About Us
A typical question we're asked is why that name. In our name, we've strived to incorporate the strength, beauty, dynamism, and wealth creation opportunity of our country.
Pikes stands for Pikes Peak, the highest mountain east of Colorado and the place where in July 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote the song "America the Beautiful", after having admired the view from the top. Pikes Peak had been called Tava (“sun”) by the indigenous tribe living there. Today, Pikes Peak presents a strong climbing challenge and hosts famous running, bicycle, auto, and motorcycle races.
Creek is short for Cripple Creek, a lost town at the base of Pikes Peak which was considered nothing more than cow pasture until Winfield Stratton discovered the Independence Lode , one of the largest gold strikes in history producing 200,000 ounces of gold in its first six years.
Searching and Creating Value
Entrepreneurial
We're entrepreneurs at heart and understand the trials, tribulations, sacrifices of founder-operators like us. That's why we focus on investing in the lower middle market companies ($1MM-$5MM of Ebitda).
Flexible and Dynamic
We focus on Business Services, Financial Services, Niche Manufacturing, Consumer Good/Services, but are flexible in our investment approach and adapt to the situation.
A Real Partner
We invest side-by-side our external investors and sellers that decide to continue with us and roll over equity. We all do well (or not), together.
Focused on what drives value
80/20 is our moto. Running a business means making trade-offs. Our focus and resources is on what really drives value.
Founding Team
Tomas Arlia
Federico Merle
Federico Merle
Mr. Arlia is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Pikes Creek Capital. Mr Arlia is also founding partner of DoubleBlue Capital Management, and investment firm focused on Private Credit investments. Prior to founding DBCM, Mr. Arlia was the CIO and Sr. Managing Director for Hedge Fund investments at GE Asset Management where he had sole
Mr. Arlia is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Pikes Creek Capital. Mr Arlia is also founding partner of DoubleBlue Capital Management, and investment firm focused on Private Credit investments. Prior to founding DBCM, Mr. Arlia was the CIO and Sr. Managing Director for Hedge Fund investments at GE Asset Management where he had sole responsibility for GE Pension’s $3B+ hedge fund portfolio, managed over $1B in private equity assets and led the firm’s direct deal private equity efforts in Latin America. While heading GE Pension’s Hedge Fund portfolio, Mr. Arlia achieved the best risk-adjusted performance in the program’s 20+ year history while being chosen Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executives in the U.S. by Diversity MBA magazine in 2012.
Mr. Arlia’s previous professional experience include global VP of Strategy for GE Capital’s Consumer Finance and Retail Banking business, 4 years as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co., and 3 years in Corporate Development and M&A advisory. He started his career in the early ‘90’s in Buenos Aires as a clerk in the Buenos Aires stock exchange at age 18 and as a junior equity and bond analyst after that.
Mr. Arlia graduated with a BBA and Beta Gamma Sigma from Georgia College and was chosen Athletic Conference Student Athlete of the Year. He earned his MBA at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, graduating as an Edward Tuck Scholar.
Federico Merle
Federico Merle
Federico Merle
Mr. Merle is is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Pikes Creek Capital
He has15 Years’ experience investing across the capital structure, deal sourcing, negotiations, deal execution and company oversight
Federico was a successful CEO of a lower middle market company and former Principal and Operating Partner at Broadtree Partners, a priva
Mr. Merle is is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Pikes Creek Capital
He has15 Years’ experience investing across the capital structure, deal sourcing, negotiations, deal execution and company oversight
Federico was a successful CEO of a lower middle market company and former Principal and Operating Partner at Broadtree Partners, a private equity firm focused on control investments in lower middle market companies
He previously managed over $500M of credit and derivatives book at Barcap with exceptional performance and has an MBA from Sloan School of Management at MIT
Mr. Merle is based in Miami, FL