James Wagar

Partner
Frontbridge Capital

James Wagar has over 20 years of experience in private capital markets, including buyouts, venture capital, growth equity, and private credit. In addition to being a co-founder and partner of Frontbridge Capital, he is a registered representative of Thomas Capital Group (“TCG”), a FINRA/SEC-registered broker-dealer he joined in 2016 to build and lead its investment banking and direct investment capabilities. Those efforts led to the collaboration that became Frontbridge Capital (“FBC”), a merchant bank focused on technology, media, and telecommunications currently working on several projects in the broadband sector.

Previously, Wagar was a partner of Alpine Pacific Capital, an independent private equity sponsor, and a managing director and credit committee member of Builders Capital, a direct lending fund providing capital to production builders of single-family residences following the financial crisis.

Prior to joining Builders Capital, he was a principal and investment committee member of Northern Lights Capital Group (“NLCG” merged w/ Treasury Group Limited to form Pacific Current Group – ASX: PAC), a private equity firm providing capital and resources to the investment management industry to support the formation, expansion, or generational transfer of fund management organizations. While at NLCG, he led the execution of seven investment transactions, which became the core of the Pacific Current Group portfolio, and also completed the sale of a minority stake in NLCG to BNP Paribas.

Prior to NLCG, Wagar was a partner of Montlake Capital (“Montlake”), a private investment firm focused on growth-stage opportunities. Prior to joining Montlake, he was a co-founder and served as the EVP/CFO of Torrent Technologies, Inc. (acquired by Marsh – NYSE: MMC), a business process outsourcing/SaaS company focused on flood insurance in the United States.

Earlier in his career, Wagar was an investment professional at NCA Partners (formerly Northwest Capital Appreciation), a lower middle-market private equity firm. While at NCA, he was involved in capitalizing and growing the largest non-bank lender to the security alarm industry and other recurring revenue businesses.

Wagar earned a BBA in business administration with a finance concentration from Pacific Lutheran University. He is an Eagle Scout and is active in the community, currently serving on the information technology advisory committee for Seattle Public Schools and as a board member of XBOT Robotics, a nonprofit focused on creating STEM opportunities for underrepresented youth.