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Loop Capital Markets
Jim Reynolds launched Loop Capital Markets in Chicago in 1997, initially focusing on municipal-bond underwriting before expanding into equity and...
Loop Capital Markets
Jim Reynolds launched Loop Capital Markets in Chicago in 1997, initially focusing on municipal-bond underwriting before expanding into equity and fixed-income sales, trading, and corporate advisory. The firm is structured as a limited liability company and remains majority-owned by Reynolds, with no external wealth origin disclosed. Loop Capital operates across three primary lines: public finance (municipal bonds, infrastructure), capital markets (equity and fixed-income trading), and investment banking (M&A advisory, private placements). Publicly known deals include underwriting roles for the Chicago Transit Authority and the State of Illinois; the firm also co-managed IPOs for major corporations including Ford Motor Company and General Motors. Geographic focus is primarily North America, with additional offices in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The firm employs roughly 200 people across its offices. In 2019, Loop Capital acquired the investment banking boutique L.L. Bradford & Co., expanding its advisory capabilities. Adjacent philanthropic vehicles include the Loop Capital Community Foundation, focused on financial literacy and minority-owned business support. Loop Capital's structural differentiator is its status as the largest Black-owned investment bank in the US, a position that gives it distinct access to municipal-bond issuers, state and local governments, and corporations seeking diverse underwriting partners. The firm does not manage third-party commingled funds in the traditional asset-management sense, instead acting as a broker-dealer and advisor that deploys its own balance sheet alongside client capital in specific transactions.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1997
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Chicago
Corporate office
Chicago, IL, United States
Additional offices
New York · San Francisco · Atlanta · Los Angeles
Principals
Jim Reynolds
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Emmanuel Ola
President
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who is the founder and CEO of Loop Capital?
Jim Reynolds founded Loop Capital in 1997 and serves as its Chairman and CEO. Reynolds previously worked in municipal finance at John Nuveen & Co. and has been a prominent figure in Chicago finance. The firm remains under his majority ownership (public record).
What investment banking services does Loop Capital offer?
Loop Capital provides municipal bond underwriting, equity and fixed-income sales and trading, M&A advisory, and private capital raising. The firm is organized into three divisions: Public Finance, Capital Markets, and Investment Banking.
Is Loop Capital a single family office or an asset manager?
Loop Capital is a broker-dealer and investment banking firm, not a family office. It does not manage pooled funds for external investors in the traditional asset-management sense; instead it underwrites securities, provides advisory services, and engages in principal trading.
Does Loop Capital make direct investments?
Loop Capital engages in principal trading through its broker-dealer license, but does not publicly disclose a portfolio of direct equity investments in private companies. Its primary deployment is in underwriting and advisory fees, not long-term balance-sheet investments.
What is the geographic focus of Loop Capital?
The firm is headquartered in Chicago and has offices in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. Its client base is primarily US-based, focusing on states, municipalities, corporations, and institutional investors.
How is Loop Capital different from other investment banks?
It is the largest Black-owned investment bank in the United States, which gives it unique access to municipal issuers and corporate clients seeking diverse-led underwriting. It focuses on municipal debt and mid-market corporate advisory rather than competing bulge-bracket firms across all product lines.
What philanthropic activities does Loop Capital have?
The firm operates the Loop Capital Community Foundation, which supports financial literacy programs and minority-owned business development. No public disclosure of foundation assets or annual grant totals is available.
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