Epstein Family Office Acquires Beanstalk in PE Deal

JPE Investments, the family office of Jason Epstein, has acquired Beanstalk, a global leader in brand licensing, as part of a consortium of institutional investors. The consortium includes funds and affiliates of Beach Point Capital Management and the family offices of Lance Hirt and Brian Cooper.

The acquisition marks a strategic shift for Beanstalk as it plans to accelerate its growth initiatives and expand its global platform. Omnicom, the company’s previous owner, will remain an alliance partner, providing continued access to its network of agencies.

Beanstalk President and CEO Allison Ames will continue to lead the agency, while Jason Epstein will assume the role of Chairman. Beanstalk co-founder Michael Stone will remain involved in an advisory capacity.

Jason Epstein’s family office: JPE Investments

Jason Epstein is the founder of JPE Investments, the family office through which he leads investments in high-growth companies across technology, media, telecom (TMT), and consumer products. He is also an Affiliate Partner at Stonecourt Capital. His extensive investment track record includes positions such as Chairman of Swedish public video game company EG7 (STO: EG7), Chairman of Cold Iron Studios, Chairman of Moon Valley Nurseries, and now Chairman of Beanstalk.

Epstein has a background in entrepreneurship and finance. He co-founded eLink Communications in 1998, a provider of broadband and application services, where he served as CEO and was twice a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He later led the roll-up of credit managers that formed CIFC, a listed company with approximately $12 billion in assets under management.

Epstein holds a BA in History from Tufts University and is a member of the Executive Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees.

Growth Plans for Beanstalk

Under its new ownership, Beanstalk’s management team will focus on investing in strategic growth initiatives to strengthen its market position and expand its global reach. The agency plans to enhance its client service offerings and continue building its leadership in the licensing industry.

Beach Point Capital’s Michael Haynes described Beanstalk as a world-class brand licensing agency with an unrivaled reputation for serving Fortune 500 clients. The new investment will provide the resources to support Beanstalk’s continued growth and innovation.

With Jason Epstein at the helm as Chairman, Beanstalk is well-positioned to enter a new phase of growth, capitalizing on its existing strengths while exploring new opportunities in the brand licensing space.

Source: Brand Untapped (12.02.2025)
Picture Source: George Dagerotip (15.02.2025)