The Chicago Corporation Reestablished to Meet Corporate Finance Needs of Middle-Market Companies

CHICAGO, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Remember the old days when businesses trusted their investment bankers to provide objective advice without conflicts? Those days are back with the reestablishment of The Chicago Corporation, a new independent investment banking firm focused on providing middle-market companies with a range of financial and corporate advisory services including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity capital raising, and financial restructuring.

The Chicago Corporation was originally founded in 1965 and developed a reputation as a high quality regional investment banking firm for middle-market companies that really understood the businesses of its clients and worked collaboratively as trusted advisors. After growing to more than 1,500 employees, the company was sold in 1997 in a deal that made international headlines.

Now, 45 years later, several former members of The Chicago Corporation, along with a team of investment bankers from other firms and seasoned executives from a variety of industries, have come together to bring back the values and spirit of the legendary firm.  

"Many of us worked in the Chicago area and knew, or even worked for, The Chicago Corporation," said Phil Clarke III, a Managing Director who himself worked at the original company and whose father was one of the original founders. "We loved the collaborative culture that brought together the best minds to solve problems for clients. That approach is a vital part of the current organization."

The firm also fills a market need created by the recent financial crisis. Mid-level companies, often family-owned businesses, have fewer financial alternatives. They may be viewed as too small for some investment banking firms but have issues that require more diverse skill sets than many boutique firms can offer. The Chicago Corporation provides these under-served companies with the breadth and depth of experience necessary to guide them toward their strategic business and financial goals.

"This is the time that middle-market companies need more help, not less," said Fred Floberg, another Managing Director at The Chicago Corporation. "Finding capital is difficult. Banks are afraid to lend. Equity values have been hit. The M&A environment is very challenging. Companies need help in developing the best ways to increase stakeholder value for the longer term."

The firm's nine founders, led by Clarke and Floberg, bring more than 250 years of combined corporate finance experience conducting more than 1,000 transactions valued at tens of billions of dollars. In addition to the team's domestic and international corporate finance experience, there is substantial management, legal, and operational expertise in a broad array of industries including capital goods, consumer products, business services, technology, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare services, energy, media, environmental services, and transportation. Rounding out the group of founders are Managing Directors Stan Cutter, Tom Denison, Rick Heyke, Robert Gold, Bill Lear, Keith Walz, and Mike Zook.

"It would be difficult to find a business issue that someone on The Chicago Corporation team hasn't solved for another company. We've seen boom and bust cycles before, and know how to guide companies through both," said Clarke. "Through our 12 Senior Advisors, we also have business connections that allow us to bring solutions or specialized vertical market knowledge to other parts of an organization."

In addition, The Chicago Corporation offers specialized Wealth Transition Advisory services to help company founders plan for the future of their organizations as they approach their own retirement. With baby boomers approaching retirement age at an accelerating rate, boomer-age business owners need advice about changing business wealth into personal wealth and positioning their companies for the future.

"With many middle-market companies, the owners and chief executives are also the founders. As those leaders approach retirement age, they want to ensure a smooth transition not only for themselves, but for their employees and families," said Floberg. "The Chicago Corporation's managing directors have helped clients in many industries plan for both their personal future and the future of their companies. We also know the steps that need to be taken to optimize a company's value leading up to a sale or management change."

The Chicago Corporation focuses on providing financial advisory services to middle-market companies in Illinois and throughout the Midwest, including Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri. However, the management team's national and international experience allows them to help any company looking for personal attention, objective advice, a collaborative approach, and proven corporate financial services expertise.

About The Chicago Corporation

The Chicago Corporation is an independent investment banking firm focused on providing middle-market companies with a range of financial and corporate advisory services including merger and acquisitions, institutional debt and equity capital raising, and financial restructuring. The Chicago Corporation leverages the broad experience of its team to evaluate and implement financial strategies designed to maximize the value of a client's business. The firm is committed to a "client-first" approach, which ensures that its professionals work together to find the best market-based solution for the client. For more information about The Chicago Corporation, its investment bankers, and Senior Advisors, please visit www.thechicagocorp.com.

SOURCE The Chicago Corporation