CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Pritzker Group, a private investment firm representing Pritzker family interests, today announced that Paul Carbone, Director and Managing Partner of Baird Private Equity, will join the firm to lead its private equity investing activities.
Carbone has led Baird Private Equity, the buyout, growth equity and venture capital arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. During his 18-year tenure at Baird, Carbone helped spearhead growth of the firm’s private equity business from $23 million raised and managed in early 1994 to $2.8 billion with 60 professionals in the U.S., Asia and Europe.
“The Pritzker Group’s long-term investment approach, permanent capital base and outstanding reputation create a rare opportunity for me to help build long-term value and grow the Pritzkers’ businesses in the years ahead,” said Carbone. “I wasn’t looking to leave Baird, which I love, but this was a chance I couldn’t pass up.”
A highly respected expert in middle-market investing, Carbone has extensive experience in buyouts and growth equity in high potential companies in the U.S., Europe and Asia. He helped lead the growth of Baird’s active portfolio from six companies in 1999 to 55 companies with combined revenue in excess of $2 billion and over 10,000 employees in 2011. In addition to serving as head of Baird Private Equity, Carbone is a member of Baird’s boards of directors and Executive Committee. He is also a member of the Baird Foundation Committee and is active with various civic and charitable organizations. For the last four years, Baird Capital Partners ranked as a Top 20 “Consistent Performer” among international private equity funds in the Preqin survey of private equity funds worldwide.
“Paul has an outstanding track record growing and scaling a strong investment group at Baird, and he understands how to help company management teams build long term value, which is what we’re all about at The Pritzker Group. His experience will play a crucial role as we execute our own strategic growth plans in the years ahead,” said J.B. Pritzker, Managing Partner of The Pritzker Group.
“Culturally and philosophically, Paul aligns extremely well with The Pritzker Group, and we look forward to his leadership as we deploy additional capital and grow our presence in the middle market,” added Tony Pritzker, Managing Partner of The Pritzker Group.
Carbone earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and his AB degree from the College of the University of Chicago.
About The Pritzker Group’s Private Equity Team
Led by Tony Pritzker and J.B. Pritzker, The Pritzker Group's private equity team focuses on middle-market buyouts of North American companies with enterprise values between $50 million and $400 million. Together with its venture capital team, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 80 companies. The Pritzker Group offers several advantages as an investor and partner with management teams to support the performance of its companies: its focus on building long-term value; its proprietary capital base; decades of investment and operating experience across a wide range of industries; and its substantial global relationship network.
For more information visit www.pritzkergroup.com.