Norwest Equity Partners (NEP)

Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) is a leading middle market investment firm focused on partnering with business owners to build companies into industry leaders. With a reputation for quality investments and exceptional financial returns since 1961, NEP has raised over $7 billion of capital through a series of equity and mezzanine funds. Offering creative and flexible transaction solutions through management buyouts, recapitalizations and growth financings, NEP believes in long-term relationships and helping stakeholders realize liquidity at the appropriate time. NEP seeks $30-$250+ million equity investment opportunities for growing and profitable companies within the agriculture, business services, consumer, distribution, diversified industrials, energy, healthcare. NEP is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Jack Dempsey

Senior Vice President of Strategy

Sandra Ann Kim-Suk

Chief Financial Officer

Brandon Ressler

Assistant Controller

Past deals in Minnesota

Avtex

Acquisition in 2018
Avtex, a Pohlad Family Company, is an application and systems integrator that designs, develops, deploys and supports enterprise IP telephony, networking, notification, messaging and contact center solutions. Its core mission is to help clients optimize their interactions with their customers, employees, partners and prospects through communication and collaboration technologies. As a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner and Interactive Intelligence Platinum Elite Partner, Avtex is the first truly integrated interaction solution provider with deep capabilities in portal, collaboration, contact center, CRM, custom application, infrastructure, unified communications and creative design solutions. Avtex has more than 1,200 customers across the United States and in six countries with offices in Minneapolis, MN; Milwaukee and Appleton, WI; Des Moines, IA; Omaha, NE, and Cincinnati, OH.

Bailiwick

Private Equity Round in 2017
Founded in 1995 and led by Bob Marko, President and CEO, Bailiwick provides customized design and deployment of IT solutions to companies within the retail, financial, logistics & manufacturing, and quick-serve and fast casual restaurant industries. The company’s solutions include wireless design and implementation, new site opening installations and on-going maintenance, merger and acquisition integrations, hardware asset lifecycle programs, IPVS/CCTV implementation and maintenance and fast-moving technology deployments.

Bix Produce

Private Equity Round in 2015
Bix Produce Company, LLC is engaged in the distribution of bulk and pre-cut fruits and vegetables, dairy, and related food items. It offers fruits and vegetables; dairy products, such as milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, buttermilk, yogurt, and other dairy products; cheese; and nuts, including almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and more. The company serves restaurants, hotels, educational institutions, country clubs, food service distributors, and other segments of the foodservice industry in greater Minnesota; Western Wisconsin; and Fargo, North Dakota. It offers products are through sales professionals and online. Bix Produce Company, LLC was founded in 1930 and is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Marco

Private Equity Round in 2015
Marco was founded in 1973 and serves over 25,000 customers nationally. Marco provides copiers/printers, business IT services, managed services, hosted/cloud services, carrier services, phone systems, document management and audio/video systems

Eyebobs

Private Equity Round in 2015
eyebobs, LLC manufactures and sells eyewear and accessories for men and women. The company offers reading glasses, sunreaders, sunglasses, bifocals, round products, and full and half rim products. Its accessories include double valets, gift cards, neckbobs, leather lariats, Iris and sunglass clutches, display leather trays, holders on desk, and cleaning kits, as well as travel, ballistic/double ballistic, canvas zip, sequin, vegan, and hard cases. It sells its products online, as well as through stores and wholesalers in the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It also has a brick and mortar location in Orlando, Florida.

Apothecary Products

Private Equity Round in 2014
Apothecary Products, LLC is a leading innovator, manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of consumer healthcare products and pharmacy supplies. Apothecary Products offers our customers both over-the-counter consumer products and behind-the-counter pharmacy supplies, spanning across three categories, including pharmacy supply, medication management, and home healthcare. Led by our medication compliance line of products, Apothecary Products is a category innovator offering both branded and private label solutions to our customers who include independent and national retail pharmacies, food, club and mass retailers, and distributors and wholesalers worldwide. Apothecary Products LLC, a Limited Liability Company registered in the State of Delaware.

