Compass Partners brings elite experience and focus to help companies seize 21st century opportunities.
Compass Partners brings elite experience and focus to help companies seize 21st century opportunities.
Core Principles
Compass Partners brings elite experience and focus to help companies seize 21st century opportunities.
Passion for Excellence.
Enduring Belief in Humility and Adaptability.
Family-like Emphasis on Trust and Collaboration.
Philosophy
Compass is developing a proprietary pipeline of companies to become part of unique 21st century platforms.
Experienced Team
Prudent Use of Debt
Expansive Network
Rigorous Risk Assessment
Criteria
Compass is developing a proprietary pipeline of companies to become part of unique 21st century platforms.
Criteria
Compass is developing a proprietary pipeline of companies to become part of unique 21st century platforms.
- Companies that serve Aerospace & Defense and Industrial markets
- Synergy with sector-specific, 21st century themes developed by industry experts
- Platform companies based in the United States, add-ons considered globally
- Strong management teams looking to take their company to the next level
- Robust existing book of business with opportunity to scale and/or make operational improvements
- EBITDA of $5-50 million for platform companies, no size limit for add-ons
Our Portfolio



Meet Our Team
Stephen M. Waters
Managing Partner
Radek Kozlowski
Managing Director
James Waters
Chief Of Staff
Orson Clay
Vice President
Torey Saager
Office Manager
Meet Our Team
Stephen M. Waters
Managing Partner
Steve founded Compass in 1997 and is its Managing Partner.
He assisted in raising and subsequently managed Compass’ successful $900+ million European Equity Fund. In 2016 that Fund’s team completed a €1.7 billion portfolio purchase of assets from Bridgepoint.
Prior to Compass, Steve ran the Mergers & Acquisitions departments at Lehman Brothers and then Morgan Stanley, and was on the latter’s Operating Committee as Co-CEO of Morgan Stanley International in London. He was Chairman of the US Naval Institute and remains on its Foundation’s Board, as well as those of Valero and Boston Private Financial, which he chairs.
Steve was a George F. Baker Scholar at Harvard Business School, Lieutenant in the US Navy, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College.
Radek Kozlowski
Managing Director
Radek joined Compass in 2015. A mechanical engineer, M&A banker, and industrials specialist, he leads Compass deal teams from sourcing through execution.
Prior to Compass , Radek was an M&A advisor with a number of prominent investment banks in New York and Washington, DC. He also founded a successful M&A advisory firm. Prior to his work in finance he served in technical and management roles with global manufacturers of motion control components.
Radek received his BS Hons. in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University at Kingston and his MBA from Drexel University LeBow College of Business.
James Waters
Chief of Staff
James joined Compass in 2014. He manages the firm’s investment business and day-to-day operations in addition to leading Compass deal teams from sourcing through execution.
Before joining Compass, James served as a US Navy SEAL platoon commander and as a White House staffer, including a stint at the Office of Management and Budget.
James received his BA cum laude from Harvard College and his MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a George F. Baker Scholar.
Orson Clay
Vice President
Orson joined Compass in 2018 and supports all aspects of investing execution through sourcing, detailed analysis, and diligence.
Prior to Compass, Orson worked as an investment banking analyst with Wells Fargo Securities in the Corporate Finance Advisory Group where he focused on capital structure and strategic transaction advisory for companies in various industries.
Orson graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Applied Mathematics in 2016.
Torey Saager
Office Manager
Torey joined Compass Partners in 2018. She is responsible for managing the firm’s office, including HR & Recruiting, Accounting & Administration, and providing support to all team members.
Before joining Compass, Torey worked at Basso Capital Management, providing support to the CEO, Marketing & Investor Relations, Accounting, and Legal & Compliance teams. She also worked as a conference coordinator in the Global Access group at Jefferies and as an associate at Silicon Valley Bank in Boston.
Torey completed her BA in Communication at Boston College while captaining its Division-1 swim team.
Investment News












News
Tim Grass Named President & Chief Executive Officer of Nautilus Integrated Solutions
April 3, 2023 Stamford, CT - Compass Partners Capital LLC (“Compass”) announced today that Tim Grass has been selected as Nautilus Integrated Solutions ("Nautilus") new President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Tim is an accomplished manufacturing executive who...
ThayerMahan raises $30 million in Series C Funding
GROTON, Conn., April 18, 2023 – ThayerMahan, a world leader in autonomous maritime surveillance solutions, completed $30 million in Series C funding, led by the MC2 Security Fund (MC2). New investors in the round also include I Squared Capital, Ducenta Squared Asset...
Contact Us
One Harbor Point Square
2200 Atlantic Street
Suite 520
Stamford, CT 06902
+212 702 8650