Golden Peak Equity
Established 2004 · San Francisco Bay Area
Building lasting
value across
industries
A private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing companies with durable competitive advantages.
Our Philosophy
Patient capital.
Operational excellence.
We partner with exceptional management teams to create transformative outcomes. Our approach combines deep sector expertise with a long-term perspective — we are owners, not traders. We seek businesses where thoughtful capital and strategic guidance can unlock meaningful, sustainable growth.
01
Disciplined Acquisition
We are selective acquirers, focusing on businesses with strong fundamentals, defensible market positions, and clear paths to value creation.
02
Active Ownership
We work alongside management teams, providing strategic resources, network access, and operational support to accelerate growth and improve performance.
03
Enduring Value
We invest with patience, building companies that are stronger, more profitable, and better positioned for the next phase of growth at exit.
Track Record
Two decades of
proven performance
Since our founding in 2004, Golden Peak has built a diversified portfolio spanning financial services to industrial businesses across the United States.
20+
Transactions Completed
12
Portfolio Companies
20+
Years of Experience
Focus Sectors
Where we invest
We concentrate investments across three core verticals where our team has deep operating experience: Financial Services, Industrials, and Business Services.
Current & Past Portfolio
Companies we've
built and backed
A curated portfolio of businesses with strong market positions, capable management teams, and significant potential for continued growth.
ASB
American Savings Bank
Honolulu, Hawaii
A community-oriented savings institution providing retail banking, mortgage, and deposit services. Golden Peak's investment has supported the bank's expansion of product offerings and digital banking capabilities.
Financial Services
VJC
Vail Valley Jet Center
Sold to Signature Aviation
Gypsum, Colorado
A premier fixed-base operator serving private and charter aviation customers in the Vail Valley region. Golden Peak's investment supported the growth and operational development of the business prior to its sale to Signature Aviation, a leading global network of FBOs.
Aviation Services
NM
Platform Investment
Northern Metals LLC
Sold to European Metals Recycling
GWR
Great Western Recycling
A Northern Metals Acquisition
St. Paul, Minnesota
A diversified recycling business providing comprehensive waste and scrap management services across the greater Twin Cities region, operating a strategically located facility for ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Recycling & Sustainability
AIM
American Iron and Metal
A Northern Metals Acquisition
Minneapolis, Minnesota
One of the region's most established ferrous and non-ferrous metals processors, operating a large-scale facility in the heart of Minneapolis. The company serves industrial customers, municipalities, and auto dealers with efficient scrap metal solutions across the Upper Midwest.
Metals & Industrial
PMR
Phillips Metal Recycling Systems, Inc.
A Northern Metals Acquisition
Metals Recycling
A full-service metals recycling operation with established infrastructure for the collection, processing, and resale of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap. Phillips brings deep operational expertise and strong customer relationships across its regional market.
Metals & Industrial
KMR
Kaplan's Metals Reduction Company, Inc.
A Northern Metals Acquisition
Metals Reduction
A specialized metals reduction company with decades of operating history, providing industrial-scale scrap metal processing and reduction services. Kaplan's serves a broad base of commercial and industrial customers with proven processing capabilities.
Metals & Industrial
CMI
Platform Investment
CMI-TMC Holdings LLC
Sold to Alter Trading Corp.
CM
Columbus Metals
A CMI-TMC Holdings Acquisition
Columbus, Nebraska
A leading metals processing and distribution business serving industrial customers across the Midwest, with capabilities spanning ferrous and non-ferrous metals processing, scrap acquisition, and wholesale distribution.
Metals & Industrial
TM
Triangle Metals
A CMI-TMC Holdings Acquisition
Kearney, Nebraska
A well-established metals recycler and processor operating in central Nebraska, serving commercial and industrial customers with dependable scrap metal collection, processing, and resale services.
Metals & Industrial
S&D
S&D Metals
A CMI-TMC Holdings Acquisition
Metals & Industrial
A metals processing and recycling operation serving commercial and industrial customers across its regional market. S&D Metals contributes established customer relationships and operational infrastructure to the CMI-TMC platform.
Metals & Industrial
NPM
North Platte Metals
A CMI-TMC Holdings Acquisition
Metals & Industrial
A regional metals processor operating in the North Platte area, providing ferrous and non-ferrous scrap collection and processing services. North Platte Metals strengthens the platform's geographic footprint and operational scale across Nebraska.
Metals & Industrial
USR
US Recycling
A CMI-TMC Holdings Acquisition
Metals & Industrial
A full-service recycling business providing comprehensive scrap metal collection, processing, and resale services. US Recycling brings diversified material handling capabilities and a broad customer base to the CMI-TMC Holdings platform.
Recycling & Sustainability
About Golden Peak
People & Purpose
John Esrey
John Esrey
Founder & Managing Partner

John Esrey is the founder of Golden Peak Equity, which he established in 2004. Over his tenure at Golden Peak, John has led more than 20 acquisitions spanning financial services, metals processing, recycling, and technology-enabled businesses — building a diversified portfolio of companies with durable competitive positions.

John brings over 25 years of experience founding and leading businesses across technology, private equity, and banking. Prior to Golden Peak, he was a founding team member of MetaTV, a software platform for the cable and satellite industry, where he drove fundraising, strategic partnerships, and corporate finance. He has also held roles at Dillon Read, The Chart Group, and San Francisco Consulting Group.

John earned his Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Get in Touch
We'd like
to hear from you.
Whether you're exploring a potential transaction, seeking a strategic partnership, or simply want to learn more about our firm and approach, we welcome your inquiry.
Mailing Address
PO Box 1721
Ross, California
Headquarters
San Francisco Bay Area
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