Industrial-focused private investment firm
Fernweh Group
- HeadquartersNew York, NY S1
- Websitefernweh.com
- Last verifiedNovember 4, 2026
At a glance
| EBITDA range | $10M to $50M S2 |
|---|---|
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S2 |
| Sectors | Industrial & Manufacturing |
What Fernweh Group buys
Fernweh Group is an investor and operator in industrial and industrial technology companies, co-founded by former McKinsey partners including Nick Santhanam, co-author of the book Titanium Economy. It lists offices in New York and San Jose. Focus areas include semiconductors, automotive, aerospace and defense, energy, building products and industrial tech. It looks for platform companies with $10 million to $50 million of EBITDA and gross margins above 25%, and it also buys bolt-ons for those platforms.
Sellers can be public companies shedding non-core units or family and founder owners who want a growth partner, a generational handoff or liquidity. An owner can sell outright or keep 15% to 40% while Fernweh works on a plan that targets leading margins within 24 months. All three business lines of Avail, its 2022 carve-out, have since been sold, which leaves Wincore, bought in January 2025, and Dabico as its main operating companies. A smaller company would most likely meet Fernweh as a bolt-on to one of those two.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before November 4, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Rig-A-LiteAvail's hazardous location lighting unit sold to Phoenix Lighting | Exit | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Jan 2026 | WSIAvail's specialty welding services unit sold to Pelican Energy Partners | Exit | Source | |
| Mar 2025 | Avail Electrical Products GroupAvail agreed to sell its switchgear, enclosure and bus duct unit to nVent for an enterprise value of $975 million | Exit | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Jan 2025 | Wincore Windows and DoorsParkersburg, West Virginia vinyl window and door maker, a new building products platform; senior management stayed | Platform | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S3.
Aviation & Aerospace
- Dabico
Building Products
- Wincore Windows and Doors
Past investments: Avail Infrastructure Solutions, WSI, Rig-A-Lite
Greymont’s take
How Fernweh Group fits a seller
Fernweh suits the owner of a larger industrial or building products company who wants an active operating partner and not just a check. Owners can keep 15% to 40%, so it can work for a founder who wants cash now and a second payoff later. The trade-off is change: the firm's playbook targets leading margins within 24 months, so expect a hands-on plan for how the business runs. At Wincore, senior management stayed in place.
Its record with Avail shows it will split a company and sell the pieces once the work is done: three units went to three buyers in about 14 months. Ask how long Fernweh expects to hold your company, what the margin plan means for your team, and who will make the daily decisions.
Questions owners ask
What size company does Fernweh Group look for?
Platform deals need $10 million to $50 million of EBITDA and gross margin above 25%. It also says it buys bolt-ons but does not publish a minimum size for them.
Can an owner keep a stake after selling to Fernweh?
Yes. Its criteria describe owners keeping 15% to 40% while working with Fernweh to grow value, and it is also open to buying full ownership.
What is Fernweh's most recent acquisition?
The latest purchase we could find is Wincore, a Parkersburg, West Virginia maker of vinyl windows and doors, announced January 6, 2025. Its news since then has been sales of Avail's business units.
Does Fernweh still own Avail Infrastructure Solutions?
Avail remains affiliated with Fernweh, but Avail's own site says its businesses now operate under nVent, Pelican Energy Partners and Phoenix. Fernweh's portfolio page still showed them as active in November 2026.
Sources
- S1Fernweh Group home page Accessed November 4, 2026
- S2Fernweh Group: About (focus areas, approach, investment criteria) Accessed November 4, 2026
- S3Fernweh Group: Portfolio Accessed November 4, 2026
- S4Fernweh Group: Press Accessed November 4, 2026
- S5Fernweh Group Acquires Wincore (January 6, 2025) Accessed November 4, 2026
- S6Avail Infrastructure Solutions Announces Sale of Electrical Products Group (March 10, 2025) Accessed November 4, 2026
- S7Avail Infrastructure Solutions home page (businesses now under new ownership) Accessed November 4, 2026
- S8WSI home page, news item on the sale to Pelican Energy Partners (January 5, 2026) Accessed November 4, 2026
- S9Electrical Trends: Phoenix Acquires Rig-A-Lite (May 27, 2026) Accessed November 4, 2026
- S10Fernweh Group Announces Acquisition of Sun Industrial Group by Calvin Power Services (March 1, 2024) Accessed November 4, 2026
- S11Fernweh Group: Affiliates Accessed November 4, 2026
- S12Dabico Airport Solutions: About Accessed November 4, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Fernweh Group. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction