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Delivering Exceptional Outcomes for Business Owners, Private Equity Firms & Corporate Clients

MS Capital, the investment banking division of Marshall-Stevens, advises business owners, private equity firms, family offices, and corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and other strategic transactions. We combine independent advice, deep transaction experience, and practical execution to help clients achieve their objectives and maximize value.

As part of the Marshall-Stevens platform, we leverage decades of expertise in valuation, financial consulting, and transaction advisory. Our clients benefit from broad industry knowledge, market intelligence, and senior-level involvement throughout every stage of an engagement.

From growth initiatives and acquisitions to recapitalizations, succession planning, and liquidity events, we provide thoughtful guidance tailored to each client’s unique goals. Through transparent communication, disciplined execution, and a commitment to delivering results, we help clients navigate complex decisions with confidence.

The MS Capital Difference

  • Trusted Advisory Relationship built on independence, integrity, and objective guidance, providing clients with candid advice, thoughtful recommendations, and a trusted partner throughout every stage of the transaction process
  • Strategic Perspective focused on maximizing shareholder value and achieving long-term objectives through careful evaluation of strategic alternatives, market opportunities, and transaction structures
  • Deep Transaction Experience across mergers & acquisitions, capital raises, recapitalizations, succession planning, and liquidity events, enabling clients to navigate complex transactions with confidence
  • Client-Aligned Approach that prioritizes our clients’ interests at every stage of the engagement, delivering customized solutions and hands-on support tailored to each situation and goal
  • Industry Expertise & Market Intelligence supported by extensive experience advising companies across a broad range of industries, providing valuable insight into market trends, valuation drivers, buyer behavior, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities
  • Hands-on, Modern Dealmaking with senior-Level execution ensuring direct involvement from experienced managing directors and transaction professionals throughout every engagement, from initial strategy development through successful closing
  • Extensive Professional Network of strategic acquirers, private equity firms, family offices, lenders, attorneys, accountants, and industry executives that helps create opportunities, enhance transaction efficiency, and drive successful outcomes

With experience spanning numerous industries and transaction types, MS Capital helps clients evaluate opportunities, mitigate risk, and execute critical business decisions with confidence, clarity, and successful results.

The MS Capital Philosophy

We take pride in delivering timely advice, rigorous analysis, and clear, actionable insights throughout every engagement. Our focus is exclusively on middle market businesses across a diverse range of industries.

Our approach is grounded in understanding the objectives of all stakeholders, developing tailored strategies, and executing with discipline and transparency. We believe open communication, objective advice, and responsiveness are essential to successful outcomes. By remaining selective in our engagements, we ensure our interests remain aligned with those of our clients, focusing on achieving the right transaction rather than simply completing a transaction. Patience, trust, and thoughtful execution are the foundation of deals that create lasting value.

What Sets Us Apart

Successful transactions require more than execution. They require preparation, objective advice, and a trusted partner who understands what drives value. We work alongside our clients to develop and execute strategies that maximize opportunities, align stakeholder interests, and achieve superior outcomes.

  • Early engagement and long-term partnership
  • Independent, objective guidance
  • Comprehensive market and valuation expertise
  • Industry-specific knowledge
  • Proven transaction readiness and execution capabilities
  • Transparent communication and stakeholder alignment
  • Extensive strategic and financial buyer network
  • Disciplined preparation and process management
  • Relentless focus on value creation and execution

Understanding the Path Forward

We help clients evaluate strategic alternatives, identify value-enhancing opportunities, and connect with the right financial and strategic partners. Combining industry expertise with extensive market relationships, we provide the insight and execution needed to achieve successful outcomes.

 

Sell-Side Advisory

MS Capital advises business owners, boards, and management teams through every stage of a business sale or divestiture. We provide comprehensive sell-side advisory services, helping clients prepare for market, identify the right buyers, navigate negotiations, and execute transactions with confidence. By combining rigorous valuation analysis, deep market knowledge, and hands-on transaction management, we help clients maximize value and achieve their strategic objectives.

Buy-Side Advisory

MS Capital helps strategic buyers, private equity groups, and investors identify, evaluate, and execute acquisitions that support their long-term objectives. We provide guidance throughout the acquisition process, including target identification, valuation, financial analysis, due diligence, and transaction structuring. Through independent advice, rigorous analysis, and disciplined execution, we help clients pursue acquisitions with confidence and create long-term value.

