Tamarix Equity Partners

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Building Best in Class Companies in Partnership with Management Teams

Tamarix Equity Partners is a private equity firm founded by seasoned professionals with over 30 years of investment experience. Having invested over $1 billion in more than 80 companies, we assist management in growing their business and enhancing value.

Reputation & Network

We have global experience and deep domain expertise in six complementary industry sectors. Our activities are focused on:

  • Niche manufacturing
  • Logistics and distribution
  • Business services
  • Consumer products
  • Food and beverage
  • Franchisors

The Tamarix Opportunity

We invest in a wide variety of transactions in partnership with management teams, aimed at securing:

  • Entrepreneur or family succession
  • Management buyouts
  • Recapitalizations or growth capital
  • Independent sponsor led buyouts

The Tamarix Advantage

Collaborative Approach

We have over 30 years of experience working with lower-middle market companies in North America and internationally. Management is always at the helm, but our counsel has proven to help companies find the best path forward. Our expertise extends across multiple business cycles working with companies through various stages of growth.

Long Term Perspective

We approach all investments as long-term investors. We have learned over the years that such an approach to investing will align our interests with those of the management team and ensure the highest probability of a smooth and successful exit.

Value Creation

The value to our partners comes through a thoughtful combination of operational perspective, mergers and acquisitions experience, financial acumen, and years of disciplined and repeatable execution.

Investment Strategy

We look to invest in companies at an inflection point in their growth. We partner with management to generate long term and sustainable returns for all stakeholders.

Investment type

No one solution is appropriate for every company. We have the flexibility to select the right strategy for every investment:

  • Control buyout
  • Recapitalization of founder or family-owned business
  • Backing an operating partner or independent sponsor
  • Acquisition or growth financing
  • Succession and estate planning transition

Company profile

We focus on growth-oriented companies with the following profile:

  • Geographical focus: North America
  • Target revenue: $10 million to $120 million
  • Target EBITDA: $3 million to $12 million

Sector focus

We have a broad investment mandate with a focus on sectors where we have significant prior experience, success, and networks:

  • Niche manufacturing: specialty products, aerospace, packaging, specialty chemicals, plastics, medical, outsourced manufacturing
  • Logistics and distribution: value-added distribution
  • Business services: business processes, outsourced services
  • Consumer products: niche consumer products
  • Food and beverage: restaurants, packaged goods
  • Franchisors: multi-unit franchise models

Company characteristics

We look for companies that have the following characteristics:

  • Large addressable market
  • Strong management team
  • Recurring revenue
  • Low capital requirement
  • Meaningful barriers to entry
  • Customer stickiness
  • High switching costs
  • Significant growth potential

Fact Sheet

Download our Two-Page Overview

Team

Mark Hauser

Founder and Managing Partner

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Gary Matthews

Managing Partner

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Bardia Mesbah

Managing Director

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Brendan Brier

Principal

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Jay Sprague

Principal

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Nick Russo

Associate

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Alina Stupakevich

Vice President of Finance

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Board of Business Executives

Sarah Foley

Partner, SWAT Equity Partners

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Jeff Zacharia

President & CEO of Zachys Wine

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Mitchell Kaneff

Chairman & CEO, Arkay Packaging

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Jason Sippey

Managing Partner and Founder of Logic Capital Partners

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Sam Glassman

Partner, PFMW and SKMW

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Michael A. Granuzzo

Founder, Caddie Master Enterprises

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David Steinhardt

Managing Partner & Portfolio Manager, Wooster Capital

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Ramesh Lakshmi-Ratan, Ph.D.

Board Member, Former CEO of Bell and Howell LLC

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Fred Crawford

Board Member, Former CEO of AlixPartners

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Regynald G. Washington

Trustee, Culinary Institute of America

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Portfolio

We invest in growth companies with a long-term investment horizon. This aligns Tamarix with the interests of founders and management teams. We believe in a partnership model and work closely with the teams to support their growth objectives.

Diamond Builders is a manufacturer of prefabricated modular buildings for commercial and government end markets.

