What Izar Capital Group does

Izar Capital Group, LLC is a privately-held, partner-owned boutique middle-market corporate finance advisory firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., founded in 2003 by Paul Hammer and J.F. Scarborough III. The firm offers four interconnected service lines: Strategic Advisory (consultative guidance for executive teams and boards), Joint Ventures/M&A/Strategic Investments (buy-side, sell-side, JV formation, and cross-border transactions), Corporate Finance/Capital Raising (debt, equity, sale/leaseback, trade finance, and capital structure advisory), and Multi-Lateral Institution Strategic Consulting (engagements with institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank). It also operates a Principal Investment fund focused on special-situations investments in Industrial, Business Services, and Information Technology sectors. Core technology is not applicable; the firm's product is professional human advisory delivered by senior practitioners.

The firm generates revenue primarily through transaction-based and advisory fees tied to M&A, JV, and capital-raising engagements, with the principal investment fund providing a secondary return stream. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: a small team of two co-founders, ~15 operating partners, and two advisory board members leverage two decades of senior relationships to win mandates. Headcount is in the 11-50 range, with offices in Washington D.C. (headquarters at 1200 16th Street, NW), Arlington, Houston, Madrid, and San Sebastian.

Izar's client base is concentrated in privately-held middle-market companies, with a distinctive specialization in cross-border transactions between the US, Spain, and Latin America, including 20+ years of experience advising Spanish industrial and manufacturing firms (notably Mondragon cooperatives such as Fagor Ederlan and BATZ Group) on US market entry. Over its 21-year history, the firm has completed more than $18 billion in middle-market transactions across 56+ countries, with named engagements spanning automotive manufacturing, disaster recovery, e-commerce, hospitality, paper machinery, engineering services, and renewable energy. The firm is conflict-free, with no external institutional investors or parent company.

Name

Izar Capital Group

Legal name

Izar Capital Group, LLC

Website

https://izarcapital.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Izar Capital Group is a partner-owned boutique middle-market corporate finance advisory firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., offering M&A, joint venture, capital raising, and strategic advisory services. It specializes in cross-border transactions between the US, Spain, and Latin America, with over $18 billion in completed deals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking and Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB), Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG), Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE), Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)

Keywords

• Middle-market M&A advisory
• Joint venture advisory
• Corporate finance advisory
• Capital raising services
• Cross-border transaction advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Advisory Fees: Fee-based advisory services for corporate finance engagements including M&A transactions, joint ventures, capital raising, and strategic consulting.
2. M&A Advisory Success Fees: Transaction-based fees from buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory engagements, typically a percentage of transaction value.
3. Capital Raising Advisory: Fees for arranging capital including debt and equity financing for clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Izar Capital Group is a boutique middle-market investment bank providing strategic advisory, mergers and acquisitions (buy-side and sell-side), joint venture formation, corporate finance and capital raising services. The firm also operates a principal investment fund focused on industrial, business services, and information technology sectors, and offers multi-lateral institution strategic consulting.

