At a glance
| Latest fund | Compass Group Fund III, $408M (Apr 2024) S5 |
|---|---|
| EBITDA range | $2M to $15M S3 |
| Check size | Up to $50M S3 |
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S6 |
| Geography | North America S3 |
| Sectors | Industrial & Manufacturing, Construction Services, Healthcare Services, Veterinary, HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical, Transportation & Logistics |
What Compass Group Equity Partners buys
Compass Group Equity Partners is a St. Louis firm that began in 2014 as an independent sponsor and now invests from committed funds. It buys lower middle market companies in two broad areas: niche manufacturing and distribution, and business and consumer services. Its listed interests include engineered equipment, safety products, advanced materials, testing and certification, environmental services, infrastructure and utilities, and field services. It picks industries through long research projects, so it often calls owners in a field it already studied, such as pumps, calibration services or disaster restoration.
Its target is a North American company with $2 million to $15 million of EBITDA, margins of at least 10 percent and an enterprise value of $20 million to $200 million. It invests up to $50 million of equity per deal and is investing Fund III, a $408 million fund closed in April 2024. Its platforms then buy smaller companies, and the firm counts 271 add-ons so far. An owner below $2 million of EBITDA is most likely to meet Compass as an add-on to a platform such as Kinetiflo Group.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 20, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | Keen Pump CompanyOhio pump maker added to Kinetiflo Group; the owner rolled equity and keeps running the division | Add-on | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Sep 2026 | New Age MedicalSpinal implant supply hub sold to Avesi Partners after a 2021 investment | Exit | Distribution | Source |
| Aug 2026 | Koma PrecisionMachine tool accessories and calibration services platform; the owners and managers kept a meaningful stake | Platform | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Jul 2025 | The Illuminate GroupTampa cold chain packaging designer for pharmacy and drug shipments | Platform | Transportation & Logistics | Source |
| May 2025 | Endurant Disaster RecoveryParker Young Restoration and McCabe Restoration combined into a Southeast restoration platform | Platform | Construction Services | Source |
| May 2025 | EPIC SystemsIndustrial automation provider sold to VINCI Energies after a 2018 investment | Exit | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Nov 2024 | Baja CarportsFounder-owned solar and shade carport designer and installer taking its first institutional capital | Platform | Construction Services | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S4.
Construction Services
- Endurant Disaster Recovery
- Baja Carports
Healthcare Services
- Resolve Pain Solutions
- Pacesetter Health
HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical
- Pure Energy Water & Air
Industrial & Manufacturing
- Koma Precision
- Kinetiflo Group
- Anderson Underbridge
- Mearthane Products Corporation (MPC)
Transportation & Logistics
- The Illuminate Group
Veterinary
- CareVet
Other
- Hoist & Crane Service Group
Past investments: New Age Medical, EPIC Systems, KGM, SunPro Solar, Compass Electronics Solutions, The Allied Group, Tipton Mills
Greymont’s take
How Compass Group Equity Partners fits a seller
Compass suits the owner of a profitable manufacturing, distribution or field service business who wants a partner for growth or succession and is willing to keep some ownership. In its two most recent deals the sellers kept a stake: Koma Precision's owners and managers retained a meaningful share in August 2026, and Keen Pump's second-generation owner rolled equity into Kinetiflo in October 2026 and stayed on to run his division. Owners also get help from the firm's in-house functional experts, which it calls Compass Guides, in areas such as finance, HR, marketing and digital systems.
Because Compass studies an industry before it calls, an owner should ask which research thesis led the firm to them and what add-ons it has in mind. Its recent exits, EPIC Systems to VINCI Energies and New Age Medical to Avesi Partners, came after holds of roughly five to seven years.
Questions owners ask
What size company does Compass Group look for?
Its investment strategy page lists EBITDA of $2 million to $15 million, EBITDA margins of at least 10 percent, enterprise value of $20 million to $200 million and equity checks of up to $50 million, for companies based in North America.
Does Compass Group buy services businesses as well as manufacturers?
Yes. Next to manufacturers such as Koma Precision and Kinetiflo Group, it owns Endurant Disaster Recovery, a restoration and mitigation platform formed in May 2025, and Hoist & Crane Service Group, which inspects and repairs overhead cranes, industrial elevators and overhead doors.
Can the owner keep a stake after selling to Compass Group?
Yes, and it is common. When Compass backed Koma Precision in August 2026 the existing owners and managers kept a meaningful stake, and the owner of Keen Pump made a rollover investment when his company joined Kinetiflo in October 2026.
What are the Compass Guides?
They are senior functional experts the firm makes available to its portfolio companies for work such as marketing, digital transformation, HR, financial planning and legal matters. Compass describes them on its website and names them in deal announcements such as The Illuminate Group.
Sources
- S1Compass Group Equity Partners home page Accessed October 20, 2026
- S2Compass Group: About Accessed October 20, 2026
- S3Compass Group: Our Investment Strategy Accessed October 20, 2026
- S4Compass Group: Portfolio Partners Accessed October 20, 2026
- S5Compass Group Equity Partners Closes Second Oversubscribed Fund in Two Years (April 10, 2024) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S6Compass Group Partners with Koma Precision (August 18, 2026) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S7Kinetiflo Group Expands with Keen Pump Add-On (October 5, 2026) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S8Compass Group: News Accessed October 20, 2026
- S9Compass Group: Baja Carports portfolio page Accessed October 20, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Compass Group Equity Partners. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction