Lower middle market private equity firm
Breakwater Management
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, CA S1
- Founded2009 S1
- Websitebreakwatermgmt.com
- Last verifiedOctober 29, 2026
At a glance
| EBITDA range | $5M+ S1 |
|---|---|
| Revenue range | $25M+ S1 |
| Check size | $20M+ S1 |
| Deal types | Platform, Growth S1 |
| Sectors | Accounting & Professional Services |
What Breakwater Management buys
Breakwater Management is a Los Angeles private equity firm founded in 2009. Many of its older investments shown on its site were loans and growth capital that were later repaid, but today it focuses on control equity. It manages seven funds and investment vehicles for institutions and wealthy investors, and its September 2026 release put the capital it has originated at about $650 million. Its target sectors are media and entertainment, marketing, and tech-enabled services, such as content, live events, digital media, online marketplaces, marketing technology and mobile games.
It looks for fast-growing, profitable companies with at least $25 million of revenue and $5 million of EBITDA, and invests $20 million or more per deal in structured or common equity. Deals can be control buyouts, growth equity or recapitalizations. Its two recent platforms are both marketing firms: Chemistry, an independent agency it backed in May 2025, and Jones Knowles Ritchie, a New York and London brand consultancy it backed in September 2026. A smaller agency is more likely to meet Breakwater as an acquisition by one of those platforms.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 29, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | Jones Knowles RitchieMajority investment in an independent brand consultancy with about 300 staff in New York and London; Forge Select and MB Global Partners joined the financing | Platform | Accounting & Professional Services | Source |
| May 2025 | ChemistryMajority recapitalization of an independent marketing and digital agency with offices in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New York and Miami; Tecum Capital and Genesis Park supplied debt and equity | Platform | Accounting & Professional Services | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S1.
Marketing
- Chemistry
- Jones Knowles Ritchie
Greymont’s take
How Breakwater Management fits a seller
Breakwater suits the owner of an established marketing, branding, media or tech-enabled services business that is growing quickly and wants a partner with operating experience in those fields. Its partners include former senior executives from digital gaming and online businesses, and the firm says it backs founder-led and management-owned companies. Its roots in lending show in how it builds deals: it offers structured as well as common equity, and both recent deals brought in other capital providers, Tecum and Genesis Park on Chemistry and Forge Select and MB Global Partners on JKR.
Most owners below $5 million of EBITDA will be too small for a platform deal, though they may fit as an acquisition by Chemistry or JKR. Owners who do fit should ask how much of the price is paid in cash at closing, whether any preferred terms rank ahead of their rolled equity, and how long Breakwater expects to hold.
Questions owners ask
What size company does Breakwater Management invest in?
Companies with at least $25 million of revenue and $5 million of EBITDA. It invests $20 million or more per deal, using structured or common equity.
Which industries does Breakwater focus on?
Media and entertainment, marketing, and tech-enabled services. Its two most recent platform deals, Chemistry in May 2025 and Jones Knowles Ritchie in September 2026, are both marketing and brand firms.
Does Breakwater take majority control?
Yes. Its strategy centers on control equity, and its Chemistry and Jones Knowles Ritchie deals were both majority investments. It also lists growth equity and recapitalizations among the deal types it will do.
Sources
- S1Breakwater Management home page (overview, target sectors, investment criteria, recent news) Accessed October 29, 2026
- S2Breakwater Management Makes Majority Investment in Jones Knowles Ritchie (September 10, 2026) Accessed October 29, 2026
- S3Breakwater Management Leads Majority Investment in Chemistry Communications (May 27, 2025) Accessed October 29, 2026
- S4Tecum Capital Announces Investment in Chemistry (June 10, 2025) Accessed October 29, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Breakwater Management. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction