Founded in 1993, Leeds Equity is the recognized leader in investing in the Knowledge Industries.

Our Firm

Leeds Equity Advisors is a family of funds that invest exclusively in the Knowledge Industries. Founded in 1993, Leeds Equity Advisors has managed over $3.5 billion of capital across a broad spectrum of companies within the Knowledge Industries.

 

Leeds Equity Partners has been a leading investor in the Knowledge Industries for over 25 years and with a strategy to invest in middle-market private equity opportunities primarily in North America. 

 

Leeds Equity Partners has a relationship with its sister fund Leeds Illuminate, whose team has been investors and operators in this space for over 40 years with a strategy to invest in growth stage companies in education and workforce development and access primarily in North America.

 

To-date, Leeds Equity Partners has invested six private equity funds. Our investors include many leading institutions, including endowments, foundations, insurance companies, public and private pension funds, family offices and individuals.

Domain Expertise

Our 25-year exclusive sector focus enables us to apply unique strategic insights throughout the investment process and over the course of our partnerships.

Strategy
Execution
Outcome
Deep Sector Immersion
  • 25-years of industry expertise
  • Shared ecosystem of portfolio companies
  • Active Board of Advisors
  • Vast network of industry executives
Investment Evaluation
  • Unmatched business assessment capabilities
  • Greater investment conviction, speed of execution and certainty of close
  • Viewed as “strategic capital”
  • Track record of partnership with founders and management teams
Investment Partnership
  • Strategic guidance
  • New customers and key relationships
  • New market opportunities and solutions
  • Strategic acquisitions
  • Best practices from across the portfolio
Superior Results
  • Greater product efficacy driving higher customer ROI
  • Increased innovation
  • Entrenched as a thought leader
  • Accelerated company growth
  • Larger scale
Strategy
Deep Sector Immersion
  • 25-years of industry expertise
  • Shared ecosystem of portfolio companies
  • Active Board of Advisors
  • Vast network of industry executives
Execution
Investment Evaluation
  • Unmatched business assessment capabilities
  • Greater investment conviction, speed of execution and certainty of close
  • Viewed as “strategic capital”
  • Track record of partnership with founders and management teams
Investment Partnership
  • Strategic guidance
  • New customers and key relationships
  • New market opportunities and solutions
  • Strategic acquisitions
  • Best practices from across the portfolio
Outcome
Superior Results
  • Greater product efficacy driving higher customer ROI
  • Increased innovation
  • Entrenched as a thought leader
  • Accelerated company growth
  • Larger scale

Value-Added Resources

We leverage our value added resources to assist management teams in developing and executing strategic growth objectives.

BOARD OF ADVISORS
FAMILY OF COMPANIES
INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS
NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS
Our Advisory Board includes recognized leaders in the Knowledge Industries. Past and current advisors include a former of Secretary of State, two former Secretaries of Education, a former White House Chief of Staff and several senior executives from Knowledge Industries companies. Their skills and acumen expand our global reach.
The companies in which we invest share many attributes, making collaboration a particularly effective outside resource. This takes the form of sharing relevant information, acting as vendors and clients and making personnel recommendations.
Our investment professionals have a deep understanding of companies operating within the Knowledge Industries. This intimate familiarity with our sectors and companies allows us to quickly focus on the critical areas of merit and risk of new opportunities. We also leverage that domain expertise to assist our management team partners in achieving their goals.
We have developed a diverse network of relationships among executives, policymakers and thought leaders, resulting from our long-term sector focus. We assist our management team partners in leveraging that network.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Our Advisory Board includes recognized leaders in the Knowledge Industries. Past and current advisors include a former of Secretary of State, two former Secretaries of Education, a former White House Chief of Staff and several senior executives from Knowledge Industries companies. Their skills and acumen expand our global reach.
FAMILY OF COMPANIES
The companies in which we invest share many attributes, making collaboration a particularly effective outside resource. This takes the form of sharing relevant information, acting as vendors and clients and making personnel recommendations.
INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS
Our investment professionals have a deep understanding of companies operating within the Knowledge Industries. This intimate familiarity with our sectors and companies allows us to quickly focus on the critical areas of merit and risk of new opportunities. We also leverage that domain expertise to assist our management team partners in achieving their goals.
NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS
We have developed a diverse network of relationships among executives, policymakers and thought leaders, resulting from our long-term sector focus. We assist our management team partners in leveraging that network.

Investment Criteria

We provide patient capital customized for each opportunity in order to meet the needs of management and current shareholders. Our goal is always to partner with management to create aligned interests among all stakeholders.

Structure

Control investments

Select structured minority investments

Types

Leveraged buyouts

Buy-and-builds

Founder transitions

Corporate carve-outs

Public to private

Size

Companies, including with add-on acquisitions, with the capacity to utilize $40M plus of equity capital

Partner company add-on acquisitions and buy-and-builds - no minimum size