Auxo Firm Directory · Independent Research Profile

Golden Gate Capital

Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity firm founded in 2000. Its stated strategy centers on control investments in North American companies, with a focus on founder- and owner-led middle-market platforms across Consumer, Industrials, and Technology & Financial Services.

Key takeaway

Golden Gate Capital targets control investments in North American companies with $20 million to $50 million of EBITDA.

Its Fund VII strategy focuses on founder- and owner-led middle-market platforms in Consumer, Industrials, and Technology & Financial Services, with platform building, organic growth, operational change, and add-on acquisitions forming part of its stated approach.[1][2][3][6][7][8]

What does Golden Gate Capital invest in?

Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity firm founded in 2000. Its stated approach is to partner with management teams to build platform companies, using patient capital and deep industry expertise in a growth-oriented private equity strategy.

An SEC-hosted Form ADV identifies GOLDEN GATE PRIVATE EQUITY INC. as the legal name and GOLDEN GATE CAPITAL as the primary business name. The filing lists CRD number 157379 and SEC file number 801-73532.[1][2][11]

Golden Gate Capital states that it seeks market-leading businesses with durable competitive advantages and secular growth potential. The firm describes its objective as adding value over the long run through management partnership, patient capital, and industry expertise.

Its public approach also emphasizes strategic and operational change. The firm states that most of its acquisitions have been made in conjunction with existing platform companies.[1][2]

Owners evaluating a financial buyer can compare the offer with independent valuation analysis, understand how acquirers approach transactions through Auxo’s buy-side M&A process guide, and consider whether a full or partial sale best fits their objectives.

EBITDAPublicly stated range
Lower published point$20MILLION
Upper published point$2.5BILLION

Published criteria: Golden Gate Capital states that it targets North American companies with $20 million to $50 million of EBITDA and makes control investments. Fund VII closed with over $1.5 billion in total capital commitments, with approximately $1 billion of expected co-investment capacity and total investable capital of $2.5 billion.[3]

What should a business owner evaluate before considering a transaction with Golden Gate Capital?

For an owner evaluating a potential control investment, the publicly stated criteria include North American geography, $20 million to $50 million of EBITDA, founder- or owner-led middle-market companies, and the Consumer, Industrials, or Technology & Financial Services sectors.

Owners should clarify the proposed platform or add-on structure, the degree of control sought, the role of management, and the planned use of organic growth, operational change, or add-on acquisitions. The official oneZero, Brava, and Stonehill transaction announcements do not disclose their respective financial terms, so valuation and transaction-structure details should be confirmed directly.[2][3][6][7][8]

01

What percentage of equity and voting control would Golden Gate Capital typically require

The firm states that it targets control investments, while the public criteria do not specify a standard equity or voting threshold.[3]
02

How would Golden Gate Capital determine valuation and EBITDA adjustments for a proposed transaction

The public criteria identify a $20 million to $50 million EBITDA range but do not establish a valuation methodology or EBITDA-adjustment framework.[3]
03

What rollover-equity, management-retention, earn-out, or seller-financing structures would apply

The official oneZero, Brava, and Stonehill transaction announcements do not disclose their financial terms.[6][7][8]

What companies does Golden Gate Capital target?

Golden Gate Capital targets North American companies with $20 million to $50 million of EBITDA. Its Fund VII strategy focuses on founder- and owner-led middle-market platforms and control investments.[3]

Golden Gate Capital identifies three core sector verticals: Consumer, Industrials, and Technology & Financial Services.[2]

Golden Gate Capital targets control investments in North American companies. The firm’s principal office is listed at One Embarcadero Center, 39th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111.[3][11]

Golden Gate Capital describes a platform-company model that combines strategic and operational change, organic growth, and add-on acquisitions. The firm states that most of its acquisitions have been made in conjunction with existing platform companies.

Owners can clarify whether a proposed transaction would be structured as a new platform or in conjunction with an existing platform company.[2][3]

Golden Gate Capital identifies oneZero Financial Systems and Brava Roof Tile as active portfolio companies. oneZero is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, and Brava Roof Tile is headquartered in Washington, Iowa; both investments were made in 2024.[4][5]

  • Golden Gate Capital announced an investment in oneZero Financial Systems on November 12, 2024, intended to support organic growth and mergers and acquisitions.
  • Golden Gate Capital announced an investment in Brava Roof Tile on November 11, 2024, to support production-capacity expansion and other growth initiatives.
  • Golden Gate Capital completed the sale of Stonehill Environmental Partners on March 11, 2025. Stonehill had been launched in 2021 through a de novo investment in partnership with its CEO.
  • Harvest Partners completed a majority acquisition of The Learning Experience from Golden Gate Capital on July 1, 2025, with Golden Gate retaining a minority position.
  • 4×4 Capital announced the acquisition of Bob Evans Restaurants from Golden Gate Capital on February 5, 2026.
[6][7][8][9][10]

What is not clear from Golden Gate Capital's public investment criteria?

