Star Mountain Capital, LLC (“Star Mountain”), a specialized private investment firm focused on delivering systematic alpha and low market-correlated, tax-advantaged returns from the growing and less competitive lower middle-market, is pleased to announce that it has once again been named one of the Best Places to Work by both Crain’s New York Business and Pensions & Investments for 2025. These recognitions continue Star Mountain’s multi-year track record of workplace excellence as a 100% employee-owned firm that shares profits with 100% of its U.S. based full-time team members.

“We are honored to receive recognition from both Crain’s and Pensions & Investments as a Best Place to Work in 2025,” said Brett Hickey, Founder & CEO of Star Mountain Capital. “These achievements reflect our distinctive business model as a lower middle-market specialist where we have built a purposeful, collaborative culture focused on optimizing value for our investors and team in an aligned manner. We invest heavily in career development including in-house training to encourage lifelong learning, collaboration, data-driven decision making and respectful, robust debate. Our long-term investments in custom-built technology and systems have created meaningful competitive advantages which helps our team maximize their abilities and ultimately the results we are able to deliver for investors and the businesses we invest in.”

Crain’s and Pensions & Investments each conduct comprehensive independent evaluations that assess workplace culture, employee experience, policies, benefits and organizational values. Being recognized by both outlets in the same year demonstrates the strength of Star Mountain’s purpose-built platform, commitment to alignment of interest and focus on investing in its people.

Star Mountain’s platform has been purpose-built for over fifteen years to serve established lower middle-market businesses through differentiated sourcing, underwriting and value-added capabilities. The firm’s culture is strengthened by its employee ownership model and community engagement through the Star Mountain Charitable Foundation, which focuses on economic development, job creation, health & wellness and cancer research.

About Star Mountain Capital

With ~$4.5 billion in AUM (committed capital including debt facilities as of 11/30/2025), Star Mountain specializes in providing data-driven investment solutions across two core strategies:

• Direct Investments: Providing debt and equity capital to established lower middle-market businesses.
• Secondary Investments: Acquiring LP interests, direct assets, NAV loans and making primary LP commitments.

Star Mountain’s investors include public and private pensions, insurance companies, commercial banks, endowments, foundations, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. Employee-owned and sharing profits with 100% of its U.S. full-time employees, the firm prioritizes alignment of interests to maximize value for stakeholders.

Since 2010, Star Mountain has completed over 100 direct platform investments and 50 secondary/fund investments in the North American lower middle-market. The firm has been recognized as one of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies and a Best Place to Work by Crain’s New York Business and Pensions & Investments.

For more information, visit www.starmountaincapital.com.

Legal Disclaimer:

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase interests in any investment product. Awards and recognitions by third-party rating agencies, companies or publications should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results or performance. They should not be considered as an endorsement, recommendation or referral of Star Mountain Capital or its representatives by any client or third party. Rankings published by media and industry organizations are based on information provided by the recognized advisor. Additionally, readers should understand that past performance is not indicative of future results. Award descriptions and selection methodologies may vary. Employee ownership includes employee estate planning vehicles.

Awards and Recognition Disclosure:

Star Mountain Capital’s awards and recognitions are based on third-party evaluations and criteria, which may be subjective. These honors do not imply a guarantee of future performance or an endorsement by current or past clients.

Ranking Methodologies:

• Crain’s Best Places to Work: Evaluations were conducted through a two-part process, assessing workplace policies, practices and employee satisfaction via surveys. Participation required a fee solely for survey processing purposes. More details are available at Crain’s eligibility criteria.
• Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work: Companies were evaluated based on surveys measuring employee engagement (75%) and employer policies (25%). Participation required a minimum of 20 U.S. employees and $100 million in discretionary assets under management. Further details can be found at P&I eligibility criteria.
• Inc. 5000 Rankings: Companies were ranked based on revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, firms had to be U.S.-based, privately held and independent, with revenue thresholds of at least $100,000 in 2019 and $2 million in 2022. More details are available at Inc. 5000 criteria.

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