Ownership

Willis Stein & Partners is a leading Chicago-based private equity investment firm with approximately $3.0 billion of capital under management. The firm invests in companies primarily in the consumer services, education, healthcare, and specialized business services sectors and generally focuses on the upper-middle market transactions with values typically ranging from $75 million to $750 million.
 
Prior to forming Willis Stein & Partners, the principals invested a $250 million private equity fund in a broad-based portfolio of 20 companies in targeted industries. Willis Stein & Partners was formed in 1995 at which time the firm raised a $343.4 million debut fund. The firm raised Willis Stein & Partners II, L.P. in 1998, an $840 million fund, and Willis Stein & Partners III, L.P. in 2001, a $1.8 billion fund.

Willis Stein & Partners invests to build long-term value. Working in concert with Management, the firm employs a strategy for driving growth through increased sales, improved operating efficiencies and strategic acquisitions. Since 1989, the principals have invested approximately $3 billion in 49 portfolio companies, and have complete more than 200 add-on acquisitions, while raising more than $4 billion in debt to help portfolio companies grow. Ultimate liquidity is typically achieved for portfolio companies through the public markets, re-capitalization and/or sale to a strategic buyer.