PE Firm · Capital Allocator
Irving Place Capital (fka BSMB)
MediumNew York City, United States · Founded 1997 · AUM $5.9 billion · Website
Leveraged Buyout企Growth Capital企IndustrialPackaging增Consumer增项目Retail增项目Healthcare增项目Energy增项目Financial Services增项目United StatesCanadaUnited Kingdom
Last verified
7/7/2026
Firm Overview
50
Portfolio tracked
7
Sectors
3
Regions
7/7/2026
Last verified
Irving Place Capital is a middle-market private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments.
Irving Place Capital, formerly known as Bear Stearns Merchant Banking (BSMB), is an American private equity firm that specializes in middle-market investments. Founded in 1997 by John D. Howard, the firm originally operated as the merchant banking arm of Bear Stearns. In 2008, following the acquisition of Bear Stearns by JPMorgan Chase, the group successfully spun out to become an independent entity renamed Irving Place Capital.
The firm historically targets companies within the industrial, packaging, consumer, and retail sectors. Since its independence, the firm has continued to manage its legacy funds while raising new vehicles, such as a $1.5 billion special purpose vehicle in 2015 to provide liquidity and further capital for its portfolio. In recent years, the firm has seen leadership transitions, including the 2019 spin-out of its industrial-focused team to form Radial Equity Partners.
Founded1997
HeadquartersNew York City, United States
AUM$5.9 billion
Target investmentMiddle-market companies
Employees20+
StrategiesLeveraged Buyout企, Growth Capital企
Sector focusIndustrial, Packaging增, Consumer增项目, Retail增项目, Healthcare增项目, Energy增项目, Financial Services增项目
Geographic focusUnited States, Canada, United Kingdom
Leadership
John D. Howard
Founder and Managing Partner
Foundation head of the firm who previously co-founded Vestar Capital Partners and served as senior vice president of Wesray Capital Corporation.
Phil Carpenter
Former Co-Managing Partner
Joined John Howard in managing the firm and later led a spin-out to establish Radial Equity Partners.
Notable Investments
AéropostaleSeven for All Mankind快速Stuart Weitzman快速Vitamin ShoppeCamelBak Group企Pet Supplies Plus企Alpha Packaging企Rag & Bone企New York & Company企Chromalox企Reddy Ice企,
Historical and current deals referenced in public sources.
Portfolio Companies
| Company | Sector | Status | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 For All Mankind | Premium jeans and apparel | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Aearo Technologies | Manufacturer of personal protection equipment | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Aeropostale | Retailer of casual apparel and accessories | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Alpha Packaging | Manufacturer of plastic bottles and jars | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Alter Moneta | Equipment lease financing | Current | — |
| Balducci’s | Gourmet food retailer | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Bendon | Children’s coloring, activity, and early development products | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Cabi | Designer of women’s apparel | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Caribbean Financial Group | Consumer finance company | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Cavalry Investments | Acquirer of non-performing consumer debt | Current | Visit ↗ |
| CBK Holdings (CamelBak) | Manufacturer and marketer of portable hydration solutions | Current | Visit ↗ |
| CH4 Energy II | Oil and gas exploration and production company | Current | — |
| Chesapeake | Manufacturer of specialty paper-based and rigid plastic packaging | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Chromalox | Temperature maintenance and process heating solutions | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Churchill Financial | Commercial finance and asset management business | Current | — |
| Coker Tire | Supplier of tires and wheels for classic cars | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Doral Financial Corporation | Community bank | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Dots | Apparel and accessory retailer | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Dynojet | Manufacturer of performance products for powersport vehicles | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Fitz and Floyd | Retailer of ceramic tableware and giftware | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Hand Innovations | Orthopedic surgical implant products | Current | — |
| Integrated Circuit Systems | Designer and developer of silicon timing devices | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Interxion Holding | Co-location data center services | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Ironshore | Commercial property and casualty insurer | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Manifold Capital | Specialty finance company | Current | — |
| Manifold Capital Lancaster | Specialty finance company | Exited | — |
| MC Energy | Owner of liquefied petroleum gas vessels | Current | — |
| MC Energy/Logistics | Liquefied petroleum gas vessels | Current | — |
| Mold-Rite Plastics | Manufacturer of plastic caps, closures, and jars | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Multi Packaging Solutions | Manufacturer of folding cartons, labels, and inserts | Current | Visit ↗ |
| National Surgical Hospitals | Owner, operator, and developer of surgical facilities | Current | Visit ↗ |
| New York & Company | Nationwide specialty retailer of women's apparel | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Nice-Pak Holdings | Designer, manufacturer, and marketer of wet wipes | Current | Visit ↗ |
| NRT Incorporated | Operator of residential real estate brokerage offices | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Ohio Transmission Corporation | Technical distributor of motion control and pump products | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Pet Supplies Plus | Pet specialty retailer | Current | Visit ↗ |
| PlayCore | Designer and manufacturer of commercial playground equipment | Current | Visit ↗ |
| rag & bone | Lifestyle apparel and accessories brand | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Rag & Bonebolt | Global lifestyle apparel and accessories brand | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Reddy Ice | Manufacturer and distributor of packaged ice | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Safety 1st | Designer and manufacturer of child care and safety products | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Seven For All Mankind | Designer and marketer of premium jeans and apparel | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Standard Holdings | Owner and operator of boutique hotels | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Standard Holdings (The Standard) | Owner and operator of mid-price boutique hotels | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Stuart Weitzman | Designer and retailer of luxury footwear and handbags | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Transamerican Auto Parts Company | Aftermarket parts for light trucks and SUVs | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Uniscribe Professional Services | Paper and technology-based document management solutions | Current | — |
| Universal Hospital Services | Outsourced medical equipment and related services | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Victor Technologies | Branded metal-cutting, welding, and gas control products | Current | Visit ↗ |
| Vitamin Shoppe | Specialty retailer of nutritional products | Current | Visit ↗ |
Sources
- Wikipedia Wikipedia/Wikidata · public reference
- Firm website Firm website · primary public source
This profile is based on publicly available information and may be incomplete or outdated. PE Firm Index is not affiliated with Irving Place Capital (fka BSMB) and does not provide investment advice.
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