THE WATERMILL GROUP
THE WATERMILL GROUP is a Series C+ and buyout fund in the US, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and Europe writing $20M–$100M checks into aerospace-and-defense, automotive-and-heavy-truck, building-products-and-services, chemicals, consumer-products, distribution-and-services, energy-and-energy-services, food-products-and-services, healthcare-services, industrial-components, industrial-technology, industrial-goods-and-manufacturing, metals-fabrication, paper-and-packaging, rubber-and-plastics and business-services.
- Stages
- Series C+, buyout
- Sectors
- aerospace-and-defense, automotive-and-heavy-truck, building-products-and-services, chemicals, consumer-products, distribution-and-services, energy-and-energy-services, food-products-and-services, healthcare-services, industrial-components, industrial-technology, industrial-goods-and-manufacturing, metals-fabrication, paper-and-packaging, rubber-and-plastics, business-services
- Check size
- $20M–$100M
- Invests in
- US-wide, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Europe
- Round role
- Leads rounds
- Actively investing
- Yes
- Founded
- 1978
- Website
- watermill.com
Thesis
The Watermill Group is a private equity firm founded in 1978 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. They employ a strategy-driven approach focused on acquiring and enhancing value in middle-market companies, with a specialization in buyouts, distressed situations, and turnarounds. Watermill utilizes a permanent capital base, allowing for long-term holds and investment of family capital alongside co-investors on a deal-by-deal basis, avoiding traditional fund cycle pressures. They target North American middle-market companies with revenues between $35 million and $400 million and $0-$30 million in EBITDA, with a geographic scope including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Their strategy is control-oriented, involving significant operational and strategic involvement to revitalize businesses at critical junctures, working with companies poised for growth, operating in dynamic environments, or facing family transitions. Key sectors include aerospace, automotive, building products, chemicals, consumer products, distribution, energy, food, healthcare, industrial components, technology, goods, manufacturing, metals, paper, packaging, rubber, plastics, and business services. Watermill typically invests $20 million to $100 million per deal, structuring transactions as long-term hold investments, often exceeding a decade. The firm does not publicly disclose its total AUM due to its permanent capital structure.
Common questions
Does THE WATERMILL GROUP invest at the Series C+ stage?
Yes. THE WATERMILL GROUP lists Series C+ and buyout among the stages it invests in.
What check size does THE WATERMILL GROUP write?
THE WATERMILL GROUP writes $20M–$100M checks.
Where does THE WATERMILL GROUP invest?
THE WATERMILL GROUP invests in the US, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and Europe.