Strategic Business Advisory

MS Capital provides independent, objective guidance to business owners, boards, and executive teams facing critical strategic decisions, ownership transitions, and long-term planning initiatives. Leveraging deep expertise in valuation, transaction advisory, and financial analysis, we help clients evaluate strategic alternatives, assess risks and opportunities, and align decisions with their personal and business objectives. Our advisors support value enhancement initiatives, capital planning, transaction readiness, and succession strategies, including family transitions, management buyouts, ESOPs, and third-party sales. Through rigorous analysis, practical insight, and disciplined execution, MS Capital helps clients preserve and maximize value while navigating complex transitions with clarity and confidence.

Capital Markets Advisory

MS Capital’s Capital Markets Advisory practice helps businesses access the capital needed to support growth, acquisitions, recapitalizations, refinancings, and other strategic initiatives. We work closely with business owners, management teams, and investors to evaluate financing alternatives, optimize capital structures, and position companies effectively for the capital markets. Leveraging our extensive network of private equity firms, family offices, institutional investors, banks, and alternative capital providers, we assist clients in securing debt and equity financing solutions tailored to their objectives.

Valuation Insights

Understanding value is the foundation of every successful transaction. Long before a company enters the market, MS Capital works with business owners and management teams to assess current enterprise value, identify key value drivers, and uncover opportunities to enhance market positioning. Through independent valuation insights, financial analysis, and strategic planning, we help clients understand how buyers, investors, and lenders view their business and what steps can be taken to maximize value. By establishing a clear roadmap well in advance of a transaction, we help clients strengthen their business, improve readiness, and position themselves for optimal outcomes.

ESOP Advisory & Ownership Transition

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) can be an effective strategy for ownership transition, liquidity, succession planning, and value creation. MS Capital helps business owners evaluate whether an ESOP aligns with their long-term objectives by providing independent valuation expertise, financial analysis, and strategic guidance throughout the process.

From feasibility assessments and transaction structuring to valuation and execution support, we help clients navigate the complexities of ESOP transactions while balancing the interests of shareholders, employees, and the company. Our goal is to develop practical ownership transition solutions that preserve value, support employee participation, and position the business for long-term success.

MS Capital Team

Transactions

MS Capital has extensive execution capabilities.

MS Capital has extensive execution capabilities across sell-side, buy-side, recapitalization, and strategic advisory mandates for privately held, founder-led, and middle-market businesses.

64 engagements

Media & Entertainment
Silent House*

has been acquired by

TAIT Towers(Goldman Sachs)

Business Services
Sherwood Partners*

has been acquired by a port co of

EisnerAmper(TowerBrook Capital Partners)

Industrials
Bourget Flagstone & Building Materials*

has been acquired by

Site One Landscape Supply(SITE)

Technology & Software
IndigoTech*

has been acquired by

Mindbody(Vista Equity)

Industrials
Chem Tech

has been acquired by

Brenntag

Industrials
Falcon Engineering Services

has been acquired by

CHA Holdings, Inc.

Consumer
Travel Traders*

has been acquired by

Event Network

Business Services
Q-mation*

has been recapitalized by

The Halifax Group

Media & Entertainment
Boxi*

has been acquired by

AllOver Media

Business Services
The Only Agency*

has been acquired by

Presidio Investors

Industrials
Valin*

has been acquired by

Graybar

Consumer
FROMM*

has been recapitalized by

Firelight Capital

Technology & Software
Adcellerant*

has been recapitalized by

Clearview Capital

Business Services
Bright Event Rentals*

has been recapitalized by

Trivest

Business Services
Left Field Labs*

has been acquired by

Stagwell

Business Services
GNA*

has been acquired by

TRC(Warburg Pincus)

Consumer
Barton Perreria*

has been acquired by a division of

LVMH(Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy)

Consumer
Healthy Spot*

has been recapitalized by

Oaktree Capital

Media & Entertainment
Weil & Associates

has been acquired by a port co of

PRA(EagleTree Capital)

Business Services
Exact Customer*

has been recapitalized by

Gauge Capital

Media & Entertainment
Ingenuity Studios*

has been acquired by

Streamland Media(Trive Capital)

Business Services
E-Therapy*

has been recapitalized by

Great Point Partners

Healthcare
Los Angeles Reproductive Center*

has been acquired by a port co of

Ivy Fertility(InTandem Capital Partners)

Business Services
Primrose Schools

has been acquired by

Private Individual

Consumer
NexBelt

has been recapitalized by

TEAM Partners

Healthcare
California Fertility Partners*

has been acquired by a port co of

Pinnacle Fertility(Webster Capital)

Industrials
FlameKing*

has been recapitalized by

Main Street Capital

Consumer
Pet N’ Shape*

has been acquired by a port co of

Westminster Pet Products(AUA Equity)

