LongWater

Profile

LongWater is a private markets investment firm headquartered in Fargo, ND, Dallas, TX, and St. Louis, MO. Established in 2009, LongWater focuses exclusively on the lower middle market. The firm is managed by a team led by senior executives including Kevin Prunty and managing directors Trevor Gibson, Nick Careklas, Ben Dinehart, and Sam Panke. It differentiates itself by providing institutional-grade access to this market segment through two platforms: LongWater Private Equity and LongWater Capital Solutions.

LongWater invests in sectors such as industrials, leveraging a multi-faceted approach that includes private credit, minority equity, and LP commitments. Their target investment size ranges primarily from $10 million to $50 million, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals and growth potential within the United States. The firm currently manages about $1 billion in regulatory assets and has a diverse investor base including banks, family offices, and institutional investors.

Notable investments made by LongWater include Valley Lighting, a provider of commercial lighting and shading solutions, marking one of its key deployments from its SBIC fund. The firm's strategy revolves around non-control equity investments and strategic partnerships with private equity sponsors, aiming to provide flexible capital solutions in underserved markets.