Corporate Partners LLC
Corporate Partners LLC operates the Corporate Partners Investment Alliance (CPIA), a multinational merchant banking partnership where 20+ Partners invest their own capital alongside sophisticated investors in privately-negotiated minority investments and provide strategic financial advisory to senior management, boards, and business owners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Corporate Partners LLC does
Corporate Partners LLC operates a multinational merchant banking partnership under the Corporate Partners Investment Alliance (CPIA), serving sophisticated investors and senior business stakeholders through privately-negotiated investments and strategic financial advisory services. Founded in 1988 within Lazard Frères & Co. as the firm's first institutional private equity fund, Corporate Partners became independent in 2009 and united over twenty Partners into the CPIA structure in late 2023. The firm specializes in structured minority investments in companies at inflection points, with Partners investing their own capital alongside other sophisticated investors on a deal-by-deal basis, free from traditional fund commitment obligations.
The firm delivers its services through two regulated entities: Corporate Partners II Management LLC, registered with the SEC as an exempt reporting advisor providing investment advisory services, and Corporate Partners & Co. LLC, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer and SIPC member providing investment banking services from its headquarters at Rockefeller Center, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 300, New York. Partners are sourced exclusively from proven leaders at major financial institutions including Lazard, Morgan Stanley, Citi Salomon Brothers, MUFG, Rothschild, Deutsche Bank, Babson, Blackstone, Bridgewater, the World Bank, and Lloyds, or from c-suite executives and founders of successful companies.
Corporate Partners operates without external fundraising or public marketing, does not do business with the general public, and maintains strict confidentiality of clients and client matters. Its revenue model comprises investment advisory fees, investment banking fees, and carried interest from privately-negotiated investments, with operations spanning North America, the UK, Europe, and Asia. Leadership includes CEO Ali Wambold and Managing Principal Jonathan Kagan, both founding partners who led the 2009 independence from Lazard.
Corporate Partners LLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Corporate Partners LLC
- Legal name
- Corporate Partners Investment Alliance
- Website
- https://corporatepartnersllc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Corporate Partners LLC operates the Corporate Partners Investment Alliance (CPIA), a multinational merchant banking partnership where 20+ Partners invest their own capital alongside sophisticated investors in privately-negotiated minority investments and provide strategic financial advisory to senior management, boards, and business owners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Corporate Partners LLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Merchant Banking & Investment Advisory
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Miscellaneous Intermediation (523910)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms (FSANAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)
Keywords
Where Corporate Partners LLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Corporate Partners LLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Advisory Services: Investment advisory services provided through Corporate Partners II Management LLC, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exempt reporting advisor. Partners invest their own capital with other sophisticated investors in privately-negotiated investments they develop.
- Investment Banking Services: Investment banking services provided through Corporate Partners & Co. LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Provides strategic financial advice to senior management, boards, owners, and other stakeholders of businesses.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Corporate Partners LLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Corporate Partners Investment Alliance (CPIA) is a multinational merchant banking partnership whose Partners invest their own capital alongside other sophisticated investors in privately-negotiated structured minority investments, while also providing strategic financial advice to senior management, boards, owners, and other stakeholders of businesses. Investment advisory services are delivered through Corporate Partners II Management LLC (an SEC-registered exempt reporting advisor), and investment banking services are delivered through Corporate Partners & Co. LLC (a FINRA/SIPC-member broker-dealer).
