Investment Criteria

Scalable middle-market businesses providing essential products and solutions

North America

GEOGRAPHY

$100M to $500M

ENTERPRISE VALUE*

$50M to $250M

EQUITY INVESTMENT*

Industry leaders in a niche sector with sustainable competitive advantage

Significant barriers to entry with defensible downside protection and pricing power throughout the economic cycle

Operating businesses or late-stage development projects

Businesses providing essential products and solutions that leverage macro trends driving demand and growth

  • Industry leaders in a niche sector with sustainable competitive advantage
  • Significant barriers to entry with defensible downside protection and pricing power throughout the economic cycle
  • Operating businesses or late-stage development projects
  • Businesses providing essential products and solutions that leverage macro trends driving demand and growth
  • Industry leaders in a niche sector with sustainable competitive advantage
  • Significant barriers to entry with defensible downside protection and pricing power throughout the economic cycle
  • Operating businesses or late-stage development projects
  • Businesses providing essential products and solutions that leverage macro trends driving demand and growth

*No minimum for add-on transactions.

Example Industries

Transportation & Logistics

  • Inland terminals, specialty ports
  • Business aviation
  • Rail services
  • Waste management
  • Air cargo

Technology

  • Metro fiber
  • Fixed wireless
  • Fiber to the Home (FTTH), Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) connectivity
  • Towers
  • Distributed antenna (DA) systems

Energy Transition

  • Transition fuel
  • Waste-to-value
  • Battery storage
  • District energy

Environmental

  • Controlled environment agriculture
  • Nurseries / propagation
  • Food processing
  • Irrigation, wastewater

Social

  • Healthcare (pharma and provider services)
  • Education
  • Public facilities
  • Registries

Value Creation

Instar places people at the forefront to deliver value for our investors, partners, communities and employees. Applying a people-first approach, we bring strategic value to our portfolio companies through growth initiatives, enhancement strategies including operational improvements and de-risking, and strong environmental, social and governance imperatives.

Our team has more than 200 years of combined experience in the private equity and infrastructure sectors, delivering value on:

      • Acquisitions, financing and structuring
      • Transaction origination and execution with a first mover mindset
      • Strategic planning and execution
      • Active portfolio management through operational enhancements, risk management, functional and governance development and practices and environmental, social and governance expertise
      • Investment and fund administration
      • Distinctive, long-term partnership approach focused on stakeholder and community engagement
      • Network of industry leaders providing strategic and operational guidance through Instar’s Executive Leadership Program
      • Established ESG program and a people-first focus
      • Technology and cybersecurity