Unity Partners LP (“Unity” or “the firm”), a principles-based private equity firm,today announced it has completed a strategic investment in Amplēo, a leader in fractional finance, marketing and HR managed professional services. Amplēo management and Brooks Growth Partners, led by Amplēo Board member Jeremiah Jewkes, partnered with Unity in the investment. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1996 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Amplēo began as a provider of part-time CFO and outsourced controller services to small and mid-sized businesses. Since that time, Amplēo has applied its effective model to add world-class fractional marketing and HR services through seasoned CMOs and HR Leaders. The company expanded their services further with the acquisitions of Stage Marketing, The Sales Tax People, and Peak Business Valuation over the past 12 months. Amplēo’s veteran experts give businesses the strategic insights and day-to-day guidance they need to become market leaders, at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time resources.
“As we searched for a strategic partner who possessed strong operational and M&A experience, we quickly realized that Unity was the perfect fit to help us achieve our growth goals,” said Lincoln Howell, CEO of Amplēo. “We’re thrilled to have Unity on board as this partnership will extend the reach of our finance, marketing, and HR services to better support businesses nationwide and provide our clients with the expertise needed to grow their companies through a single trusted partner.”
The business is benefitting from attractive market dynamics including 23 percent year-over-year increase in demand for fractional leaders at all levels, and a 170 percent increase since 2022.
“Amplēo is an outstanding business that checks the boxes we look for: a talented and ambitious management team with a focus on ownership culture, and essential service needs in a fragmented market. We see significant M&A and organic opportunity to further solidify Amplēo as a leading managed professional service provider,” said Hannah Inclán, Investment Team Vice President at Unity Partners.
“We are confident that the support we will provide—including implementing new technology and processes, expansion of complementary services, and adding new talent as the company grows–will result in significant value acceleration,” added Bobby Schneider, a Propel Team Lead at Unity Partners.
Employee ownership is built into each of Unity Partners’ platform investments, and Amplēo will be launching its own Employee Purpose Plan that allows the company’s employees to share in the firm’s financial success.
“With demand for managed professional services continuing to grow, we’re excited to partner with Unity and leverage their expertise and exceptional team as we look to capitalize on our momentum and extend our market leadership through organic partner hires and strategic acquisitions,” said Jon Allen, President of Amplēo.
Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere LLCserved as legal advisor to Amplēo on the transaction. Kirkland & Ellis LLPserved as legal advisor to Unity Partners.
