While the investment activity of Chicago-based private equity (PE) firms is far from robust, Chicago area sponsors seem to be more active and burdened by fewer legacy issues than many firms located elsewhere.
Chicago’s stable, well-established PE community has stayed closer to its core competencies and historical focus than many others, with a high percentage of PE firms focused on LBO and management buyouts rather than on venture capital. Chicago PE firms have traditionally relied primarily on basic industries for their work – rather than on telecommunications and technology – and have maintained an emphasis on roll-up and consolidation strategies.
