Private Equity Firms in Illinois

Chicago has long been one of the main centers of private equity in the United States, and many of the firms that buy founder-owned businesses across the Midwest are based there. Several firms on this page have invested in lower middle market companies for decades and know the region's manufacturers, distributors and service businesses well.

Illinois firms are known for a practical, operations-minded approach. Many focus on industrial companies, business services, healthcare and consumer brands, and several bring in operating partners or former executives to work alongside management after a deal. Their size ranges vary widely, so a firm's address says less about fit than its criteria and recent deals.

For owners in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and the rest of the Midwest, a nearby buyer can make the process easier. Site visits, management meetings and the many conversations that come before a sale are simpler when the buyer is a short drive or flight away, and a firm that already owns companies in the region may know your customers, suppliers and labor market.

Being based in Chicago does not mean a firm only buys in the Midwest. Most invest nationally, and many strong buyers for a Midwestern company are based on the coasts or in Texas. It is worth looking at both the firms below and national firms with recent deals in your industry and region.

When you compare Illinois buyers, look past the size of their latest fund. Ask how many companies of your size each firm has bought in the last few years, who on the team would work with you day to day, and how the firm has treated founders who stayed on after a sale. The deal lists in each profile below are a good place to start.

Greymont is paid by buyers, never by owners. Greymont can help Midwestern owners compare these firms with national buyers active in the region, and find the ones that fit their sector and size.