
Norwest Equity Partners (NEP)
Description
Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) is a prominent middle-market private equity firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a long-standing history of investing in and building industry-leading companies. Founded in 1961, NEP focuses on making control equity investments in profitable and growing businesses across North America. The firm's strategy revolves around partnering with experienced management teams to drive growth, operational improvements, and strategic initiatives, ultimately creating long-term value for its portfolio companies and investors.
NEP targets companies with enterprise values generally ranging from $100 million to $500 million. Their investment focus spans five core sectors: business services, consumer, distribution, industrials, and healthcare. Within these sectors, NEP seeks out companies with strong market positions, sustainable competitive advantages, and significant growth potential. The firm is known for its disciplined investment approach, thorough due diligence, and commitment to providing capital and strategic support to help portfolio companies achieve their full potential.
Regarding investment size, Norwest Equity Partners typically invests between $50 million and $250 million of equity capital per transaction. This substantial check size allows them to acquire meaningful stakes in established middle-market companies and provide the necessary capital for expansion, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives. Over its history, NEP has demonstrated significant scale and experience, having raised over $7 billion in capital across multiple funds and completed more than 165 platform investments. This extensive track record underscores their deep expertise and ability to navigate complex transactions and foster sustainable growth.
NEP's value creation strategy extends beyond capital provision, emphasizing operational excellence, strategic planning, and talent development. The firm's long-term perspective and commitment to fostering strong partnerships with management teams are central to its success in transforming businesses and generating attractive returns for its investors.
Investor Profile
Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) has backed more than 109 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 17 rounds, about 16% of its total and boasts 61 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Private Equity, Series Unknown, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Denmark, Canada.
- Strong thematic focus on Manufacturing, Health Care, Retail.
- Typical check size: $50M – $250M.
Stage Focus
- Private Equity (96%)
- Series Unknown (2%)
- Series B (1%)
- Post Ipo Equity (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (92%)
- Denmark (4%)
- Canada (3%)
- Switzerland (1%)
Industry Focus
- Manufacturing
- Health Care
- Retail
- Information Technology
- Transportation
- Consumer Goods
- Electronics
- Professional Services
- Software
- Broadcasting
Frequently Asked Questions
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