Northborne Partners

Premier Boutique Investment Bank Focused on Selling Privately Owned Businesses Continues to Expand

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - April 22, 2025 - Northborne Partners, a leading independent middle-market M&A advisor, has announced that Jim D’Aquila and Bill Emory have joined the firm’s Advisory Board as Senior Advisors.

Mark Horvick commented, “As part of building the premier middle market investment bank in North America, we are building a powerhouse Advisory Board. Jim has an incredible track record over four decades of advising and investing in consumer branded businesses. Bill is an exceptional business leader with experience leading businesses for highly respected international companies and private equity groups.”

Jim D’Aquila is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Virentes Partners Group, a multifamily office which invests in private companies and alternative assets. Jim also serves as the CEO of Virentes Hospitality Group, a multi-brand, multiunit ownership and operating company. Jim has over 42 years of experience as an adviser and investor:

• Prior to Virentes, Jim was a Managing Director at Lazard Middle Market where he led the firm’s consumer and retail practice.
• Jim joined Lazard in January 2020 from Rendersi, a boutique, consumer industry focused financial advisory and investment firm that he co-founded in 2017 to serve founders, entrepreneurs, and sponsor-owned clients.
• In 2001, Jim founded and was CEO of The Mercanti Group, an advisory firm which was acquired by Imperial Capital in December 2009. During his time at Mercanti, Jim also was the Managing Partner of CoVestia Capital Partners, a private equity co-investment partnership.
• Prior to Mercanti, Jim worked as Head of the Consumer and Retail Group at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette (DLJ); Head of Investment Banking at Dain Rauscher (RBC); and as a partner at Aurora Capital, a private equity firm formerly known as WSGP. Jim was also a group head at Drexel Burnham in the 1980s.
• Jim’s clients have included Gucci, Elizabeth Arden, Cabela’s, eyebobs, Under Canvas, Polaroid and Winnebago.
• Jim is a board member of several private companies, including Polaroid. Jim also serves as a Trustee of the International Center of Photography.

Jim is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He is a passionate dog owner and loves all things outdoors.

Bill Emory is an accomplished business leader and is currently the CEO of private equity-backed Ruff Roofers. Along with Ruff Roofers, Bill serves on the boards of three other PE sponsored companies. He has nearly four decades of diverse experience across several industries in the US and Europe:

• Prior to his current role, Bill was the CEO of Smart Care Equipment Solutions and led the business through two successful exits to private equity.
• Bill’s experience in B2B services started with Ecolab, where he had responsibility for high-growth service businesses while living in Minneapolis, London, and Paris.
• Bill started his career in marketing, running some of the most admired brands for large consumer products companies, including Kellogg’s, Pillsbury, and Heinz.

Bill has been married for 37 years, has three children, and splits his time between his homes in Sun Valley, Idaho and Mackinac Island, Michigan.

About Northborne Partners

Northborne Partners is a preeminent middle market investment banking firm focused on providing sell-side M&A advisory services to privately held companies in the food & consumer, healthcare, and industrials sectors, among others. Northborne Partners is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and provides M&A advisory services nationwide.

If you would like more information about Northborne Partners, please contact Mark Horvick at mhorvick@northborne.com.