about us

Sandkey Capital is a private equity firm focused on lower middle market companies across a variety of industries.  We provide flexible transaction structures in a wide range of business situations.

Our unique, hands-on approach is designed to help drive sustainable growth and create value for our partner companies. Sandkey Capital, together with our institutional investor base, brings extensive operational knowledge, strategic resources, and transactional experience.

Sandkey Capital pursues both control and minority equity investments, while also providing a range of private debt solutions.

equity strategies

Investment criteria:

  • North American Focus

  • Control Equity and Non-Control Minority Equity

  • Platforms: $3-$35 million EBITDA

  • Revenues: $10-$300 million

  • Add-ons: EBITDA of any size

  • Negative EBITDA: Distressed Companies

Industry Focus:

  • Industrial Manufacturing & Services

  • Consumer Products & Retail

  • Food & Beverage

  • Value-Added Distribution

  • Specialty Packaging

  • Healthcare Services

  • Business Services

  • Technology-enabled Services

Transaction types:

  • Family/founder & entrepreneur-led businesses

  • Corporate Carve-outs

  • Add-on acquisitions

  • Underperformers

  • Turnarounds

  • Complex & Special Situations

Equity Structures:

  • Traditional Buyouts

  • Owner Operator Recapitalizations

  • Minority Equity

  • Expansion Capital

  • Operational Turnarounds

Credit strategies

Investment products:

  • Senior Loans

  • Unitranche Loans

  • Out-of-Court Restructurings

  • Debtor-in-Possession Financings

  • Purchase of Distressed Securities

  • Special Situation Lending

  • Transaction Size: $5-$100 million

Industry Focus:

  • Industrial Manufacturing & Services

  • Consumer Products & Retail

  • Food & Beverage

  • Value-Added Distribution

  • Specialty Packaging

  • Healthcare

  • Business Services

  • Technology-enabled Services

Kevin Smith | MANAGING PARTNER | KSmith@sandkeycapital.com | (305) 467-1120

Kevin has over 20 years of experience in private equity and capital markets. He began his career in private equity at H.I.G. Capital, a leading global private equity firm with a focus on the mid-cap segment of the market. While at H.I.G. for eight years, he concentrated on business development and transaction sourcing for the firm’s various investment funds and strategies.

Following H.I.G. Capital, Kevin was Vice President of Business Development at Audax Private Equity, a capital provider for middle and lower middle market companies through its private equity and strategic capital strategies. 

Kevin has also led business development efforts for Granite Street Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm focused on industrial manufacturing companies and for a family office investing in essential, non-discretionary services businesses.

Kevin began his professional career in equity capital markets at Goldman Sachs and Prudential Securities (now Wells Fargo Advisors).

An active member in M&A and business networking organizations, Kevin currently serves on the Membership and Sponsorship Committees of ACG South Florida and previously served on the Private Equity / Investment Banking Committee for ACG Boston.  He is also actively involved in several charitable organizations.  

A native of Miami Beach, Florida, Kevin earned a B.A. in Finance at the University of Florida. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities such as golf and fishing, rooting on the Dolphins, Heat, and Gators, and spending time with his family.

Randall Bast | Senior AdvISor | Portfolio Operations

Randall is an entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and business coach with more than 35 years of experience providing leadership and value creation support to emerging growth, middle market, and Fortune 500 companies.

He began his career as a business and technology consulting professional and held senior management positions with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and Cambridge Technology Partners.

In 1996, Bast set out on his own as the founder and CEO of Innovex Group, a Technology Consulting organization focused on large and mid-sized companies across a wide array of industries.

In 2000, Innovex Group was acquired by Citrix Systems in an all-cash transaction. Bast joined Citrix as Vice President of Worldwide Consulting Services, where he built a global professional services organization and opened offices around the world. In 2006, Bast invested in Hostopia (TSX: H) and was later elected to its Board, participating on both the Compensation and the Mergers & Acquisitions Committees. Hostopia was acquired by Deluxe (NYSE: DLX) in 2008. Bast has also participated on numerous business advisory boards.

He currently serves as the Chief Investment and Development Officer for Clotine Capital an alternative investment platform focused on real-estate lending, land development, and tax-advantaged strategies.

Randall is a long-time member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO) and serves on the South Florida Chapter’s President’s Council. For the past 20 years, he has been mentoring other entrepreneurs and is also a certified business coach. As an advisor and business coach his focus is on helping organizations scale by building high-performing teams, cultivating strong cultures, and refining the hiring process to ensure alignment with the organization.

Bast graduated with High Honors from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in Finance and a Master of Business Administration degree. He currently resides in Delray Beach. In his free time, he enjoys tennis, golf, and boating.

Sara Maya | Marketing | Portfolio Operations

Sara leverages her passion and expertise in content marketing, digital marketing, and public relations to develop and execute effective and engaging marketing and advertising programs that drive revenue and brand value.

She analyzes user experience data, initiates digital projects, reports on strategies and outcomes, and leads cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality and innovative content across various platforms and channels.

Outside of her involvement with Sandkey Capital and its portfolio companies, Sara is the founder of Paradigm Collective, a dynamic, woman-owned public relations and digital marketing agency.

With a Master of Science degree in Digital Audience Strategy from Arizona State University - Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, she has a solid foundation and understanding of the latest digital tools and trends, as well as the skills and knowledge to optimize SEO, create integrated and cost-effective digital strategies, and identify opportunities to improve website performance and user retention.

Sara also has substantial experience in launching and managing marketing campaigns, creating and distributing press releases, organizing and moderating events, and building strong relationships with media owners, agencies, and customers.

Sara is a bilingual communicator (English-Spanish) with a mission-driven and growth-focused mindset and a vision to create impactful and meaningful stories that resonate with diverse and global audiences.

We’re Hiring in Miami

At Sandkey Capital, our relocation to Miami marks an exciting new chapter — and we’re looking for exceptional talent to grow with us.

Explore your next move in private equity in Miami with Sandkey Capital. Send your resumes or reach out to Kevin Smith directly.