Lower middle market private equity firm
Garden City Equity
Formerly Garden City Companies
- HeadquartersCharlotte, NC S2
- Websitegardencityequity.com
- Last verifiedOctober 26, 2026
At a glance
| Latest fund | 2026 capital raise, $255M (Feb 2026) S4 |
|---|---|
| EBITDA range | $5M to $30M S2 |
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on, Growth S5 |
| Geography | United States S3 |
| Sectors | HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical, Construction Services, Industrial & Manufacturing, Distribution, IT Services & MSP |
What Garden City Equity buys
Garden City Equity is a Charlotte, North Carolina firm that calls itself the People Equity Firm. It buys family and founder-owned companies with money from more than 200 investor families, including business leaders, athletes and musicians, and it has raised more than $300 million in total, including $255 million announced in February 2026. It makes buyout and growth equity investments with no preset holding period, and it prefers to back the people already running the company. It also commits 10% of its profits as fund manager to investments that help frontline workers.
For a new platform it looks for $5 million to $30 million of EBITDA, and add-ons can be any size. Its target areas are commercial and industrial services with repeat demand, asset-light engineered manufacturing and specialty distribution, plus opportunistic deals. Recent platforms include Westbrook, a Florida commercial HVAC and MEP contractor, and Commercial Residential Aluminum, which then bought American Lightscapes. A company with less than $5 million of EBITDA is most likely to fit as an add-on to one of these platforms.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 26, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | Garden City EquityRaised $255 million from mission-aligned investors for its people-first strategy | Fund close | Source | |
| 2026 | RevPartnersRevenue operations firm, first backed in 2021, sold to Walker Sands | Exit | Source | |
| Sep 2025 | American LightscapesAdded to Commercial Residential Aluminum | Add-on | Source | |
| Jul 2025 | Commercial Residential AluminumVenice, Florida designer, fabricator and installer of premium outdoor aluminum products | Platform | Construction Services | Source |
| Jan 2025 | Westbrook Service CompanyOrlando contractor that renovates commercial HVAC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems | Platform | HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S3.
Active Portfolio
- Commercial Residential Aluminum
- Westbrook Service Company
- WeBuild
- Connext
- Essig Pools & Pavers
Past investments: Wathco, Duncan & Sons', RevPartners, Pathway Healthcare
Greymont’s take
How Garden City Equity fits a seller
Garden City suits owners who care about what happens to their employees and culture after a sale and who want to stay involved. The firm says founders and their families remain involved after the deal, and its network of more than 200 investor families is meant to open doors to customers and advice. One founder says on the firm's site that his company was bought 58 days after the first conversation, so a well-prepared business can expect a fairly quick process.
The firm is young and lists nine investments to date, so an owner should ask how much of the price is paid at closing, whether the owner is expected to roll equity, and what the flexible holding period means for the timing of a future sale. It is also worth asking for references from founders of exited companies such as Duncan & Sons' and RevPartners.
Questions owners ask
What size company does Garden City Equity look for?
For a new platform it targets $5 million to $30 million of EBITDA. It will look at add-on acquisitions of any size for the companies it already owns, such as Commercial Residential Aluminum.
Does Garden City Equity buy HVAC and building services companies?
Yes. In January 2025 it invested in Westbrook Service Company, an Orlando contractor that renovates HVAC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and commercial and industrial services is one of its target areas.
Will I have to leave my company after selling to Garden City?
Not usually. The firm says it keeps the current leadership team in place rather than bringing in its own managers, and that founders and their families remain involved once the deal closes.
Sources
- S1Garden City Equity home page Accessed October 26, 2026
- S2Garden City Equity: Our Approach and investment criteria Accessed October 26, 2026
- S3Garden City Equity: Portfolio Accessed October 26, 2026
- S4Garden City Equity: News and press releases Accessed October 26, 2026
- S5Garden City Equity firm overview (two-pager, October 2026) Accessed October 26, 2026
- S6Garden City Equity: Team Accessed October 26, 2026
- S7Garden City Equity Raises $255 Million from Prominent, Mission-Aligned Investors (Business Wire, February 12, 2026) Accessed October 26, 2026
- S8Garden City Equity Announces Investment in Commercial Residential Aluminum (Business Wire, July 30, 2025) Accessed October 26, 2026
- S9Garden City Equity Announces Investment in Westbrook (Business Wire, January 13, 2025) Accessed October 26, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Garden City Equity. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction