FINANCE: CEO Credits Milestone, Continued Growth to Unique Approach
By: Madison Geering
Read original article here.
SAN DIEGO – The tide is high, and still rising, for Tide Rock.
On Oct. 7, the San Diego-based unlevered buyout firm announced that it surpassed $1 billion in acquisition capital.
Tide Rock CEO Ryan Peddycord credits the milestone to the company’s signature approach. The firm operates with an unlevered, permanent capital model allowing it to hold companies for long-term growth.
“We’ve grown every business we’ve ever owned at an average of 24% per year, focusing on consistency and disciplined operations,” Peddycord said. “Our primary goal is to continue to do that, or improve it. If we can keep doing that — year in and year out — all of the other results will follow. The real milestone we are celebrating isn’t the $1 billion. It’s that we’ve built something that works sustainably and at scale.”
Tide Rock focuses on B2B companies in industries like manufacturing, business services and value-added distribution/logistics. The company made more than $250 million in profit in 2025.
According to PitchBook benchmarks, Tide Rock’s returns would place it among the top 1% of private equity firms.
“We’ve been around for 12 years, and we’ve focused on quality from day one,” Peddycord said. “[We’re] making sure that we grow businesses, acquire the right way and see that sustained, consistent growth.”
Consistency is Key
According to Peddycord, Tide Rock is one of the 20 largest private companies in San Diego. Over the last several years, the company has added over 1,000 employees, bringing its current count to 3,000.
The $1 billion milestone, Peddycord said, was less a set benchmark and more a validation of the company’s processes. Looking forward, he said that the goal is consistency versus evolution.
“Honestly, $1 billion in acquisition capital wasn’t a target we were thinking about,” Peddycord said. “It kind of snuck up on us until our investors, and many in the industry, started bringing it up. No one has taken this part of the market to this level of scale like we are doing… We’re now the largest in our industry, doing what we do with an unlevered buyout model.”
Tide Rock focuses its partnerships on founder-led businesses. The local manufacturing, distribution and services industries tend to be fragmented markets without a clear path after founders retire, Peddycord said.
As Tide Rock grows, the company aims to continue prioritizing preservation of founder legacies while building capacity.
“This is the most exciting time for me, because now we’re in the block and tackle,” Peddycord said. “We’ve got the scale. We figured out the model. We know what works, and now we can focus on continuing to execute upon what we’ve already figured out.”
Thoughtful Expansion
On Oct. 22, Tide Rock announced the acquisitions of Precision Waterjet & Laser — now, Precision Advanced Machining — in Anaheim, California, and Made in America Manufacturing in Buda, Texas. The move is an intentional expansion to deepen Tide Rock’s portfolio with precision machining platforms serving blue-chip aerospace, space systems and advanced industrial customers.
Beyond the $1 billion milestone, Peddycord said that Tide Rock is looking for ways to grow with intention.
“I didn’t know when I was growing up that I was going to be in business,” Peddycord said. “And when we started Tide Rock, we had a vision to do things a little bit differently… Next thing you know, you look around and you’re at this scale. It’s really amazing to appreciate what we’ve built together.”
Peddycord said there is not a particular goal the company is stiving for next. Personally, he said, he is more focused on enjoying the growth journey as it comes and supporting the company’s people.
“Many of the founders we’ve partnered with have actually rolled equity into Tide Rock and become investors in the platform,” Peddycord said. “They see the value in our tax-efficient structure and the quarterly cash distributions we deliver. Most importantly, they believe in our long-term model, and they want to be part of it.”
Tide Rock
FOUNDED: 2013
CEO: Ryan Peddycord
HEADQUARTERS: Solana Beach
BUSINESS: Investment management/holding company focused on business-to-business (B2B) companies in sectors like manufacturing, distribution, and business services
EMPLOYEES: About 3,000
REVENUE: $1 billion in acquisition capital
WEBSITE: https://tiderock.com
CONTACT: marketing@tiderock.com
SOCIAL IMPACT: A notable example of Tide Rock’s positive social impact is through its portfolio companies like American Recycling, Mat Recyclers and Full Circle Electronics, which specialize in waste recycling and repurposing solutions for electronics, mattress and more.
NOTABLE: Tide Rock’s founder referral program is a virtuous cycle built on trust and positive post-acquisition relationships. By offering a more founder-friendly and stable transition than traditional private equity firms, Tide Rock earns the confidence of former business owners, who then become a powerful source of new, high-quality acquisition opportunities
Source: San Diego Business Journal