Minnesota Rubber & Plastics

Private Equity Round in 2012
Since 1945, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics has built a world-wide reputation in the molding and assembly of products made from elastomers and thermoplastics. Their reputation is founded on their unique science-based approach that has made us the preferred manufacturing partner for industry leaders in North America, Europe and Asia. And they are especially well known for their ability to provide cost-effective solutions to technically demanding applications. Their leadership is based on their experience in materials R&D, engineering design, product-development support and program management. In addition, their state-of-the-art technical support centers work closely with their manufacturing, sourcing and logistics network to ensure that customer expectations are met and exceeded. On September 17, 2012, Norwest Equity Partners acquired Quadion Corporation, d.b.a. Minnesota Rubber and Plastics.

Gopher Resource

Private Equity Round in 2010
Gopher Resource LLC is an environmental solutions provider specializing in the recycling of lead-based batteries and other hazardous household waste. Established in 1946 and headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, with an additional facility in Tampa, Florida, the company employs advanced technology and sustainable practices to process lead-acid batteries and various recyclable materials, including plastics, metals, and electronics. Gopher Resource is committed to environmental sustainability and safety, achieving recognition for its high standards in these areas. The company’s operations focus on producing refined lead primarily for use in automotive and industrial batteries, while also recycling a diverse range of materials such as aerosols, paints, and scrap metal. Through its efforts, Gopher Resource aims to protect natural resources and foster continuous improvement, ensuring a safer, more sustainable future for its clients and the environment.

Amcom Software

Private Equity Round in 2010
Amcom Software specializes in providing communication solutions designed for organizations that require efficient and reliable management of critical communications. Their offerings include advanced software for call center communications, emergency management, wireless messaging middleware, and paging infrastructure. These solutions cater to a diverse range of sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, education, business, industrial, and government. Amcom Software’s products enhance productivity and accuracy in mission-critical situations by offering features such as PC-based attendant consoles, call center recording and quality management, call accounting and reporting, and speech recognition. The company’s software is utilized by numerous leading organizations to streamline their communication processes effectively.

DCM Services

Private Equity Round in 2007
DCM Services, LLC specializes in deceased account recovery services across various industries, including credit card, healthcare, auto leasing, retail, telecommunications, and utilities in the United States. Founded in 1999 and based in Minneapolis, the company focuses on providing probate solutions and offers a range of services such as empathic active recovery, Survivor Recovery Services, DOD Finder for cross-referencing date of death information, insurance claim processing, and disputed estate claim resolution. DCM Services is distinct as the only collection agency in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to deceased accounts, establishing a process that has become an industry standard. By concentrating on estates, the company maximizes engagement with appropriate estate representatives, thereby safeguarding client brands and minimizing unnecessary contact with survivors. Their approach not only respects the intentions of decedents but also enhances recovery rates from probated estates, which can yield significant returns despite longer liquidation cycles.

Wealth Enhancement Group

Private Equity Round in 2007
Wealth Enhancement Group is a Greater Minneapolis-based independent wealth management firm offering comprehensive and customized financial planning and investment management services across 40 states. Established in 1997, Wealth Enhancement Group currently has over 10,000 households that entrust them with $4.7 billion in assets as of 3/31/15. Wealth Enhancement Group specializes in providing retail mass affluent and affluent clients with the comprehensive expertise and resources that are typically available only to large institutional investors and the ultra-wealthy. Wealth Enhancement Group uses a team approach with a focus on fostering long-term client relationships and has 13 offices throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.

Lindstrom

Private Equity Round in 2006
Lindstrom Group is a manufacturer and distributor of metric fasteners, specializing in a wide range of products including screws, bolts, nuts, washers, and pins. Operating primarily as a master distributor, Lindstrom Metric, LLC serves the market by importing and stocking these fasteners for various applications. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Blaine, Minnesota, the company has expanded its presence with additional locations in Greer, South Carolina; Beacon, New York; and Elgin, Illinois. Lindstrom markets its products through a network of distributors, ensuring a broad reach within the fastener industry.

