Structured junior capital and private equity investor
Peninsula Capital Partners
- HeadquartersSouthfield, MI S6
- Founded1995 S1
- Websitepeninsulafunds.com
- Last verifiedOctober 19, 2026
At a glance
| Latest fund | Peninsula Fund VIII, $400M (Sep 2025) S6 |
|---|---|
| EBITDA range | $3M+ S2 |
| Check size | $5M to $50M S2 |
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on, Minority, Growth S3 |
| Sectors | Industrial & Manufacturing, Consumer & Food, Environmental & Waste, Distribution |
What Peninsula Capital Partners buys
Peninsula Capital Partners is a Southfield, Michigan firm, started in Detroit in 1995, that provides structured junior capital: subordinated debt paired with preferred or common equity, sized to fill the gap between what a bank will lend and what a deal costs. It has raised about $2.4 billion across eight funds and backed more than 150 platform companies. It works with founder and family-owned companies directly and with independent sponsors, not with traditional buyout funds. Depending on the deal it can be a minority or majority owner, and it can lead the transaction or join one.
Its criteria call for at least $3 million of EBITDA, a record of profits and an experienced management team. Subordinated debt runs from $5 million to $50 million and equity up to $30 million, with more available alongside its investors. Peninsula is a generalist, with recent deals in manufacturing, waste collection, electrical contracting, marketing services and consumer brands. It avoids real estate, construction, early-stage technology, natural resources, heavily regulated industries and distressed companies.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 19, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Art SignSubordinated debt and common equity for an independent sponsor's buyout of a Fort Lauderdale sign maker and installer | Investment | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Mar 2026 | PrintwareBacked independent sponsor Pillsman Partners in buying the Minnesota inkjet printing press maker; its president became CEO | Investment | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Dec 2025 | Burlington MedicalRadiation protection products maker sold to TIDI Products after a decade; EBITDA grew more than sevenfold during the fund's investment period | Exit | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Sep 2025 | Peninsula Fund VIIIEighth fund closed at $400 million, mostly from returning investors | Fund close | Source | |
| August 2025 | Marcus ThomasSubordinated debt and common equity for a management buyout of the Cleveland advertising agency | Investment | Source | |
| May 2025 | Capital City RefuseSubordinated debt and common equity in an independent sponsor's recapitalization of a Nebraska waste and recycling hauler | Investment | Environmental & Waste | Source |
| April 2025 | Workout Anytime Franchising SystemsSubordinated debt and preferred equity in an independent sponsor's recapitalization of the 24-hour gym franchisor | Investment | Source | |
| March 2025 | Sleep disorder healthcare provider (unnamed)Senior debt for an acquisition and recapitalization of a national sleep disorder program provider to hospitals | Investment | Healthcare Services | Source |
| January 2025 | Trinity Electrical ServicesSubordinated debt and common equity for an independent sponsor's buyout of a Georgia airfield and stadium lighting contractor | Investment | Construction Services | Source |
| December 2024 | TapMangoDebt, preferred and common equity in an independent sponsor's majority recapitalization of a merchant loyalty and digital marketing provider | Investment | Software & SaaS | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S5.
Independent Sponsor Buyout
- Art Sign
- Printware
- Trinity Electrical Services
- Shear Drive Group
- Mega Fabrication (Piranha)
- CIDS
- Dart Casting
- ArcLight Dynamics
- Tighe Logistics Group
- Hygrade Metal Moulding Manufacturing
- Retail franchisor of newsstands (unnamed)
- Bristol ID Technologies
- Allstar Magnetics
Independent Sponsor Majority Recapitalization
- TapMango
- Edge One
Independent Sponsor Recapitalization
- Capital City Refuse
- Workout Anytime Franchising Systems
- Power Vac
- SaveOn Everything
Majority Recapitalization
- Wisconsin's Best
- Skytech
- Escapology
Management Buyout
- Marcus Thomas
Recapitalization
- Wild Wing Hospitality
Recapitalization and Growth Capital
- MacroCap Labs
Recapitalization and Management Buyout
- L.A.T Sportswear
Strategic Acquisition and Recapitalization
- Sleep disorder healthcare provider (unnamed)
Greymont’s take
How Peninsula Capital Partners fits a seller
Peninsula fits owners who want to sell part or all of the company without handing it to a traditional buyout fund, or who are selling to their own managers or to an independent sponsor and need someone to fill the funding gap. The firm says it built its mix of junior debt and equity to give owners friendlier capital structures, and Inc. named it to its 2025 Founder-Friendly Investor List. The trade-off is that much of the money comes in as subordinated debt, which its criteria say typically carries 10% to 14% interest, so the company takes on more debt.
Peninsula can stay a long time: it backed Burlington Medical from 2015 until the December 2025 sale, funding three acquisitions along the way. Owners should ask whether Peninsula would lead the deal or join it, who would control the board, and how and when the debt would be repaid.
Questions owners ask
Is Peninsula Capital a lender or a private equity firm?
Both. Most of its deals pair a junior debt piece, usually subordinated debt, with an equity stake, and it can be a minority or majority owner. Its criteria list subordinated debt of $5 million to $50 million and equity of up to $30 million.
What size company does Peninsula Capital invest in?
Profitable middle-market companies with at least $3 million of EBITDA, margins at or above their industry average, a clear plan and an experienced management team with a good track record.
Does Peninsula Capital work with independent sponsors?
Yes. It counts more than 75 independent sponsor platforms, and many recent deals, including Art Sign in June 2026 and Capital City Refuse in May 2025, backed an independent sponsor's purchase or recapitalization.
Does Peninsula Capital invest in waste and environmental companies?
Yes, as part of a generalist approach. In May 2025 it backed Capital City Refuse, a Nebraska residential and commercial waste hauler, and it still holds CIDS, a South Carolina asbestos remediation and roll-off container business.
Sources
- S1Peninsula Capital Partners home page Accessed October 19, 2026
- S2Peninsula Capital Partners: Investment Criteria Accessed October 19, 2026
- S3Peninsula Capital Partners: About Us Accessed October 19, 2026
- S4Peninsula Capital Partners: Structured Junior Capital Accessed October 19, 2026
- S5Peninsula Capital Partners: Portfolio Accessed October 19, 2026
- S6Peninsula Capital Partners: Media Center (Fund VIII close, September 3, 2025; 30th anniversary, September 25, 2025; Inc. list, October 28, 2025; Burlington Medical exit, December 16, 2025) Accessed October 19, 2026
- S7Printware Announces New Ownership (PRINTING United Alliance, March 3, 2026) Accessed October 19, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Peninsula Capital Partners. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction