Building Value Through Partnership
Meritas Equity Partners is a private equity independent sponsor investing in real estate and lower middle-market companies. We source, structure, and deploy capital to complete transactions and then serve as strategic partners alongside management teams to achieve targeted goals.
Middle Markets Private Equity
Overview:
Meritas Equity Partners makes a positive, lasting impact on the businesses we acquire, their employees, and the Upstate New York economy. We leverage teamwork and a deep combination of operational, financial, and capital markets expertise to drive long-term growth.
Lower Middle Market Companies:
We partner with owners of established businesses typically generating $2M–$10M in EBITDA. By combining strategic planning, operational expertise, and access to capital, we create transformational outcomes. (Our deal structures align incentives for the management team and our investors.)
Target Sectors Include:
Manufacturing & Industrial Services: Niche operators with defensible market positions.
Specialty Distribution & Logistics: Companies supporting essential supply chain functions.
Healthcare Services: Scalable providers with strong community impact.
Technology-Enabled B2B Services:Firms leveraging software and data to drive efficiency.
Real Estate
Overview:
Meritas Equity Partners pursues multifamily and mixed-use assets, targeting both development opportunities and stabilized acquisitions where we can unlock value through operational execution and strategic repositioning.
Completed Projects: Waterford Townhomes (77 units, Clarence, NY), The Lawrence (132 units, Buffalo, NY)
Target Opportunities: Multifamily and mixed-use development projects, as well as stabilized properties with strong long-term fundamentals.
ADVISORY SERVICES
Overview:
Our advisory practice brings private equity rigor to business owners seeking an investor’s perspective without giving up equity.
Diligence Package: A comprehensive 360-degree review designed to uncover growth opportunities, risks, and value drivers. Ideal for companies preparing for sale, raising capital, or re-aligning strategy.
180-Day Plan: A proven roadmap to stabilize operations and accelerate growth in the first six months. Structured for immediate wins and long-term impact.
Independent Directorship: We serve as independent directors on the boards of family companies. We provide objective perspectives, industry expertise, skilled strategic planning, and analysis on capital allocation.
Pre-Board of Directors (or Advisory Council Creation): We provide the process, governance, and expertise of a board of directors for family businesses seeking expert input, outside perspective, and sound decision-making prior to creating a formal board of directors with legal and control complexities.
How Do We Help? Meritas works with the family leadership team to identify pre-board committees and their required reporting, including key customers, strategic initiatives, and financial forecasts and performance. Next, we meet with the committees to establish procedures to create quality board reporting to present to the leadership team. Finally, we participate in the Pre-Board (or Advisory Council) meetings as independent “directors” providing the same services as the “Independent Directorship” listed above.
ABOUT OUR TEAM
Shawn Pearce – Partner
Shawn has more than 15 years of experience in finance, markets, and business operations. Before co-founding Meritas, he spent 12 years with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York and Santiago, Chile, where he served as Global COO of the FICC Emerging Markets business, focusing on strategy, technology development, and global market access.
He began his career as a derivatives trader at AIG Trading Company in London before transitioning into strategy and risk management consulting at KPMG, where he worked in Houston, San Francisco, and New Delhi.
Outside of Meritas, Shawn and his wife own Familia Vicente Pearce, a vineyard in Argentina with wine distribution in the US and Canada.
Shawn also serves on the boards of Canisius High School and the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund. He holds a Master’s from Columbia University and a B.S. in Business from Wake Forest University, along with a certification in Winemaking from UC Davis.
Spencer Farrell – Partner
Spencer brings experience as both an operator and investor, with a career spanning private equity, sales leadership, and business operations. Before co-founding Meritas Equity Partners, he worked in private equity, partnering with management teams to accelerate growth and create long-term value. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Revenue Officer at a global software company, where he led revenue generation, business strategy, and international go-to-market execution.Spencer’s recent consulting work has focused on sales strategy, deepening customer relationships, launching new products, and building scalable revenue operations. He is also an active investor in early-stage ventures and real estate projects in Western New York.Passionate about education and economic opportunity, Spencer serves on multiple boards, including as President of the Canisius High School Board of Governors. He holds a B.S. in Finance and an MBA from Niagara University.
PHILOSOPHY & VALUES
The name Meritas is derived from two principles: Merit—the pursuit of excellence and performance—and Caritas—the commitment to care, responsibility, and giving back. Together, they reflect our belief in building businesses with both discipline and purpose.
Our Values:
Partnership: True success comes from aligned incentives and shared vision.
Discipline: We rely on rigorous analysis and execution.
Growth: We seek to unlock the full potential of people and businesses.
Integrity: Transparency and accountability guide every decision.
Commitment to Community: Meritas is dedicated to reinvesting in the community. We commit a portion of our profits to education and workforce development initiatives in Western New York, ensuring our success creates opportunity for others.
NEWS & UPDATES
Q3 2025: Meritas explores lower middle-market investment opportunities in Upstate NY.
Q2 2025: Waterford Townhomes development progresses in Clarence Center, NY.
Q1 2025: The Lawrence project advances permitting across from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
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