Tides Align: Bartnick Reunites with Bilmes at Oceans Equity

Oceans Equity has named Scott Bartnick as a new managing partner, joining firm co-founder Josh Bilmes to co-lead the Miami-based private equity firm’s investment operations, portfolio strategy, and organizational growth.

Mr. Bartnick was most recently a managing director at Boyne Capital, where he was active in sourcing and executing investments and working with portfolio management teams on organic and acquisition-driven growth initiatives. His sector experience includes business services, consumer, and healthcare.

Mr. Bartnick and Mr. Bilmes worked together at Boyne Capital from 2017 to 2023, during which time they held parallel investment roles and were jointly promoted to principal in 2021. Mr. Bilmes left in 2023 to launch Oceans Equity.

“I am excited and honored to join Oceans Equity at such a pivotal time,” said Mr. Bartnick. “I have the utmost respect and appreciation for Josh as an investor and longtime friend, and the momentum he has established at Oceans in its first year – securing commitments from top institutional investors, closing its first platform investment, and building a deep pipeline of actionable opportunities – has created an ideal environment for me to make immediate contributions to the firm’s development and success. I look forward to working alongside Josh to accelerate the firm’s growth, offering our capital partners differentiated and high-growth investment opportunities.”

“It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome Scott to Oceans as my partner,” said Mr. Bilmes. “The experience, expertise, and leadership Scott brings will be tremendous assets to the firm as we establish our platform. During our nearly 25 years of friendship and our extensive time working together as investors, we have developed a deep mutual respect and a shared vision that will underpin Oceans Equity’s continued dedication to supporting and elevating our entrepreneur and executive partners.”

Mr. Bilmes has nearly 20 years of investing and advisory experience across multiple industries. From 2017 to 2024, he was a principal with Miami-based lower middle-market investor Boyne Capital. Earlier in his career, he spent time at Aterian Investment Partners, Tavistock Group, Sun Capital Partners, and Raymond James.

Oceans Equity is headquartered in Miami and seeks control investments in United States-headquartered service businesses and niche products companies with revenues from $10 million to $100 million and EBITDA from $2 million to $12 million.

To date, Oceans has completed the acquisition of its first portfolio company, signed a purchase agreement for a second platform investment, and closed two add-on acquisitions to support the growth of its initial platform; the names of the companies involved have not been disclosed due to confidentiality requirements.

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