Updated:
Croft & Bender
Croft & Bender is a US middle-market investment bank founded in 1996 by Ed Croft and Ted Bender, completing over 1,000 M&A and capital raising...
Croft & Bender
Croft & Bender was launched in 1996 by Ed Croft and Ted Bender, both former managing directors and board members of The Robinson-Humphrey Company. The firm positions itself as a relationship-oriented advisor to middle-market and emerging growth companies, emphasizing independent, service-based advice. The bank advises on M&A sell-side and buy-side, capital raises, and strategic advisory across five industry verticals: Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial, and Technology. Its transaction roster spans more than 1,000 deals. Confirmed recent engagements include the sell-side advisories for Russell Landscape (commercial landscape services), engage fi (technology-enabled consulting for community financial institutions), and Rentvine (property management software) (per firm website, 2026). Geographically, Croft & Bender operates primarily in the United States and leverages its network with Clairfield International to reach clients across 25 countries. The firm maintains eight offices: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Greenwich, Belmont, Atlanta, and Jackson. Its team of 24 professionals includes eight managing directors active in deal execution. Roughly 70% of transactions involve founder- or family-owned businesses. Croft & Bender is not disclosed to manage assets or operate as a family office; it is an independent investment banking advisory firm. Croft & Bender's structural differentiator is its dual identity: it operates as a US-focused independent bank while offering cross-border coverage through its membership in Clairfield International, a global partnership of middle-market investment banks. This hybrid model gives it a presence across 300+ professionals in 34 offices worldwide without maintaining its own overseas infrastructure.
General information
Firm type
Investment Bank
Year founded
1996
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Additional offices
Los Angeles, CA, United States · Chicago, IL, United States · Greenwich, CT, United States · Belmont, CA, United States · Atlanta, GA, United States · Jackson, MS, United States
Principals
Ed Croft
Co-Founder
Ted Bender
Co-Founder
Frank H. 'Bo' Briggs, III
Managing Director
Ronald B. Goldman
Managing Director
Steve B. Tye
Managing Director
Neale Fisher
Managing Director
Matthew A. Veal
Managing Director
Kyle C. Schickner
Managing Director
Erik Zalenski
Managing Director
Connor W. Boston
Director
Brad Germany
Director
Matthew T. Collins
Associate
Joseph R. Korn
Associate
R. Warren Seeds
Senior Analyst
Patrick Stoffel
Senior Analyst
Andrew H. Abernathy
Analyst
Jeremy A. Billik
Analyst
Justin Kay
Analyst
Christopher A. Kollme
Analyst
Frankie Maloof
Analyst
Ethan Reifer
Analyst
MaryJo McComb
Executive Assistant
Alyssa Onay
Executive Assistant
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Croft & Bender?
Croft & Bender is led by a team of eight managing directors: Bo Briggs, Ronald Goldman, Steve Tye, Neale Fisher, Matthew Veal, Kyle Schickner, and Erik Zalenski. Each managing director takes a senior-level role on every engagement. The firm was founded by Ed Croft and Ted Bender, but neither appears on the current team list.
Is Croft & Bender structured as a family office or an investment bank?
Croft & Bender is an independent investment bank, not a family office. It provides M&A advisory, capital raising, and strategic financial services to middle-market companies. The firm does not manage assets or invest its own balance sheet in the transactions it advises.
What types of companies does Croft & Bender typically advise?
The firm focuses on middle-market and emerging growth companies, with roughly 70% of its transactions involving founder- or family-owned businesses. It also advises sponsor-backed companies and public companies. Sectors include Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial, and Technology.
Does Croft & Bender participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Croft & Bender does not commit capital or participate in fund investments. It acts solely as a financial advisor on sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, capital raises, and strategic advisory. The firm does not have an investment fund or co-investment vehicle.
What geographic reach does Croft & Bender have?
The firm operates eight offices across the United States: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Greenwich, Belmont, Atlanta, and Jackson. Through its partnership with Clairfield International, it extends advisory services across 25 countries on five continents, with access to 300+ professionals in 34 offices.
How does Croft & Bender source proprietary deal flow?
Sourcing relies on the direct relationships of its eight managing directors, many of whom previously worked at large international banks. The firm's partnership with Clairfield International provides access to a global network of middle-market investment banks, broadening its deal flow across geographies.
Where does the underlying wealth at Croft & Bender come from?
Croft & Bender is not a wealth manager or family office; it is an advisory firm. The underlying wealth of its clients — founder- and family-owned businesses — is not disclosed by the firm. No principal-level asset management is conducted in-house.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: