Private equity describes investment partnerships that buy and manage companies typically before selling them again (although some of the funds below do not intend to sell companies after acquiring them). Private equity funds may acquire private companies or public ones in their entirety, but they typically do not hold stakes in companies that remain listed on a stock exchange hence the “private” not “public” portion of the industry’s name. There are an increasing number of Christ-following private equity fund managers seeking to bring their faith to bear in their stewardship of companies they acquire. Some best practices look like deploying things like chaplaincy or faith based employee resource groups into a company. Handing over more of the company’s ownership to employees, or winsomely seeking to preserve the faith and family values a mature business was started with as the next owner of the company. Private equity presents a unique opportunity for fund managers to influence culture through redemptive investing in what has traditionally been known as a purely-profit motivated and often exploitative means to drive investment returns.
Sovereign’s Capital
Founded in 2012 - Headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA and Jakarta, Indonesia
Sovereign’s Capital provides capital and strategic partnership to values-driven, market-leading companies and funds with potential for outsized returns for all stakeholders. Sovereign’s Private Equity business invests directly in profitable, lower middle market companies with $10 million to $100 million in revenue, and $2.5 million to $10 million in owner’s earnings.
Saturn Five
Founded in 2017 - Headquarters in Austin, TX
Saturn Five is an investment fund that launches, builds, and grows great companies. With a long-term mindset, they pursue lasting impact. Saturn Five believes business is an adventure—and they love helping ideas, companies, and people get to bold new places. They do this through founding breakthrough startup ventures, finding opportunity for innovation and value-creation where some might just see an intractable problem. And by owning and operating Main Street service companies that elevate people’s lives and enhance communities. Their daily commitment is to lead enduringly profitable businesses and hold them for the long-term. Saturn Five is propelled by five engines: Adventure, Joy, Trust, Excellence, Love.
Mergon
Founded in 1980 - Headquarters in Stellenbosch, South Africa
Mergon is an investment group that exists to create Kingdom impact and equip others to do the same. This approach, together with unmerited favor, has resulted in Mergon achieving sustained, above-market returns for nearly 40 years.
Garden City
Founded in 2020 - Headquarters in Atlanta, GA
Garden City invests in family-owned service companies in the Southeast portion of the United States. Their mission is to build the most caring & innovative service companies. Garden City invests long-term, permanent capital with no intention of selling. The name comes from the biblical story of the Garden of Eden where everyone is created in God’s image to thrive & prosper. Garden City desires to bring that Garden back into our City to ensure workers can actualize their God-given potential and have a purpose.
Sahel Capital
Founded in 2010 - Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria
Sahel Capital is a private investment firm focused on the food and agriculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Sahel Capital has depth of experience across a broad range of crop and livestock value chains; integrated processing operations; branded packaged foods; and related services. Their vision is to be recognized as the foremost food and agriculture private investment firm in Africa.
Ambassador Development Group
Founded in 2019 - Headquarters in Houston, TX
Ambassador Development Group (ADG) is a faith-based private equity firm. The firm operates profitable, operationally efficient, Kingdom Class companies that radically impact the lives of those they serve. ADG is focused on helping Christian business owners transition out of their business without losing their kingdom impact. The Kingdom Impact fund buys controlling interest in Christian run businesses with EBIDTA between $1- 5M. Typically they help transition senior leadership or solve the plateauing growth issues. They focus on what they call P3: people, performance and purpose.
Vineyard Infrastructure
Founded in 2019 - Headquarters in New York City, NY
Vineyard Infrastructure (Vineyard) was founded to pioneer NextGen Infrastructure by serving as a strategic partner to developers and operators of NextGen Infrastructure assets, designing scalable business plans, structuring efficient capital solutions and positioning partners for long-term growth. Vineyard believes that effective infrastructure development begins with people and that by leading with purpose through the responsible stewardship of employees, businesses and capital, Vineyard can drive meaningful financial and social value for all stakeholders.
Cephas Partners
Founded in 2012 - Headquarters in Dallas, TX and Seattle, WA
Cephas was originally formed to assist affiliates of the Blackstone Group in managing complex assets in three different continents. The current Cephas team is growing Cephas Partners into a multifaceted investment platform with an eternal worldview. The firm strives to leave a legacy of generosity.