New PE firm Navaid Equity Partners launches

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Navaid Equity Partners, a new private equity focused on backing small and mid-sized companies “facing turbulent financial and operational headwinds created by economic, industry, and technology disruptions” has launched. Navaid Equity will make control and non-control investments in North America-based companies with revenue up to $500 million and EBITDA from negative to $25 million. The firm is targeting companies in industries that include packaging, industrial and manufacturing services and consumer products. Michael Kalb and Scott W. Edwards are the co-founders.

PRESS RELEASE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.– October 6, 2020 – Navaid Equity Partners, LLC today announced its launch as a new private equity firm providing navigational support to small and mid-sized companies facing turbulent financial and operational headwinds created by economic, industry, and technology disruptions. Co-founders Michael Kalb and Scott W. Edwards are experienced investors who worked together for more than a decade and collectively worked on more than 90 completed transactions valued at more than $10 billion.

“During the economic expansion following the financial crisis, many private equity firms shifted their focus to larger, healthier companies and launching new strategies, becoming diversified asset managers,” said Kalb. “As a result, today there is a real lack of experienced investors focused on small and mid-sized businesses facing disruption. Navaid Equity fills that void.”

“Michael and I bring an established track record of investing in complex situations and through multiple business cycles,” said Edwards. “We have the experience and network to not only help businesses at the time of initial disruption, but also as conditions evolve and the required expertise changes. We are the right financial partner to help companies navigate their challenges.”

Navaid Equity will make control and non-control investments in North America-based companies with revenue up to $500 million and EBITDA from negative to $25 million, and is focusing on industries with strong fundamentals and growth potential, including Packaging, Industrial and Manufacturing, Services, and Consumer Products.

“Launching Navaid Equity now gives us a strong advantage in implementing our strategy because we don’t have an existing portfolio of companies that need our attention,” added Kalb. “We are going to have high conviction on every investment we make and are committed to collaborative partnerships with management. Throughout our careers, we have found this approach generates great outcomes.”

“We are extremely confident about our opportunity to help companies during the current disruption, and through future events that will challenge quality businesses,” added Edwards.

Navaid Equity Co-Founders
Michael Kalb has more than 25 years of corporate finance and investing experience and for the past 18 years, has largely focused on sourcing and closing value-oriented, turnaround and special situation transactions, and overseeing operational and profit-enhancing improvements. Kalb was previously Senior Managing Director and a member of the Global Investment Committee at Sun Capital Partners, a $13 billion private equity firm. His responsibilities included sourcing and investing in U.S. and International companies, as well as portfolio oversight. He also led development of the firm’s New York office and oversaw Sun’s European business for 10 years, during which he was responsible for sourcing, market strategy development, portfolio oversight, fundraising activities, regulatory and compliance, and leading transactions while managing the Europe-based team. ​Kalb began his career in finance at Lazard Middle Market (formerly known as Goldsmith Agio, Helms & Co). He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hofstra University.

Scott W. Edwards has more than 25 years of investing, corporate finance, business operations, and M&A experience, including advising portfolio companies across multiple industries on strategic planning, operations, debt financing, and add-on acquisitions to strengthen businesses. Previously, Edwards was a Managing Director at Sun Capital Partners where he completed transactions in the industrial, packaging, food and beverage and other industries. Scott was also head of Sun Capital’s Investor Relations and Communications team where he led the fundraising for over $4.5 billion of capital. Prior to Sun Capital, Scott held positions at Henderson Private Capital in London, GE Equity and Advent International. He received a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College where he was designated a Tuck Scholar.

About Navaid Equity Partners
Navaid Equity Partners is a private equity firm founded to provide companies, executives, employees and their stakeholders with navigational support through turbulent financial and operational headwinds created by economic, industry, and technology disruptions. For more information, visit www.navaidequity.com.