Ex-Lindsay Goldberg partner Chris Laitala launches Avesi Partners

Chris Laitala, a Lindsay Goldberg partner focused on healthcare and business services investing, left the firm to set up his own private equity shop, Buyouts has learned.

Laitala departed Lindsay Goldberg early this year, sources said. In February, he launched Avesi Partners, a buyout investor in sectors like those he specialized in at Lindsay Goldberg and other PE firms.

Though less than six months old, Avesi is already in the market with its inaugural offering.

The Stamford, Connecticut, manager in late June filed Form D fundraising documents for Avesi Partners Fund I and a parallel vehicle, indicating a target of $827 million. Lazard is the placement agent.

Laitala was with Lindsay Goldberg for four years, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was primarily active in healthcare, playing a role in deals like the 2017 recapitalization of Women’s Care Florida, later part of Women’s Care Enterprises, a women’s medical services platform he chaired.

Laitala was a partner during the marketing of Lindsay Goldberg’s fifth flagship offering. The fund was wrapped up in 2020 at about $3.5 billion, Buyouts previously reported.

Prior to Lindsay Goldberg, Laitala was for seven years with HIG Capital, where as a managing director he led investments in healthcare, business services, industrials and other sectors. He also worked for Great Point Partners and JH Whitney Capital Partners.

Avesi’s strategy is to make control investments in US lower mid-market companies operating in healthcare services, healthcare technology and business services, its website shows. Target opportunities will have EBITDA of $10 million to $30 million and enterprise values of $50 million to $300 million.

Avesi’s leadership team includes partners Chris Williams and Peter Erickson. Williams was formerly an executive with BDT & Company, a merchant bank affiliate of BDT Capital Partners. He also co-founded Harris Williams, a mid-market M&A advisory firm.

Erickson joined from Triple Tree, a healthcare-focused merchant bank. He was there for more than 22 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Avesi did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

(This story was updated to include information from sources about Laitala’s departure from Lindsay Goldberg.)