These firms are being recognized for thriving and being leaders in the institutional investing market.

Kingswood Capital Management Winner

Ebbs and flows in private equity deployment and performance closely track economic cycles, says Alex Wolf, managing partner in and founder of Kingswood Capital Management. He attributes this to private equity traditionally relying on a certain set of assumptions about financing, the current state of the economy and the overall macroeconomic outlook.

According to Wolf, Kingswood has innovated by developing a framework that allows for smooth, steady deployment while generating significant distributions for investors across all macro environments.

Kingswood “seeks out middle-market opportunities in industries and sectors that are overlooked, misunderstood or underestimated,” he says. “We then leverage a vast and deep bench of operational expertise to work with our companies, adding capacities to untangle their most vexing issues, help them execute their vision, and reach the next level.”

Wolf says these companies’ growth has often been limited because of a missing piece that Kingswood can provide.

“In doing so, we create value in companies by adding new and improved ways of operating in established industries or innovating at the cutting edge of new ones,” Wolf says. “Our approach has resonated with investors: Kingswood has raised three funds in just over three years—each nearly triple the size of the last—and our deal flow has not slowed, even in tighter economic conditions.”

Over the last 24 months, Kingswood has continued to build its profile as a key player in the middle market space via its fundraising and dealmaking. On the fundraising side, Kingswood’s Fund III closed in July 2024 at $1.5 billion after just 90 days, surpassing its $1 billion target and doubling the size of its previous fund.

Kingswood also made multiple acquisitions across the consumer, industrial and service sectors, with a strong emphasis on operational improvement and value creation.

The firm has deployed new technology-based tools to help track portfolio company key performance indicators and pipeline deals and to deliver fund accounting and investor reporting.

We try to maintain clear, transparent and consistent communication with investors through quarterly reports, align interests through structure and proactively manage the investments by monitoring KPIs,” Wolf says.

Finalists

• Apollo Global Management
• Schroders Investments