P10 Expands into Lower-Middle Market Direct Lending with Acquisition of Stellus Capital Management
Established direct lender with a 20+ year track record will add
approximately $3.8 billion in assets under management
Lower-middle market focus a natural fit with existing P10 strategies
DALLAS, February 5, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX) (“P10” or the “Company”), a leading private markets solutions provider, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Stellus Capital Management, LLC (“Stellus”), a U.S. direct lender specializing in senior secured loans in the lower-middle market, for an initial purchase price of $250 million. Stellus will continue to be managed by its current partners who will retain control of its day-to-day operations, including investment decisions and investment committee processes.
Based in Houston, TX, Stellus is an established direct lending platform that provides senior-secured loans to sponsor-backed, lower-middle market companies in the U.S. With approximately $3.8 billion in assets under management, including $2.6 billion in fee-paying AUM, Stellus earns more than 70% of its fee-related revenue from permanent capital vehicles. Stellus’ senior team has been investing together for more than 20 years and has deployed more than $10.3 billion of capital across over 375 companies during that time.
"This acquisition is a continuation of P10’s long-term strategy to partner with leading specialized investment managers operating in the middle and lower-middle market and adds a best-in-class direct lending franchise to our platform,” said Luke Sarsfield, P10 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Stellus Managing Partner Robert Ladd and his team have built a firm with a strong history of growth, proven track record of vehicle launches and robust credit and investment performance across economic cycles. Further, Stellus’ sponsor borrower base is a natural fit within P10’s middle and lower-middle market GP sponsor ecosystem, creating the potential for new opportunities across the firm. With our shared philosophy of investment excellence, client outcomes, and long-term value creation, we look forward to Stellus joining our leading alternatives platform.”
Robert Ladd, Managing Partner of Stellus, added, “Luke and the P10 team have established a highly scaled and diversified private markets platform with a clear focus on the middle and lower-middle markets, and we see strong alignment in our respective approaches. This transaction will enhance our ability to develop additional strategies and investment vehicles that meet the evolving needs of global investors seeking access to opportunities in our markets and those of sponsors and borrowers seeking a reliable, thoughtful lending partner. We look forward to working closely with the P10 team to support disciplined growth and long-term value creation for our clients.”
As previously announced, P10 will rebrand to Ridgepost Capital, Inc, effective February 11, 2026. Beginning that day, the Company’s stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange and NYSE Texas under the new ticker symbol “RPC.”
Transaction Overview
P10 has agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Stellus and 100% of its fee-related earnings.1 The transaction does not include any existing private fund carried interest or performance fees.
