Ex-Fort Washington exec’s shop, Timber Bay, eyes $250m for small-market secondaries

The firm is among a handful of newer shops raising capital to target the smaller side of the secondaries market, which is busy and largely ignored by larger firms.

Timber Bay Partners, formed by executives from Fort Washington Capital Partners to target lower-mid-market secondaries, is targeting $250 million for its second fund, according to a person with knowledge of the firm.

The firm is among a handful of newer shops raising capital to target the smaller side of the secondaries market, which is busy and largely ignored by larger firms. Others that operate in the lower-to-mid-market end of the secondaries market include Kline Hill Partners and New 2nd Capital.

Timber Bay’s second fund does not have a cap, the person said. But considering demand, the fund could raise up to $275 million, the person said. Fund II had raised around $145 million as of April from 52 investors, according to a Form D filing.

The firm targeted $200 million for its first fund in 2017, which had a gross asset value of about $172.6 million as of March, according to the firm’s Form ADV.

No one from Timber Bay returned a comment request Tuesday. Metric Point Capital is working as placement agent on the fundraising. Timber Bay managed about $313.3 million as of December 31, 2020, according to the Form ADV.

The firm focuses on GP-led deals like fund restructurings and more traditional LP portfolio sales, the Form ADV said. It’s typical deal size is $100 million or less, according to its website.

In 2019, the firm invested alongside fellow secondaries shop Committed Advisors in the spin out of T-street Capital from Opus Bank, according to a statement at the time.

Joseph Woods, managing partner, is principal owner of Timber Bay, according to the Form ADV. He formed the firm in 2016 along with partner Phil Johnson. Woods formerly was managing director and head of secondaries at Fort Washington, where he worked from 2008 to 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Johnson worked at Fort Washington, where he focused on secondaries, from 2009 to 2016, his profile said. Another investment executive is Chris Mehlhorn, principal, who joined from Fort Washington, where he was an analyst starting in 2013, according to his profile.