The official oneZero transaction announcement does not disclose the financial terms of Golden Gate Capital’s investment. The official Brava transaction announcement likewise does not disclose the investment’s financial terms.

The official Stonehill sale announcement does not disclose the financial terms of that transaction.[6][7][8]

Questions to ask when evaluating Golden Gate Capital as a buyer or investment partner

What percentage of equity and voting control would Golden Gate Capital typically require?
The firm states that it targets control investments, while the public criteria do not specify a standard equity or voting threshold.[3]
How would Golden Gate Capital determine valuation and EBITDA adjustments for a proposed transaction?
The public criteria identify a $20 million to $50 million EBITDA range but do not establish a valuation methodology or EBITDA-adjustment framework.[3]
What rollover-equity, management-retention, earn-out, or seller-financing structures would apply?
The official oneZero, Brava, and Stonehill transaction announcements do not disclose their financial terms.[6][7][8]
What would the intended add-on and operational-improvement plan be for the company?
Golden Gate Capital states that it pursues strategic and operational change and that most acquisitions have been made in conjunction with existing platform companies.[2]
What governance rights and board composition would apply?
The firm’s public criteria establish a control-investment strategy but do not specify governance rights or board composition for a proposed transaction.[3]
What leverage range and financing sources would be used?
The public criteria and selected transaction announcements do not establish a standard leverage range or financing-source framework.[3][6][7][8]
What ownership horizon or exit approach would apply to the investment?
Golden Gate Capital describes adding value over the long run, but the public strategy materials do not specify a standard ownership horizon or exit approach.[1]
How would conflicts be handled if Golden Gate Capital already owned a company in a related vertical?
The firm identifies Consumer, Industrials, and Technology & Financial Services as core verticals and describes acquisitions involving existing platform companies.[2]

Sources & research notes

Public-source research
  1. Official website / firm overview
  2. Services / capabilities
  3. Geography / market coverage
  4. Transaction / portfolio evidence
  5. Transaction / portfolio evidence
  6. Transaction / portfolio evidence
  7. Transaction / portfolio evidence
  8. Transaction / portfolio evidence
  9. Transaction / portfolio evidence
  10. Transaction / portfolio evidence
  11. SEC filing / regulatory record
Prepared and reviewed by: Auxo Capital AdvisorsEvidence standard: Public-source verification

How this profile was researched

Auxo profiles are prepared from publicly available primary and authoritative sources and reviewed for entity identity, factual support and disclosure consistency. When a fact cannot be supported by the reviewed public record, the profile identifies it as something to confirm directly rather than inferring it.

Independent profile & regulatory context

Independent research profile

This profile was prepared by Auxo Capital Advisors from publicly available information believed to be reliable and is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. It is not an endorsement, recommendation, ranking, solicitation, or representation regarding the profiled firm, its services, qualifications, transaction experience, regulatory status, financial condition, or suitability for any particular person, company, transaction, or investment.

Information obtained from third-party and public sources may be incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, or subject to change, and Auxo Capital Advisors makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Readers should conduct their own independent diligence and consult appropriate professional advisers before engaging any advisor, intermediary, investor, lender, acquirer, or other transaction counterparty.

Broker-dealer and securities disclosure

Auxo Capital Advisors is an affiliate of Weild & Co., Member FINRA | SIPC. Securities-related activities and securities transactions are conducted through Weild & Co.

Nothing contained on this page constitutes an offer to sell, an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security, investment product, or financial instrument. Nothing on this page constitutes investment advice, a recommendation regarding any security, or a recommendation to enter into any transaction with the profiled firm or any other party.

Any securities transaction, capital-raising engagement, investment-banking engagement, or other securities-related activity involving Auxo Capital Advisors or Weild & Co. is subject to applicable regulatory requirements, internal review and approval, suitability and other applicable diligence requirements, and the terms of a separate written engagement or transaction agreement, as applicable.

Inclusion of a third-party firm in this directory does not imply affiliation with, sponsorship by, endorsement by, or any other relationship with Auxo Capital Advisors or Weild & Co. unless expressly stated otherwise.