Industrials
Studio Depot (A division of Mole-Richardson)*

has been acquired by

Film Tools

Consumer
America’s Thrift Stores*

has been recapitalized by

TZP

Consumer
Hatch Beauty*

has been recapitalized by

Lion Capital

Industrials
Canyon Plastics*

has been acquired by

Vpet, Graham Partners

Consumer
Wildbrine*

has been acquired by

Fermented Food Holdings

Business Services
8020 Consulting*

has been recapitalized by

ShoreView

Healthcare
UrgentMED*

has been recapitalized by

Quilvest Capital

Consumer
Brooklyn Bedding*

has been acquired by

Cerberus Capital Management

Business Services
SDI Presence*

has been recapitalized by

ABRY Partners

Technology & Software
Choozle*

has been recapitalized by

Boathouse Capital

Technology & Software
BQE Software*

has been recapitalized by

Serent Capital Management

Consumer
Duncan Enterprises*

has been recapitalized by

Dyson-Kissner-Moran

Business Services
Planet Group*

has been acquired by

ProPharma Group(Odyessy Investments)

Business Services
Painters on Demand

has been recapitalized by

The Batallan Group

Consumer
Vici, Inc.*

has been acquired by

TSG Consumer Partners

Healthcare
Micro Quality Labs*

has been recapitalized by

Certified Laboratories

Healthcare
LA IVF*

has been acquired by a port co of

Ivy Fertility(InTandem Capital Partners)

Industrials
Peggy Malone

has been acquired by

Madrid Amalgamated Group

Business Services
Easy Ice*

has been recapitalized by

Freeman Spogli

Industrials
Electrical Source Holdings*

has been acquired by

Greenbriar Equity

Media & Entertainment
Crafty Apes*

has been recapitalized by

Gemspring Capital

Business Services
CCI Networks*

has been acquired by

Tower Arch

Consumer
Plant Therapy*

has been recapitalized by

BBRC Private Equity

Business Services
Coolsys*

has been acquired by

Ares Management Corp

Industrials
Dynamic Roofing

has been acquired by

Mantucket Capital

Media & Entertainment
Mole-Richardson*

has been acquired by

Private Investor(MBO)

Industrials
Coral Industries*

has been acquired by

Oldcastle Building Products(CRH plc)

Media & Entertainment
Picture Head*

has been recapitalized by

Trive Capital, Five Crowns Capital

Business Services
Planet Group*

has been recapitalized by

MidOcean Partners

Consumer
Better Life*

has been acquired by

Bissell

Consumer
Imperial Toy*

has been acquired by

Ja-Ru(Stalking Horse bidder)

Consumer
Dream Team Beaute*

has been acquired by

Norwest Cosmetic Labs(Clearview Partners)

Business Services
BrandRep*

has been recapitalized by

Millpond Equity Partners

Technology & Software
AlignStar*

has been acquired by

Xactly(Vista Equity)

Industrials
C.R. Laurence Co. Inc.*

has been acquired by

Oldcastle Building Envelope(CRH plc)

Industrials
Asanti

has been acquired by

Wheel Pros(Audax)

* Transactions with asterisks were executed by professionals of MS Capital while at prior firms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of companies does MS Capital work with?
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MS Capital advises privately held, founder-led, family-owned, and middle-market businesses across a diverse range of industries. We work with business owners, investors, family offices, and corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, valuation, and strategic advisory engagements across a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, business services, healthcare, consumer products, industrials, aerospace & defense, and media/technology.

At what stage should I engage an investment banker?
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Many business owners believe they should engage an investment banker only when they are ready to sell. In reality, the best outcomes often result from planning months or even years in advance. Early engagement allows for value enhancement, succession planning, and transaction readiness.

How much is my business worth?
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Business value depends on many factors, including profitability, growth prospects, industry trends, management depth, customer diversification, and market demand. A professional valuation provides an objective assessment of enterprise value.

When is the right time to sell my business?
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The ideal time depends on your personal objectives, company performance, market conditions, and industry dynamics. We help clients evaluate these factors and determine the optimal timing for a transaction.

How do I know if my company is ready to raise capital?
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We evaluate financial performance, growth opportunities, management capabilities, and market positioning to assess financing readiness and identify the most appropriate capital solutions.

Marshall & Stevens Investment Banking and Transaction Advisory Services

Leveraging the broader expertise of Marshall & Stevens, the MS Capital team collaborates with our internal multi-disciplinary professionals to provide comprehensive valuation insights, fairness analyses, and independent financial opinions that support public and private company transactions for boards, investors, lenders, and other key stakeholders.

Fairness Opinions
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Solvency Opinions
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Due Diligence & Quality of Earnings
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Valuation
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ESOP Formation & Implementation
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Buy/Sell Consideration
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Cost Segregation
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Financial Reporting Valuation
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Portfolio (Fund) Valuations
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Business Valuation
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SBA Finance
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