Industry: Manufacturing

Status: Active

Website: www.diamondbuilders.com

Pool Service Partners is a regional provider of swimming pool services, with a comprehensive range of offerings across openings, closings, cleanings and maintenance.

Industry: Residential Services

Status: Active

Website: www.poolservicepartners.com

Rohrer is a branded manufacturer of non-invasive, energy-based cosmetic devices sold to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and medical spas, with covered procedures including laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, tattoo removal, wrinkle reduction and more.

Industry: Medical Devices

Status: Active

Website: www.rohreraesthetics.com

Catalogue Brands is a restaurant group headquartered in Washington, D.C. that develops and scales local foodservice concepts, with current brands including Ted’s Bulletin, Federalist Pig, and Honeymoon Chicken.

Industry: Restaurant

Status: Active

Website: www.catalogue.co

FoodPrep Solutions is a knife sharpening and kitchen equipment distribution platform that provides recurring weekly service to a variety of customers including restaurants, grocery stores, commercial kitchens and more.

Industry: Business Services

Status: Active

Website: www.food-prep.com

Playa Bowls is a healthy fast-casual restaurant franchisor featuring açai bowls, smoothies and related offerings, with more than 250 franchised and corporate-owned locations.

Industry: Franchisor

Status: Exited 2024

Website: www.playabowls.com

News

Mark Hauser joins the Board of Directors of Seven Oaks Acquisition Corp.

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2020 Will Lead to Better Investing

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Breaking Down How Biden Presidency Will Impact Startups and VC Firms

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Contact

info@tamarixcapital.com
+1 212-430-8400

445 Park Ave, 17th Floor,
New York, NY 10022

Contact

info@tamarixcapital.com
+1 212-430-8400

Address

445 Park Ave, 17th Floor,
New York, NY 10022

Tamarix ™

Copyright © 2024 Tamarix

Mark Hauser

Founder and Managing Partner

Founded the Tamarix Group in 1993. Over 30 years experience in private equity, private credit, asset management and investment banking. Previously Senior Managing Director of OFS Capital Management, Global Head of Private Equity at Sandell Asset Management and Managing Director at FdG Associates. Served on numerous private and public boards of directors and philanthropic organizations. Member of the Economic Club of NY and YPO/WPO. Master of Laws from London School of Economics and Bachelor of Economics and Laws from Sydney University.

Gary Matthews

Managing Partner

Joined Tamarix Equity Partners in 2020. Over 30 years’ experience in managing large organizations and developing management teams. Previously CEO of IES Holdings (NASDAQ: IESC), prior to which was a Managing Director, Operating Partner and Investment Committee Member of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. Served as CEO of three sponsor backed companies, in addition to Board Chair positions at multiple companies. Held Senior Management positions at Guinness, PepsiCo and McKinsey & Company. MBA from Harvard Business School with distinction, Bachelors of Arts from Princeton University cum laude.

Bardia Mesbah

Managing Director

Joined Tamarix Equity Partners to focus on private equity origination, pre-investment due diligence, and work with portfolio companies on growth strategies. Previously worked 14 years at Brookstone Partners where he led origination and due diligence activities. Prior experience includes 4 years in venture and leveraged buyouts with Emigrant Capital and 4 years advising Fortune 500 companies with consulting firm Kline & Company. Bachelor Degree in engineering from Cornell University and MBA from Boston University.

Brendan Brier

Principal

Joined Tamarix Capital in 2020 to lead pre-investment diligence and deliver operational support to portfolio companies. Previously served as Chief Strategy Officer of IES Holdings, where he led strategy and operational improvement efforts across $1.2B portfolio. Served as SVP, Head of Global Strategy for AECOM, where he led new market, services, and client development efforts across $20B global business. Spent 9 years in management consultant roles at Deloitte Consulting. MBA from UCLA Anderson, BS from Boston College.