Deep Rock Water

Private Equity Round in 2004
Headquartered in Denver, CO, Deep Rock has production facilities in Denver and Grand Junction, CO, Minneapolis, MN and Omaha, NE, and customer sales and service centers in Colorado Springs, Fort Lupton, and Avon, CO. Deep Rock's Glenwood Inglewood brand was founded in Minneapolis in 1884 while the Deep Rock brand was founded in Denver in 1896. Both have become strong regional brands. The company's products are distributed in 12 states and range in package sizes from single serve to five-gallon bottles for home or office water coolers.

Life Time

Private Equity Round in 2000
Life Time Fitness is dedicated to helping you achieve your total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals. Life Time operates 106 fitness centers around the United States and Canada, most of which operate 24 hours a day. We offer the best features of gyms, health clubs, family recreation centers, sports clubs and spa destinations. Our innovative programs, world-class training, nutrition and holistic approach to wellness will guide you toward a healthy way of life by engaging your areas of interest and helping you discover new ones.

Agiliti

Series B in 2000
Agiliti specializes in healthcare technology management, offering a range of services designed to support the U.S. healthcare industry. Their offerings include clinical engineering, equipment rental, imaging services, and onsite management, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to essential technology and support. By focusing on the operational needs of healthcare organizations, Agiliti enables these institutions to enhance their efficiency and patient care. Their commitment to providing comprehensive and tailored solutions allows healthcare facilities to effectively manage their technology resources, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.

PeopleNet

Private Equity Round in 2000
PeopleNet is a provider of onboard computing and wireless mobile carrier fleet communications systems to trucking companies, primarily in North America. Its systems are designed to improve communications between truck drivers and dispatchers, increase driver safety, reduce fuel usage, and increase efficiency in carrier back office processes. PeopleNet applications address the needs of long-haul carrier fleets in four areas: Route Management applications enable dispatchers to know the locations of all trucks at all times, provide GPS navigation for drivers, and enable dispatchers to more precisely predict delivery times. Safety, Security and Compliance applications provide automatic fuel tax calculation and reporting, eDriver Logs to document compliance with safety regulations, in-cab training for drivers to make downtime more productive, remote vehicle shutdown in case of theft, and applications to reduce accidents such as lane departure notification and speed monitoring. Vehicle management applications monitor engine performance to reduce fuel consumption and assure proper maintenance, and monitor tire pressure to increase fuel efficiency and safety. Supply chain communications applications track delivery times and automate bills of lading, delivery and receipts to reduce billing cycle time. PeopleNet's system consists of in-cab computers and peripheral devices such as scanners; a back end data center; web-based fleet management software; and a multi-network dual-mode wireless-satellite communications system which assures constant communications between trucks and dispatch centers virtually anywhere in North America.

Highland Manufacturing

Private Equity Round in 2000
For more than 20 years, Highland has earned a reputation as a premier builder of high-quality, manufactured and modular homes. It's a reputation built on innovative ideas, superior construction and a commitment to satisfied customers. More unique features. More home styles and personalized floor plans. More home for the money. Quality-conscious homebuyers looking for exceptional value, look to Highland.

Norwesco

Private Equity Round in 1998
Norwesco, Inc. is North America's leading manufacturer of proprietary rotationally molded polyethylene tanks for agricultural, water, closed-top industrial and below ground septic and cistern applications. Norwesco was founded in 1939 in St. Paul, Minnesota under the name of Northwest Plastics, Inc. The name was changed in 1973 and at that time Norwesco was ranked as one of the oldest and largest plastic processors in the United States. Norwesco had been a publicly traded company until January 1988 when Norwesco, Inc. was acquired and taken private by its management and private equity investors. In 2008 they were acquired by Olympus Partners and became part of Tank Holding Company along with tank manufacturer Snyder Industries. Their current financial partner is Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. Over the years they have significantly expanded their geographic presence through the addition of facilities throughout the United States and Canada. They currently operate 14 plants and are the third largest rotational molder in North America. Norwesco's rotational molding of tanks began in 1980 with a single plant in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. Now, that plant is the headquarters for thirteen additional manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada. Norwesco is the world's largest supplier of rotationally molded tanks and Plastics News has ranked us as one of the top ten rotational molders in North America!

