CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--William Blair & Company, a global investment firm, today announced an agreement to acquire certain assets of Guidance Capital LLC, a specialist in developing and managing multi-manager hedge fund of funds strategies. William Blair & Company expects to complete the transaction in the first quarter of 2011; financial terms will not be disclosed.
“Our strategy is centered around meeting the evolving needs of our clients through active, disciplined management. We believe this addition closely complements and enhances our existing investment capabilities,” said Michelle R. Seitz, CFA, head of William Blair Investment Management and a member of the firm’s executive committee. “Guidance Capital gives us added perspective on the investment landscape. They will continue to operate as they successfully have to date, but will actively collaborate to leverage our broad intellectual talent for the benefit of all our clients.”
Guidance Capital was founded in 2001 and has offices in Chicago and Delaware. The firm manages a series of hedge fund of funds that fall under the broad categories of absolute-return, equity long/short, commodities, and managed futures strategies. The team of investment professionals currently located in Chicago will relocate to William Blair’s Chicago headquarters and will maintain its existing, independent, time-tested research and investment processes. William Blair & Company will maintain the existing Guidance Capital office in Delaware for the employees currently located in Delaware.
“We have known and respected the Guidance Capital team for many years. Their deep knowledge of the fund of hedge funds business is consistent with the depth and experience of all our investment teams,” said Michelle R. Seitz. “They have a very focused research and investment culture centered around providing client solutions. The cultural fit with us is very strong.”
Brian Ziv, one of the principals and founders of Guidance Capital said, “We look forward to joining an investment firm with a distinguished history, and a leadership team totally dedicated to building a sustainable investment franchise for their clients. Their focus on active management, in-depth research, and disciplined processes is completely aligned with our own investment principles. William Blair & Company provides us tremendous resources within an ownership culture that is so important to delivering differentiated, consistent performance over time.”
About William Blair Investment Management
William Blair Investment Management is the asset management operation of William Blair & Company, L.L.C., consisting of the institutional, mutual fund, and wealth management businesses. With more than $44 billion in assets (as of December 31, 2010), William Blair Investment Management provides portfolio management for international, domestic, and global equities, and domestic fixed income. The group also acts as the investment advisor to a family of 19 open-end mutual funds, as well as four SICAVs for non-U.S. citizens or residents.
About William Blair & Company
William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is a global investment firm offering investment banking, asset management, equity research, institutional and private brokerage, and private capital to individual, institutional, and issuing clients. Since 1935, we have been committed to helping clients achieve their financial objectives. As an independent, employee-owned firm, our philosophy is to serve our clients' interests first and foremost. We place a high value on the enduring nature of our client relationships, the quality of our products and services, and the continuity and integrity of our people. William Blair & Company is based in Chicago, with office locations including Boston, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Zurich.
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