Sarah Foley

Partner, SWAT Equity Partners

Sarah Foley is a Partner of SWAT Equity Partners, an early stage venture capital firm based in NYC investing in consumer branded products, services and technologies. SWAT Equity Partners is affiliated with NSG/SWAT, an integrated marketing communications company founded by Richard Kirshenbaum. Sarah has spent over 20 years in the private equity sector, investing in various companies and serving as a Director on multiple Boards. She is a founding member of Chief. Sarah holds a dual Bachelor’s degree with honors in Mathematical Methods in Social Sciences and Economics from Northwestern University.

Jeff Zacharia

President & CEO of Zachys Wine

Jeff Zacharia is the President and CEO of Zachys Wine International. He has worked for the company for more than 35 years. He is the current leader of this third-generation family-run fine wine business, started by his grandfather, Zachy Zacharia, in 1944. Zachys is one of the leading wine auction houses in the world, holding 12 live auctions a year in New York, Hong Kong, and California and 20 internet auction each year in New York and Hong Kong. Zachys is also one of the leading fine wine retailers in the United States with retail operations in both New York and Washington, DC. Zachys also has offices in Paris and Shanghai. In 2019, Zachys sold over $150 million in fine wines around the world. Jeff graduated from Kenyon College, is a member of YPO and a board member of Hemophilia Association of New York and National Association of Wine Retailers.

Mitchell Kaneff

Chairman & CEO, Arkay Packaging

Mitchell Kaneff is the Chairman/CEO of Arkay Packaging, a 97-year-old, family-owned and -operated leader in the folding carton industry. Originally opened by Kaneff’s grandfather on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1922, Arkay now has a design studio in Hauppauge, NY, a sales office in New York City, and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Roanoke, VA. In addition to his role as CEO, Kaneff is the author of Taking Over: Insider Tips from a Third-Generation CEO and is involved with The Young Presidents, a rock band playing the New York metropolitan area. Kaneff is active on the boards of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation in New York City and the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, VA. He lives in New York City with his twin sons, Max and Josh.

Jason Sippey

Managing Partner and Founder of Logic Capital Partners

Jason Sippey is the Managing Partner and Founder of Logic Capital Partners, which invests in lower middle-market industrial companies. With the support of OFS, and an investment group, Mr. Sippey acquired All Metals in 2015, and sold to Reliance Steel and Aluminum in 2018. He was the CEO of All Metals from 2015-2020. Mr. Sippey started Metal Logic in 2008, which he sold to Knauf in 2017, and from 1996 to 2007, he led the formation and startup of multiple Latin American subsidiaries for both RPM, Inc (USA) and Lafarge (France). From 1995-2015 he lived in Mexico, Argentina, and France. Mr. Sippey holds a Bachelor’s degree from Miami University and an MBA from INSEAD. He lives in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife and two daughters.

Sam Glassman

Partner, PFMW and SKMW

Sam Glassman is a Partner of PFMW and SKMW, leading franchise partners of both the Planet Fitness and Smoothie King franchise systems. OFS was an investor in PFMW from 2016 through 2018, which helped the company expand its footprint throughout the Midwest. Prior to co-founding PFMW in 2012, Sam was a public markets investor for banks, family offices, and hedge funds for two decades. He is a member of YPO and the Economic Club of New York. Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Information Systems as well as an MBA from New York University.

Michael A. Granuzzo

Founder, Caddie Master Enterprises

Michael A. Granuzzo founded Caddie Master Enterprises (CME) in Alexandria, Virginia on October 17, 1992 and obtained his first contract on St. Patrick’s Day in 1993. Prior to starting CME, Mr. Granuzzo earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at James Madison University in 1992. He began caddying in 1988 after his freshman year at the University of Richmond. He subsequently transferred to James Madison University on a scholarship to play football. He continued to caddy at Congressional Country Club on weekends and during the summer until he graduated in 1992. He spent the summer of 1992 caddying, while researching the feasibility of CME, and decided to create CME in the fall of 1992. Mr. Granuzzo has overseen the company’s operations for the past 20 years from its headquarters in Florida, building it into an internationally recognized company, with an outstanding reputation for personal service. He sold the company to a private equity firm but remains responsible for CME’s strategic planning and partnerships, marketing and sales, client relations, public relations, contract negotiations and renegotiations, as well as the overall physical and financial health of the company.

