Mergers & Acquisitions names 2021 Top 25 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A, including Mizzen Capital’s Marilyn Adler.
Describe a recent accomplishment.
In late 2019, Liddy Karter, Annie Li and I founded Mizzen Capital, a private credit fund that provides term loans to lower middle- market companies with $1 million to $10 million of Ebitda for organic growth and acquisitions. Our typical deals are $3 million to $15 million, first lien or second lien debt or a unitranche. Mizzen Capital is excited to focus on smaller transactions of under $15 million because it is the largest part of the lower middle market. Launching Mizzen Capital during Covid was quite challenging, but we persevered. Covid has driven growth in several niche businesses that need capital at a time when more traditional lenders have reduced their activity.
How are you advancing the state of women?
Mizzen is one of only a handful of woman-owned Small Business Investment Company funds out of 300 SBICs funds nationally. We hope to be an inspiration for other women investment professionals who are thinking about starting their own firms. We are especially receptive to women and minority business owners; however, our investment decisions are based solely on maximizing our return to investors. Also, I am a founding member of Exponent Women.
Tell us more about you.
For the last 24 years, I have been managing SBIC funds and feel passionate about helping small businesses with capital and advice to help them succeed. My past experience at DLJ and TIAA and with investing through five other SBIC funds includes various strategies such as equity and debt in early and late-stage public and private companies. Mizzen is focused on term debt for growth businesses.
