Exonas Capital

Overview

Exonas Capital is a Connecticut-based private investment firm specializing in private equity investments in the lower and middle markets. The firm focuses on identifying, executing, and managing investments in high-quality businesses that are at strategic, operational, or financial crossroads, aiming to generate strong investor returns through value creation initiatives that are uncorrelated with the prevailing economic environment. Exonas Capital was founded by Dino Sawaya, who brings extensive experience in global investment, business transformation, and operations to the firm. The company's approach is grounded in intellectual honesty, alignment of interests, and a commitment to straightforward dealings. The firm's investment strategy is flexible, allowing for both control buyouts and growth equity/minority investments. Exonas Capital has a particular appetite for first-time institutional capital situations involving founder or family-owned businesses, corporate divestitures, complex buyouts, and special situations investments. To drive value at its investee companies, Exonas Capital maintains a strategic partnership with the Chameleon Collective, leveraging over 150 transformation experts to engineer sustainable improvements in business performance and capture untapped growth opportunities in new and existing markets. The firm pursues opportunities across a wide range of industries, including business services, software, consumer products, industrials, and healthcare services. Exonas Capital's investments typically range from $10 million to more than $200 million in enterprise value. The firm has a global reach, with a focus on the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Notable portfolio companies include Apartment Guardian, a provider of safety solutions for the multi-family property space; TeleGeography, a global telecommunications data and analytics firm; The Rack Group, a diversified group of companies in the billiards industry; and VFG Advisory, an accounting and taxation services group for SMBs, high net worth individuals, family offices, and non-profits. The firm's founder, Dino Sawaya, has a 16-year career in private equity and investment banking, with successful investments across the U.S., Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, including both standard and special situations investments such as carve-outs, cross-border transactions, and corporate partnerships.