Innovative digital platform and team of experts dedicated to helping you achieve your growth objectives.
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To support leveraged buyouts and subsequent add-on acquisitions
To support working capital needs and general corporate purposes
To finance acquisitions, growth capital or deferred purchase price payments
To bridge investments or other temporary funding purposes
To provide flexibility and improve returns backed by your fund's investment portfolio
Our strategy has and will continue to be centered around forming entrenched relationships with our investment partners. We approach each opportunity with deep, thoughtful engagement, a client-first mentality, and long-term relationship perspective.
When partnering with us, you get to work with a dedicated team of experts who are proficient in underwriting and deal execution due to years of intentional experiential learning. Our origination and credit teams work hand-in-hand through every stage of a transaction, ensuring timely communication amongst all parties and successful expedited approvals when needed.
In addition to our knowledge and expertise, we leverage our innovative digital banking platform to optimize and achieve operational efficiency across all elements of a transaction. By engaging with us, companies not only benefit from the experience of our team, but also the best of banking technology.
Gabrielle Piasio brings 19 years of diverse, top-performing commercial banking experience to the Fund & Sponsor Banking team. In this role, Gabrielle is focused on providing financing for sponsor-backed, lower-middle market M&A transactions on a national level. A passionate ESG activist, Gabrielle recently earned an Executive Certificate for ESG Strategists from Wharton Executive Education. She also has Bachelor's and MBA degrees from Florida State University. Gabrielle lives in Winthrop, Massachusetts, with her daughter and dog.
With over 16 years of industry experience, Matt Deibel has seasoned expertise in all stages of deal execution, including sourcing, structuring, underwriting, and managing investment opportunities. Over the course of his career, he has worked extensively with private equity clients of all kinds, from large/mid-cap firms during his time at GE Commercial Finance and Antares Capital to lower middle-market institutions while at First Merchants Corporation and Modern Bank. Matt is based in Chicago, IL, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Boston College, and is originally from Buffalo, New York.
With 30+ years and counting, Barbara helped launch 5 new business lines within Banks and now a new Bank. Melding sales & credit, exceptional service, and flawless execution has enabled her to successfully produce profitable portfolios. As an experienced leader and sales manager, she's had the privilege to coach and mentor many talented individuals throughout her career.
At Grasshopper we take pride in working with sponsors throughout the U.S. who have diverse backgrounds while leveraging our extensive network of investment partners should a deal exceed what the bank is able to provide directly.
Capital needs starting at $1 million
Sustainable minimum annual revenue of approximately $8 million
EBITDA size starting at approximately $1 million
Secure operating accounts, flexible financing solutions, and powerful digital tools, designed to support the unique needs and strategic focus of your firm.
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Our sponsor finance strategy is not bound by any formal mandate restricting the types of institutions that the team can engage with. We work with funded and unfunded private equity firms, family offices, independent sponsors, and subordinate debt lenders, executing on direct strategies. Regardless of who our investment partner is, we value a proven track record of deal execution in the lower-middle market, relevant sector expertise, workout experience, and the ability to source capital post-close in support of a borrower’s growth or liquidity as needed.
When considering companies to invest in, our team generally looks for companies that are generating at least approximately $8 million in revenue and approximately $1 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) on a sustainable basis. We typically prioritize credit criteria such as an established history of profitability, a business model with inherently high free cash flow generation, and diversity of earnings amongst customers, product categories, and end markets.
Equally important, there are no specific requirements that govern our strike zone (e.g., maximum customer concentration percentage, exposure to cyclical end markets, etc.). We look at each company with a fresh perspective and work collaboratively with you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks the company may face in the future and why you believe there are sufficient mitigating factors for each.
We target a minimum funded debt amount of approximately $2 million at the initial closing of each transaction and currently have a maximum commitment (i.e., funded plus unfunded) amount of approximately $10 million per borrower. On the other hand, we have established relationships with an extensive network of like-minded investment partners who we often engage to come into a deal should the requested debt facility exceed what Grasshopper is able to provide directly.
From receipt of initial materials to closing, a typical deal is completed within 6 weeks. However, under special circumstances, our deal professionals can execute transactions in less than 3–4 weeks. We work with legal counsel that has extensive experience in lower middle market deal execution and a proven track record of efficiency across all legal processes involved with a transaction.