David Steinhardt

Managing Partner & Portfolio Manager, Wooster Capital

David Steinhardt is the Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager of Wooster Capital Management LP, a long-short equity hedge fund formed in 2003. David is also a co-founder of Clarity Capital, an investment management company based in Tel Aviv. Prior to forming Wooster, David served as a Managing Director and Head of Research at Centurion Investment Group, L.P. Prior to that, David spent five years as an analyst and assistant portfolio manager at Spears, Benzak, Salomon, and Farrell. David earned his Bachelor’s Degree in European History from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. He is a director of Mackinac Financial, a publicly listed Michigan-based bank. He is also a founder and board chair of the Natan Fund, a philanthropic organization, and a trustee of The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life.

Ramesh Lakshmi-Ratan, Ph.D.

Board Member, Former CEO of Bell and Howell LLC

Ramesh Lakshmi-Ratan is an experienced technology CEO, industry leader and board member with 35+ years of experience in global operations, strategy and product innovation. He has held multiple executive roles at industry leading firms including Bell and Howell, Pitney Bowes, VocalTec, Lucent Technologies, and AT&T Bell Labs. Ramesh is recognized as having pioneered and commercialized the concept of IO(P)T – Internet of People and Things. He currently serves on the Boards of Homevalet.co, a smart grocery delivery business, and UPU, a UN Trade Association. Ramesh has a PhD in Operations Research from the University of Pittsburgh, and a MBA with honors from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, University of Bombay, Mumbai, India, established in partnership with Stanford University.

Jay Sprague

Principal

Joined Tamarix Equity Partners in 2022 to lead deal execution, investment strategy and portfolio management. Over ten years’ experience in private equity, growth capital, investment banking and as a consumer startup founder. Prior investment firms include Centre Partners, a middle-market private equity firm in NYC, Palisades Growth Capital, a growth-equity firm in Los Angeles, and Macquarie Capital, an investment bank. Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College with a major in International Politics and Economics.

Fred Crawford

Board Member, Former CEO of AlixPartners

Fred Crawford is an internationally recognized strategist and operations executive. He served as CEO of AlixPartners from 2008 to 2016. Subsequently he served as Senior Vice Chairman and remains a member of the Board. Prior to joining AlixPartners, he held senior positions at other major consulting firms, with a focus on operations and brand management. Fred is a best-selling author (The Myth of Excellence) and a sought-after speaker. Fred holds a MBA from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business and a BS in Psychology and Operations from Michigan State University, Eli Broad College of Business.

Regynald G. Washington

Trustee, Culinary Institute of America

Regynald Washington is a highly respected hospitality and restaurant executive with over 30 years of experience. Regynald serves as a Trustee of the Culinary Institute of America and previously served as Chairman of the Board of the National Restaurant Association. Regynald was formerly President of the Paradies Lagardère Dining Division and CEO of Hojeij Branded Foods, Inc. Previously, he served as VP of Worldwide Food and Beverage Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Regynald has received numerous industry awards, including the Legends & Leaders Impact Award by The Elliot Leadership Institute, the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association’s Gold Plate Award (the highest industry award for excellence) and the Georgia Restaurant Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Georgia State University, where the school named its Master of Hospitality Program in Regynald’s honor. He received a B.S. in International Hotel and Restaurant Management, Cum Laude, from Florida International University.

Nick Russo

Associate

Joined Tamarix Equity Partners in 2023 to focus on diligence, deal analysis and execution, and portfolio management. Prior experience includes two years at Kroll, LLC providing deal advisory, valuation and accounting services to private equity firms and corporations. Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Fordham University.

Alina Stupakevich

Vice President of Finance

Joined Tamarix Equity Partners to lead the finance, accounting, and fund administration functions. Previously worked at Standish Management as an Engagement Manager leading teams in providing fund administration services to clients with various fund strategies and fund structures. Prior experience includes financial and investment reporting, and tax compliance for an RIA firm and family office, accounting at Wind Point Partners, private equity firm in Chicago, and international tax consulting at Deloitte.

Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from DePaul University.

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