ portfolio companies across cold chain logistics, disaster recovery, engineered pumps, HVAC/water treatment, polyurethane manufacturing, veterinary, pain management, podiatry, MedTech distribution, crane services, and solar verticals, and has completed six exits across its fund history, including the 2025 sale of EPIC Systems to VINCI Energies.

Compass Group earns revenue primarily through management fees on committed fund capital and carried interest on successful portfolio exits. Distribution is conducted through direct partnerships with founders and management teams, supplemented by an M&A advisor and intermediary network. The firm is SEC-registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is recognized as a Founder-Friendly Investor by Inc. Magazine (2023, 2024), a Best Place to Work by the St. Louis Business Journal (2024), and a Top PE Innovator by BluWave (2024).

Name

Compass Group Equity Partners

Legal name

Compass Group Equity Partners

Website

https://cgep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Compass Group Equity Partners is a St. Louis-based private equity firm managing $663 million across three funds, focused on lower middle-market founder-led companies using a thesis-driven approach complemented by an in-house Compass Guides operational expert team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Management Consulting Services (54161), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Cap / Sponsor Finance Direct Lending (FSANADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB), Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)

Keywords

• Private equity investing
• Lower middle market
• Thesis-based investing
• Portfolio management
• Operational support services

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fund Management: Management fees from managing closed-end private equity funds (Fund I, Fund II, Fund III). Typically a percentage of committed capital.
2. Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest from successful exits of portfolio companies, typically 20% of profits above the preferred return hurdle rate.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Compass Group Equity Partners is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle-market companies with enterprise values of $20M-$200M and EBITDA of $2M-$15M, focusing on business and consumer services, niche manufacturing, and value-add distribution. The firm pairs capital investment with operational support through its Compass Guides program, which provides portfolio companies with senior-level functional expertise in finance, marketing, digital transformation, HR, and legal.

Product overview

Compass Group Equity Partners is a St. Louis-based private equity firm offering investment management services to lower middle-market companies. Rather than a unified software product, the firm provides a platform of investment services centered on its thesis-based investing approach and the Compass Guides functional expert program. The core offering consists of equity investment (typically $20M-$200M enterprise value, $2M-$15M EBITDA) paired with operational support through Compass Guides experts in finance, digital transformation, marketing, HR, and legal. The firm's portfolio comprises 17+ portfolio companies across diverse sectors including cold chain logistics (The Illuminate Group), restoration services (Endurant Disaster Recovery), pump manufacturing (Kinetiflo Group), home services (FEWA), healthcare services (Resolve Pain Solutions, Pacesetter Health), veterinary services (CareVet), industrial services (Hoist & Crane), and renewable energy (Baja Carports, SunPro Solar).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compass Guides: A dedicated group of functional experts (Finance, Marketing, Technology, HR, Legal) providing hands-on operational support to portfolio companies.
• Thesis Thursday

Products and services

• Investment Strategy Services Thesis-driven private equity investment approach targeting lower middle-market companies with enterprise values of $20M-$200M and EBITDA of $2M-$15M, focusing on business and consumer services, niche manufacturing, and value-add distribution. Services include capital infusion, succession planning support, acquisition financing, and exit planning.
• Compass Guides Program A dedicated group of senior-level functional experts providing hands-on operational support to portfolio companies in Financial Planning & Analysis, Digital Transformation, Strategic Marketing, People & Performance, and Chief Legal Officer functions throughout the investment lifecycle.
• Thesis-Based Investing Framework Research-led investment approach where the team spends months or years developing deep understanding of market drivers, industry structure, competitive dynamics, and long-term risks before initiating investment proposals. Active thesis areas include Central Plant Services, Industrial Instrumentation & Calibration Services, Security Integration & Access Control, and Electrical Testing & Safety.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six successful exits across three funds with thesis-driven strategy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered platform investment.

• Resolve Pain Solutionsplatform investmentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Resolve Pain Solutions, backed by Compass Group, acquired Spine Diagnostic & Pain Treatment Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The acquisition reflects Resolve's growth strategy of partnering with high-performing practices and expanding within core geographies in the Southeast.
• The Illuminate Groupplatform investmentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2025Compass Group partnered with Tampa-based The Illuminate Group, a cold chain design and management provider specializing in the last-mile pharmaceutical sector. The company provides passive packaging design, testing, and logistics services for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. Illuminate plans to double its facility footprint and expand testing capacity.
• Parker Young Restorationplatform investmentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025Parker Young Restoration partnered with McCabe Restoration under the Endurant brand to form a leading disaster recovery platform. The combined entity serves residential and commercial clients across the Southeast with approximately 150 employees and 70 years of combined experience.
• McCabe Restorationplatform investmentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025McCabe Restoration, led by DJ McCabe since 2004, partnered with Parker Young Restoration under the Endurant brand. DJ McCabe remains involved focusing on operations and revenue growth while leveraging his built McCabe name reputation.
• Continental Pump Companyplatform investmentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2024Continental Pump, a Missouri-based manufacturer of progressive cavity pumps founded in 1946 by George Heath Sr., partnered with Integrity Pump & Motor to form Kinetiflo Group platform providing comprehensive pump solutions across multiple end markets.
• Integrity Pump & Motorplatform investmentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2024Tennessee-based manufacturer of vertical, submersible, and centrifugal pumps partnered with Continental Pump to create Kinetiflo Group platform enabling cross-selling of complementary product lines.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Audax Group: Boston-based private equity firm focused on the lower middle market with a thesis-driven, add-on heavy buy-and-build strategy across business services and niche manufacturing — directly comparable model to CGEP.
• Quad-C Management: Mid-Atlantic lower middle market PE firm investing in business services, consumer products, and niche industrial companies with enterprise values of $25M-$250M — closely mirrors CGEP's investment parameters and founder-friendly approach.
• Huron Capital: Detroit-based lower middle market PE firm partnering with founder- and family-owned businesses across business services, consumer, and industrial sectors — directly comparable in fund size, target deal profile, and operating-partner model.
• Linsalata Capital Partners: Cleveland-based private equity firm focused on the lower middle market, partnering with management teams of business services and specialty manufacturing companies — closely aligned with CGEP's sector focus and Midwestern operating roots.
• The Jordan Company: Middle-market private equity firm investing in business services, consumer, and industrial distribution businesses with a long history of thesis-driven platforms and add-on consolidation — comparable operating model at slightly larger scale.
• Sverica Capital Management: Lower middle market PE firm focused on business services and specialty consumer companies typically with $3M-$15M EBITDA — directly comparable in deal size, sector focus, and add-on consolidation strategy.
• Platte River Equity: Denver-based lower middle market PE firm investing in niche industrial, infrastructure services, and value-added distribution businesses — closely matches CGEP's investment thesis areas and lower middle market focus.
• NewSpring Capital: Philadelphia-area lower middle market PE firm with thesis-driven platforms across business services, healthcare, and industrial sectors — comparable fund size, sector breadth, and founder-friendly partnership approach.
• Sterling Group: Houston-based private equity firm focused on industrial and business services companies in the lower middle market — comparable operating-partner model, sector focus, and founder partnership orientation.

Broad incumbents

• KKR: Global alternative asset manager with broad PE operations across multiple strategies and fund vintages — overlaps with CGEP at the upper end of CGEP's thesis areas but operates at materially larger scale and broader sector coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compass-group-equity-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments10 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Compass Group Equity Partners