Product overview

Izar Capital Group is a mid-market focused strategic advisory investment bank offering a unified suite of professional services centered on corporate finance advisory. The firm operates four interconnected service lines: Strategic Advisory (consultative guidance for executive teams), Joint-Ventures/M&A/Strategic Investments (transaction execution), Corporate Finance/Capital Raising (debt and equity advisory), and Multi-Lateral Institution Strategic Consulting. Additionally, the firm manages a proprietary value-driven private-market investment fund. These services are designed to work together, with strategic advisory often preceding and informing M&A or capital raising engagements, while the principal investment function allows the firm to co-invest alongside clients. The firm has a particular specialization in Spain and cross-border transactions between the USA and Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Advisory Consultative advisory services for Boards of Directors and executive management teams to address operational and financial challenges, including corporate organization, strategic decision-making, and operational business planning.
• Joint-Ventures / Mergers and Acquisitions / Strategic Investments M&A advisory services including buy-side and sell-side transactions, joint venture formation, cross-border advisory, management buyout advisory, and strategic investments.
• Corporate Finance / Capital Raising Capital advisory services including private debt advisory, equity advisory, capital equipment financing, sale/leaseback finance, trade finance, factoring, and capital structure optimization.
• Multi-Lateral Institution Strategic Consulting Advisory services for leveraging client capabilities to identify, bid, negotiate and win projects sponsored by multilateral financial institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.
• Principal Investment Value-driven, special situations private-market investment fund considering various investment types with active involvement and strategic advice, focusing on Industrial, Business Services, and Information Technology sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $18 billion in completed middle-market transactions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Consultores Sayma, S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Formal collaboration agreement between Izar Capital and Consultores Sayma, a leading Spanish corporate advisory firm based in Donostia/San Sebastian. Partnership leverages complementary expertise to serve Spanish middle-market firms seeking expansion within Spain, USA, or Latin America. Izar provides US/LatAm market expertise while Sayma provides local Spanish market presence and relationships.
• The Lemoine Company (Bernhard Capital Partners Portfolio)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Partnership transaction resulting in significant investment by The Lemoine Company (BCP portfolio company) in DCMC Partners. Izar Capital acted as exclusive financial advisor to DCMC.
• BATZ Group (Mondragon Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Strategic advisory and joint-venture partnership for US market expansion. Izar Capital advised on US entity creation and ran JV partner search process, leading to negotiation and execution of joint-venture agreement.
• AN Global (Nexxus Capital Portfolio Company)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2017Acquisition of Entrepids Technology by AN Global, a Nexxus Capital portfolio company. Izar Capital acted as exclusive financial advisor to Entrepids in the transaction.
• Berge/BISL (European Logistics Company)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Advisory engagement for Latin American expansion plan. Client is a leading European port operator and logistics services provider operating for almost 150 years, with €3 billion annual revenue.
• Fagor Ederlan (Mondragon Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Ongoing strategic advisory and operational partnership for US market expansion. Izar Capital serves as strategic advisor for formation and operation of US subsidiary, with engagement continuing into present.
• Mondragon CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Ongoing relationship with Mondragon Corporation and its portfolio companies (Fagor Ederlan, BATZ Group). Izar Capital has served as trusted advisor to multiple Mondragon companies for US market entry and expansion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GCP Capital Partners: Boutique middle-market M&A advisory firm serving family-owned and entrepreneur-led businesses. Directly comparable to Izar in firm size, senior-led execution, and middle-market exclusive positioning.
• Cascadia Capital: Independent middle-market investment bank headquartered in Seattle with strong sector practices. Comparable to Izar in boutique scale, senior-led advisory model, and middle-market M&A specialization.
• Lincoln International: Global mid-market investment bank with strong cross-border M&A advisory practice, particularly between North America and Europe. Comparable to Izar in middle-market transaction focus, senior-led coverage model, and emphasis on cross-border deal execution.
• Harris Williams: Middle-market M&A advisory firm focused on sellside transactions across industrial, business services, and consumer sectors. Closely comparable to Izar's middle-market exclusive focus, senior-led execution, and sector-organized coverage model.
• PMCF (Plante Moran Corporate Finance): Boutique middle-market M&A advisory firm affiliated with Plante Moran. Directly comparable to Izar in boutique scale, middle-market exclusive focus, and senior-led transaction execution model.
• Houlihan Lokey: Global independent investment bank focused on middle-market M&A advisory, capital markets, and valuation. Directly comparable to Izar in middle-market M&A focus, cross-border capabilities, and senior-led delivery model, though materially larger and publicly listed.

Broad incumbents

• Piper Sandler: Public full-service investment bank with significant middle-market M&A and capital markets businesses; acquired Sandler O'Neill (co-founded by Izar operating partner Thomas O'Neill). Comparable in middle-market advisory focus but operates at materially larger scale with broader product offering.
• Stifel Financial Corp. Full-service wealth management and investment banking firm with strong middle-market advisory franchise. Comparable to Izar's middle-market M&A focus, but offers significantly broader services including wealth management, capital markets, and institutional brokerage.
• Robert W. Baird: Private, employee-owned international financial services firm with significant middle-market investment banking practice. Comparable in middle-market focus and private ownership structure, but materially larger and more diversified across wealth management and asset management.

Emerging players

• IMAP: Global organization of M&A advisory firms focused on mid-market transactions across multiple geographies, with strong presence in Europe and Latin America. Comparable to Izar in mid-market transaction focus and international reach, though operates as a federated network rather than a single firm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Izar Capital Group