Product overview
Corporate Partners LLC operates through a unified merchant banking partnership structure consisting of the Corporate Partners Investment Alliance (CPIA) as the core partnership, along with two regulated service entities: Corporate Partners II Management LLC (SEC-registered exempt reporting advisor providing investment advisory services) and Corporate Partners & Co. LLC (FINRA/SIPC-member broker-dealer providing investment banking services). Partners invest their own capital in privately-negotiated transactions and provide strategic financial advice to businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Investment Advisory Services (via Corporate Partners II Management LLC)
- Investment Banking Services (via Corporate Partners & Co. LLC)
- Corporate Partners Investment Alliance (CPIA) Co-Investment Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Defense of Polaroid from Roy Disney
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Corporate Partners LLC
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Corporate Partners LLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Corporate Partners LLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Corporate Partners LLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lazard: Global financial advisory and asset management firm; the parent lineage of Corporate Partners and a direct comparable for advisory and minority-investment merchant banking activity at significantly greater scale.
- Houlihan Lokey: Global advisory firm with leading positions in M&A, capital markets, and restructuring — overlaps with Corporate Partners in senior-led advisory to management, boards, and owners, though at materially larger scale.
- Berkshire Hathaway: Diversified holding company that invests its own capital in controlling and minority positions alongside operating subsidiaries — a scaled analogue of Corporate Partners' self-funded, principal-investment-led merchant banking model.
Direct peers
- Allen & Company: Privately held boutique investment bank focused on M&A advisory and principal investing for a closed circle of clients — comparable to Corporate Partners in its exclusivity, partner-driven model, and selective deal flow.
- Greenhill & Co. Independent global investment bank advising on M&A, financing, and restructuring for clients worldwide — historically a direct competitor in senior-led, boutique-style merchant banking advisory.
- Perella Weinberg Partners: Independent global advisory firm providing M&A, strategic, and capital markets advice to clients including corporates, sponsors, and governments — directly comparable in boutique advisory scope and senior partner orientation.
- Moelis & Company: Boutique global investment bank advising on M&A, restructurings, and capital markets to senior management and boards — closely comparable in scope of senior-led advisory services and partner-driven economics.
- Centerview Partners: Independent advisory firm serving large-cap clients on M&A, restructuring, and strategic matters through a partner-led model — directly analogous to Corporate Partners' exclusive, senior-led advisory business.
- Evercore: Independent U.S. advisory firm providing strategic financial advice, M&A, and capital markets advisory to senior management, boards, and shareholders — directly comparable to Corporate Partners' investment banking advisory franchise and similar boutique merchant banking model.
- PJT Partners: Independent advisory-focused firm providing M&A, restructuring, and strategic capital markets advice to boards and senior executives — a comparable partner-led merchant banking franchise serving similar clientele.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Corporate Partners LLC social profiles
Digital presenceCorporate Partners LLC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Corporate Partners LLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Corporate Partners LLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Corporate Partners LLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Corporate Partners LLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Corporate Partners LLC
What does Corporate Partners LLC do?
Corporate Partners Investment Alliance (CPIA) is a multinational merchant banking partnership whose Partners invest their own capital alongside other sophisticated investors in privately-negotiated structured minority investments, while also providing strategic financial advice to senior management, boards, owners, and other stakeholders of businesses. Investment advisory services are delivered through Corporate Partners II Management LLC (an SEC-registered exempt reporting advisor), and investment banking services are delivered through Corporate Partners & Co. LLC (a FINRA/SIPC-member broker-dealer).
Is Corporate Partners LLC a public or private company?
Corporate Partners LLC is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Corporate Partners LLC founded?
Corporate Partners LLC was founded in 1988.
Where is Corporate Partners LLC based?
Corporate Partners LLC is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Corporate Partners LLC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Investment Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are investment Banking Services.
Who are Corporate Partners LLC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lazard, Houlihan Lokey and Berkshire Hathaway. Direct peers are Allen & Company, Greenhill & Co., Perella Weinberg Partners, Moelis & Company, Centerview Partners, Evercore and PJT Partners.
Does Corporate Partners LLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Corporate Partners LLC.
What industry is Corporate Partners LLC in?
Corporate Partners LLC's product category is Merchant Banking & Investment Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAF, Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms, with a secondary code of FSAEAGAE, Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps). Its NAICS code is 5231 and its SIC code is 6282.