Independently Sponsored

Independently Sponsored: NewOrigin Investments

JANUARY SPOTLIGHT

Ben Brandes

Partner

FIRM OVERVIEW

NewOrigin Investments is a collaboration of seasoned private equity investors dedicated to unlocking growth potential, fostering innovation, and creating lasting value with founder/management owned businesses.

Firm Profile
Based in Boston, MA
Formed in 2023
Majority & Growth Capital
Area of Focus
Health, Wellness & Aging
Investment Criteria
$3m+ Annual Profit
>15% EBITDA Margin
History of Profitability
Low Capital Needs
Repeatable Revenue

Q&A with Ben Brandes

What’s the firm’s origin story?

I’ve invested in media, telecom, healthcare, franchises, real estate, and assorted other sectors throughout my career as part of large funds (ABRY Partners), my own fund (Avalon Equity Partners), individual investments, and various partnerships with other seasoned private equity investors. I’ve also advised private equity firms on board level matters, deal structuring, and post close optimization. I wanted to use all those experiences — the mistakes, successes, and invaluable connections — in this great industry to create a flexible but focused investment platform serving a sector where demand will always outweigh supply. Plus, I wanted to have fun in the process, hence the formation of NewOrigin Investments in 2023.

What is your investment thesis or value proposition?

Due to increased life expectancy; the Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age; and historically, high disposable income, the aging market is ripe with investment opportunity. Private equity already heavily invests in-home healthcare, senior housing, and other areas. However, products and services increasing mobility, communication, education, mental health, and fiscal management in eldercare remains fragmented and severely underinvested. This is where NewOrigin focuses.

Our value proposition for Sellers is a long-term commitment to partnership beyond the typical hold period, the option to assess the relationship with a smaller initial investment, and opening of our vast network of other founders, C-Suite executives, lenders, and service providers throughout the relationship. Our focus is to build on the current ownership’s legacy by ensuring the continued success of the business, the development of its employees, and the implementation of strategic initiatives to accelerate the business beyond the next level of growth.

Our value proposition to capital providers is direct, candid communication on a consistent basis forming a true partnership that includes the portfolio company’s leadership. We strive to break down walls, increasing transparency. Also, NewOrigin collaborates with other seasoned private equity investors, expanding our areas of operational expertise manifold.

Any notable differentiators for the firm?

NewOrigin takes a very flexible approach to investing. In certain cases, we may make a smaller minority investment in a platform with an option to increase that investment at a fixed valuation. This eliminates much of the pressure associated with a typical deal close since certain terms, conditions, and due diligence has already been completed. Most importantly, NewOrigin provides growth capital to founder led companies for only 4 purposes: (i) liquidity – rolling over 20 – 40%, (ii) acquisition capital – usually first time, (iii) hiring of additional talent – C-suite level execs, and (iv) technology improvement – CRM, ERP, KPI (plus a host of other acronyms). These are the areas where we can add the most value with significant experience in the marketplace in each. The potential to invest more capital later provides us with the time to get this right and even with no option, we usually are speaking with founders’ years before the transaction to plan.

What are you looking for, and where are you seeing opportunities?

We’re looking for passion from owners. It’s not easy to take on a growth partner even with years of a relationship. Whether due to generational transition, desire for institutional professionalization, identification of an acquisition or estate planning, a Seller’s rationale for a transaction is unique and we treat it as such. We want them to remain engaged after the transaction since we know not everything will go as planned or wished – see pandemic, inflation, interest rates, and labor costs for examples.

We’re especially seeing opportunities with new and improved products to help people “age in place”, anything from modular, portable wheelchair ramps to electronically guided walkers, to fall detection cameras. We take a grassroots approach to deal sourcing by attending little known conferences, CEO peer-to-peer networking groups, and constantly talking to entrepreneurs in the aging space.

Finally, can you regale us with an interesting or funny M&A story?

During a due diligence site visit for a data center serving Disneyland (directly below the park), I happened to meet several Disney characters since the facility was next to the costume changing area. Although it was jarring to see Snow White, Peter Pan and Minnie Mouse taking drags from cigarettes while playing poker, they provided invaluable, unfiltered intel on the inner workings of the park and interconnectivity of the technology system. Trust me, I was dubious at first but took copious notes, fact-checked them with an engineer, double-checked with industry executives, and we ended up investing in a much higher stake. A customer data center is not the easiest investment to get comfortable with, so who better to ask than the beneficiaries on the ground (or in this case underground)? I tried to find them again to “consult” on another transaction, but unfortunately I kept only their stage names in my contacts.

“Independently Sponsored”

Trivest has a long and successful track record of working and closing deals with independent sponsors. In this series, we interview a leading or up-and-coming independent sponsor about their firm. To mix things up, at the end of each interview, we ask our guest to recount a particularly memorable (and hopefully humorous) deal-making experience. Our goal is to deepen the knowledge and strenghten connections within the independent sponsor community.
Interested in taking part? Have a potential transaction to discuss?
EMAIL TONY HILL

About Trivest

Trivest Partners, headquartered in Miami, with a presence in Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, is a private investment firm that focuses exclusively on the support and growth of founder-led and family-owned businesses. The Firm has multiple dedicated investment approaches, including both majority and minority flexibility for founders.

Privacy Settings
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
Youtube
Consent to display content from Youtube
Vimeo
Consent to display content from Vimeo
Google Maps
Consent to display content from Google
Spotify
Consent to display content from Spotify
Sound Cloud
Consent to display content from Sound