Private Equity - Ascend Investment Approach

Leveraging our 25-year history investing in private equity, Ascend pairs the Graycliff approach with a focused small-cap strategy. We are expanding our reach in the lower middle market, targeting founder- and family-owned businesses with a continued focus on control buyouts, primarily of U.S. based businesses. Ascend is committed to investing in small businesses in partnership with exceptional management teams to drive growth, unlock potential and deliver strong returns.

Target Industries

• Niche Manufacturing

• Business Services

• Value-Added Distribution

Target Investment Profile

While every investment is different, we typically look for companies that fit one or more of these parameters:

• Investment Range: >$5mm

• EBITDA: $1-4mm

• Differentiated products or services that provide high value to customers and are defensible with meaningful barriers to entry

• Situations that will benefit from investment to create value and a long-term sustainable competitive advantage

• Well-positioned within addressable markets of sufficient size to support long-term growth

• Significant free cash flow, with low capex and working capital requirements and the potential for increasing operating leverage