CUT THROUGH noise.
COMPOUND WITH conviction.
Sword Capital is a New York-based private investment firm. We back exceptional founders, carve out unloved divisions, and structure credit where banks won’t go — delivering sharp, risk-adjusted returns since 1998.
SEC Registered Adviser • Audited by Big Four • ESG Integrated • Co-invest friendly
01 — About Sword Capital
A sharper blade for complex markets.
Named for precision, not aggression. We cut through complexity — bloated conglomerates, messy successions, misunderstood tech — and forge focused, high-performing businesses.
We don’t chase deals.
We engineer outcomes.
From $20M growth checks to $400M buyouts, Sword Capital operates as owner-operators. 70% of our partners ran P&Ls before they ran portfolios. We sit in the factory, not just the boardroom.
- ✓Independent & partner-owned. No outside shareholders. 100% alignment — $310M of partner capital invested alongside clients.
- ✓Operational alpha. 42-person value-creation team: pricing, AI, supply chain, talent. Average EBITDA uplift +38% in 3 years.
- ✓Downside first. Structured downside protection in 89% of deals. Capital preservation is our first sword.
- ✓Global, yet boutique. 118 professionals across New York, London, Singapore. One investment committee, one standard.
02 — What we do
Four blades. One forge.
Diversified across the capital stack, united by underwriting discipline. Minimum investment $5M. Target net returns 14-22%.
Private Equity Buyout
Control buyouts in industrials, healthcare services & B2B software. $80M–$400M equity. Carve-outs and founder successions.
→ 21.2% IRR • 3.4x MOIC
Venture & Growth
Series B–D in fintech, cybersecurity, applied AI. Lead checks $20M–$80M. Operator network of 400+ CTOs.
→ 32 exits • 5 unicorns
Real Assets
Logistics, data centers, energy transition. Sale-leaseback and development. Inflation-linked cashflows.
→ $1.2B NAV • 9.1% yield
Private Credit
Senior secured direct lending $15M–$120M. First lien, covenants, 450–700bps over SOFR. Zero principal loss since 2016.
→ 11.8% net yield
How we 4.1x’d Meridian Fasteners in 4 years
Carved out from a conglomerate, repriced 4,200 SKUs, automated Ohio plant, bolted on 3 add-ons. $62M → $254M exit to strategic.
Request full memo →
From $8M ARR to $92M: Ledgerline’s sword edge
Led Series C, embedded our AI pricing engine, opened Singapore hub. Now processing $14B annually. IPO slated 2027.
Talk to growth team →03 — Performance & Discipline
Numbers cut deeper than narratives.
Net Returns by Vintage
Audited track record. Past performance not indicative of future results.
| Fund | Vintage | Size | Net IRR | MOIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sword I | 2008 | $420M | +19.4% | 2.8x |
| Sword II | 2014 | $890M | +22.1% | 3.2x |
| Sword III | 2019 | $1.6B | +18.4% | 2.6x |
| Sword IV | 2024 | $2.1B | +14.2%* | 1.4x* |
| Credit Opp. | Evergreen | $780M | +11.8% | 1.7x |
* Early J-curve, as of Q2 2026. Top-quartile per Preqin.
Growth of $1M Since 1998
Sword Composite vs S&P 500 Total Return
Loss Ratio (vs 1.8 industry)
Partners Re-up in Fund IV
04 — How we invest
The Sword Method™ — 5 cuts.
Proprietary Sourcing
78% off-market. 12,000 companies mapped, 400 CEO dinners/year.
Forensic Diligence
120-day deep dive: customers, code, churn, culture. We kill 94% of deals.
Structured Entry
Downside protection, ratchets, governance. Never overpay for hope.
Value Creation
100-day plan, AI sprints, pricing power. Weekly KPI war-room.
Disciplined Exit
Dual-track exits, partial monetization. Avg hold 4.2 years.
05 — Leadership
Operators first. Financiers second.
“Sword didn’t just fund us — they rebuilt our go-to-market in 90 days. NRR went from 102% to 138%.”
★★★★★ PORTFOLIO CEO
“The most rigorous diligence I’ve seen in 20 years as a founder. Brutal, fair, and ultimately right.”
★★★★★ EXITED FOUNDER
“Our endowment has been in all four funds. Consistent top-quartile, zero surprises, total transparency.”
★★★★★ INSTITUTIONAL LP SINCE 2008
06 — Insights & News
Sharp thinking, monthly.
Market letters, deal notes and macro swords — from our investment committee to your inbox. No spam, only edge.
07 — Contact
Ready to wield capital wisely?
Request Investor Deck
For LPs, founders & intermediaries. Response within 24h business days. Minimum $5M co-invest / $1M fund.
+1 (212) 555-0148 • [email protected]
