We invest in small to mid-sized companies that are seeking a partial or full ownership transition and/or where there is a need for capital and resources to help trigger the next phase of growth. We invest committed capital, with the ability to supplement as needed with equity from institutions and individuals with whom we’ve had long-term relationships. We look for healthy companies that have sustainable value propositions, and where the opportunity exists to significantly grow the business, both organically and through add-on acquisitions.
$2-10MM EBITDA or Cash Flow
$10-100MM Total Enterprise Value
Based in North America for platform investments; any geography for add-on acquisitions.
Any size for add-on acquisitions
Munetrix
SaaS provider of data management and performance analytics tools for municipalities and school districts, with a focus on financial decision-making and academic achievement.
STRIVE – Divvy
Employee experience SaaS software platform with a focus on benefits communication, internal culture creation, rewards & recognition, and employee engagement.
Innofiber
Designs and manufactures engineered photonics solutions for medical and industrial applications, including complex fiber optic cables and subassemblies.
Winchester Electronics
Interconnect solutions for medical, mil-aero and industrial markets
Aavid Thermalloy
Thermal management products for datacom, telecom, medical and industrial markets
AAMP Global
Automotive technologies including integration, safety and infotainment.
Northern Digital
Metrology solutions used in medical surgical applications
AstrodyneTDI
Power supplies and EMI filters for semiconductor, medical, mil-aero and industrial markets
Gabriel
Coatings, adhesives and specialty chemicals including curing agents and resins
Franklin Foster, Founder
Franklin has led direct investments into private companies for the last 17 years, and has been in the finance industry for over 20 years. Prior to founding Essex Bay, Franklin was a Managing Director at Audax Private Equity, a leading middle market investment firm with over $9 billion of capital under management. At Audax, he led investments in the industrial, business services, healthcare and technology markets, among others, completing over 60 acquisitions. Representative investments include Aavid Thermalloy (sold to Boyd), Astrodyne TDI (sold to Tinicum), Gabriel Performance Products (sold to Huntsman), Northern Digital (sold to Roper) and Winchester Electronics (sold to Snow Phipps). In addition to leading investments for the bulk of his career at Audax, Franklin also was a member of the Business Development team, maintaining relationships with a variety of deal intermediaries.
Prior to Audax, Franklin was Interim CFO and VP of Corporate Development at Coast Crane Company, then an Audax portfolio company. Earlier, Franklin worked in investment banking in New York, London and Providence.
Yash Singh, Managing Director
Yash has more than 15 years of operating and investing experience in healthcare, life science and industrial markets working with both private equity and public companies. Before joining Essex Bay, Yash was President at Analogic where he led their MRI and robotics business ($150 million revenue) and Executive Vice President at Harvard Biosciences where he led the cellular, molecular and physiology business ($80 million revenue). At Analogic and Harvard Bioscience he drove step change revenue growth and profitability acceleration. He also led acquisition and integration of multiple successful targets at Analogic. Earlier, Yash worked in strategy consulting at Booz Allen. He has a B.S. in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and an MBA from Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.
Holly Ceplikas, Vice President
Holly joined Essex Bay Capital in 2022. Previously, she was Operations Associate Director at S&P Global, where she worked on the integration of the company’s merger with IHS Markit. She also worked as a Senior Associate for Viet Capital Partners on investments in developing and acquiring industrial and logistics real estate in Vietnam. Prior to Viet Capital Partners, Holly was an Associate in consumer & retail investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York. Earlier in her career, she worked in higher education at Dartmouth College and Harvard University. Holly earned a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA with High Distinction from Tuck Business School.
Sarah Gbadebo, Summer Analyst
Sarah Gbadebo joins Essex Bay Capital as a Summer Analyst in 2023. Prior to Essex Bay, Sarah worked as a Strategy and Communications Intern for Teneo, a global public relations advisory company, where she developed content and performed in-depth research for many of Teneo’s clients. Previously, Sarah was a Head Advisor for Prep for Prep, a highly selective leadership development program for high school students in the New York City area. She served on the Advisory Board for First-Generation Low-Income Students at Wesleyan University, from which she also earned her BA.
+1 (978) 233-1331
P.O. Box 696
Essex, MA 01929