Our Business
Arbor Investments Management, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, “Arbor”, the “Firm”, “we”,
“our” or any other such collective words) is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”), with its principal place of
business in Palm Beach, Florida. Arbor also maintains offices in Chicago, Illinois and New York,
New York. Arbor was organized in 2006 and is principally owned by Gregory J. Purcell.
Arbor provides investment management services solely to its private equity and private debt fund
clients (and their respective parallel funds and alternative investment vehicles), and any references
throughout this Firm Brochure to “clients” and to Arbor’s related duties to and practices on behalf
of its clients and/or investors should be construed accordingly. These funds include (a) Arbor
Investments III, L.P., which includes its parallel fund, Arbor Affiliates Fund III, L.P. (together,
“Arbor III”), (b) Arbor Investments IV, L.P., which includes its parallel fund, Arbor Affiliates
Fund IV, L.P. (together, “Arbor IV”), (c) Arbor Debt Opportunities Fund I, L.P. (“Arbor DOF
I”), (d) Arbor Debt Opportunities Fund II, L. P., which includes its parallel fund, Arbor Debt
Opportunities Fund II-A, L.P. (“Arbor DOF II”), and (e) Arbor Investments V, L.P. which
includes its parallel fund, Arbor Investments V-A, L.P. (together, “Arbor V”). Arbor III, Arbor
IV, and Arbor V, together with any future private equity investment fund to which Arbor or its
affiliates provide investment management services, are referred to in this Firm Brochure each as
an “Equity Fund,” and collectively as the “Equity Funds”. Arbor DOF I and Arbor DOF II,
together with any future private debt investment fund to which Arbor or its affiliates provide
investment management services, are referred to in this Firm Brochure each as a “Debt Fund,”
and collectively as the “Debt Funds”. The Debt Funds and the Equity Funds are referred to herein
each as a “Fund,” and collectively as the “Funds”. In certain circumstances, Arbor permits certain
investors and third parties to invest alongside a Fund directly into portfolio company or its holding
company. Such direct co-investments are not considered clients or Funds of Arbor.
The general partner of each Fund (each, a “General Partner,” and collectively, the “General
Partners”) is affiliated with Arbor through common ownership and control as well as shared
executive officers. Each General Partner is subject to the Advisers Act pursuant to Arbor’s
registration in accordance with SEC guidance. This Firm Brochure also describes the business
practices of the General Partners, which operate as a single advisory business together with Arbor.
The applicable General Partner of each Fund retains investment discretion and investors in the
Funds do not participate in the control or management of the Funds. While the General Partners
maintain ultimate authority over the respective Funds, Arbor has been designated the role of
investment adviser. Each General Partner and the principals and certain investment professionals
of Arbor generally participate in the Fund’s investments by investing assets directly in the Funds
(through limited partner interests) or indirectly through investments in the General Partners, which
in turn, invest in the Funds.
Advisory Services
Arbor specializes in managing private fund investments primarily in the food and beverage and
related industries. Several of the senior investment professionals of Arbor have served as senior
executives, entrepreneurs, investors and advisors to many of the world’s leading food and beverage
companies. We believe our specialization enables us to play a decisive role in portfolio company
management and operations while maintaining perspective on valuations, financing parameters
and exit/liquidation potential.
Arbor provides investment advisory services as a private equity fund manager to its Funds. The
Funds invest through privately negotiated transactions in operating companies, generally referred
to as “portfolio companies.” Each portfolio company has its own independent management team
responsible for managing its day-to-day operations, although for the Equity Funds, (i) members of
Arbor or representatives appointed by the Firm are expected to serve on the boards of, or otherwise
act to influence control of the management of, such portfolio companies and will therefore have a
significant impact on the long-term direction of the company, including the selection of
management team members and (ii) in some cases, Arbor will more directly influence the day-to-
day management of a portfolio company by recruiting and installing certain individuals in various
leadership roles, such as chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or
in other roles. For each Fund, Arbor performs in-depth due diligence regarding proposed
investments, structures and evaluates platform acquisitions and add-on acquisitions to portfolio
companies, works closely with portfolio company management to provide strategic operating and
financial advice, examines and implements succession planning, and identifies multiple exit
options prior to an initial investment.
Arbor’s investment advice and authority for each Fund is tailored to the investment objectives of
that Fund; Arbor does not tailor its advisory services to the individual needs of investors in its
Funds. Arbor’s advisory services to the Funds are detailed in and governed by the relevant private
placement memoranda or other offering documents, limited partnership, subscription agreements
or other operating agreements of the Funds (collectively, the “Governing Documents”) and are
further described below in Item 8 under “Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of
Loss.” Investors in the Funds participate in the overall investment program for the applicable Fund,
but in certain circumstances can be excused from a particular investment due to legal, regulatory
or other agreed-upon circumstances pursuant to the Governing Documents. In accordance with
industry common practice, the Funds or the General Partners have entered into side letters or other
similar agreements (“Side Letters”) with certain investors that have the effect of establishing rights
under, or altering or supplementing the terms (including economic or other terms) of, the
Governing Documents with respect to such investors. Examples of Side Letters entered into
include provisions whereby investors have expressed an interest in participating in co-investment
opportunities, notification provisions, reporting requirements, advisory board representation and
“most favored nations” provisions, among others. These rights, benefits or privileges are not
always made available to all investors, consistent with the Governing Documents and general
market practice. Commencing in September 2024, Arbor will make required disclosure of certain
side letters to all investors (and in certain cases, to prospective investors) in accordance with the
new Private Fund Rule. Side Letters are negotiated at the time of the relevant investor’s capital
commitment, and once invested in a Fund, investors generally cannot impose additional
investment guidelines or restrictions on such Fund. There can be no assurance that the Side Letter
rights granted to one or more investors will not in certain cases disadvantage other investors.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, Arbor managed $3.101 billion in discretionary regulatory assets under
management. Arbor does not manage any assets on a non-discretionary basis.