Command Tooling Systems

Private Equity Round in 1997
Command Tooling Systems They design and manufacture precision CNC toolholding products for any industry ranging from your basic job shop to the high precision needs of the medical field. By combining Their advanced technologies with Their global network, They are able to continually present new, improved, and innovative tooling options for all the industries They serve.

Life Time

Private Equity Round in 1996
Life Time Fitness is dedicated to helping you achieve your total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals. Life Time operates 106 fitness centers around the United States and Canada, most of which operate 24 hours a day. We offer the best features of gyms, health clubs, family recreation centers, sports clubs and spa destinations. Our innovative programs, world-class training, nutrition and holistic approach to wellness will guide you toward a healthy way of life by engaging your areas of interest and helping you discover new ones.

Seasonal Specialties

Private Equity Round in 1996
Seasonal Specialties® lights and greengoods customer service website. Inside you will find information and FAQ's regarding light sets, and artificial trees, wreaths and garlands. Click on "Lights" if you have a question regarding a light set, window decoration, or lighted lawn decoration, and "Greengoods" if you have a question regarding a tree, wreath or garland (lit or unlit). Please note that theses are the general categories and you will be able to get more specific information on the following pages. Also, you will be able to navigate between the two categories on the following pages.

Streamfeeder

Private Equity Round in 1996
Streamfeeder product line provides automation solutions to the commercial printing, contract packaging.

CTC Distribution Direct

Private Equity Round in 1995
CTC Distribution Services, L.L.C., a small parcel consolidator, designs and manages customized package delivery solutions.

Telex Communications, Inc

Private Equity Round in 1995
Manufacturer and marketer of audio and communication products, and systems to commercial, professional, and industrial customers worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Professional Audio and Advanced Communication Technologies. The Professional Audio segment provides permanently installed sound systems, sound products used by professional musicians that are sold principally through retail channels, and sound products used in professional concerts, recording projects, and radio and television broadcasts. This segment also provides professional communication products, including digital matrix intercoms, used by broadcasters to control production communications,more

Sleep Number

Private Equity Round in 1994
This Sleep Number Facebook page is monitored and managed by Sleep Number employees. Please remember that the views and information expressed in the resources, links and content from this page should never replace professional medical advice. The inclusion of resources, links and content herein do not indicate an endorsement, affiliation or liability by nor express the opinions of Select Comfort Corporation.

Douglas Machine & Tool, Inc.

Private Equity Round in 1993
Douglas Machine & Tool, Inc. is a creator of packing and wrapping machinery.

MSP Communications Inc.

Private Equity Round in 1992
MSP-C is a Minneapolis-based content marketing agency with more than 43 years of experience of delivering smart, persuasive content across key owned, earned and paid channels. Our diverse set of clients includes market leaders in business, technology, health care and consumer brands. They rely on MSP-C’s expertise to implement sustainable content marketing programs that can scale and integrate with their traditional marketing initiatives.

Jefferson Lines

Private Equity Round in 1992
Jefferson Lines, provides daily scheduled bus services.

Titan Tool

Private Equity Round in 1991
Titan offers a complete line of dependable sprayers designed for interior and exterior projects. From the Impact 440 to the PowrTwin 8900 Plus, Titan sprayers maximize up-time allowing professionals to meet tough deadlines.

Automotive Industries Holding

Private Equity Round in 1990
Plastic component parts for domestic automobile OEMs