Fund of FundsRIA · CRD 112084SEC-RegisteredPrivate Fund Adviser

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Mesirow Private Equity

Mesirow Private Equity is an SEC-registered investment adviser in Chicago, Illinois, registered since 2000. The firm manages $7.1 billion in assets.

Mesirow Private Equity

Mesirow Private Equity is an SEC-registered investment adviser in Chicago, Illinois, registered since 2000. The firm manages $7.1 billion in assets. It has 19 employees and 6 investment advisers.

General information

Firm type

Fund of Funds Manager

Year founded

1937

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Chicago

Corporate office

Chicago, IL, United States

Additional offices

New York · London · Hong Kong · Tokyo

Principals

Norman Mesirow

Founder

Sector focus

Private EquityReal EstateInfrastructurePrivate CreditHedge FundsSecondaries & Special Situations

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Mesirow Private Equity?

Mesirow does not publicly name a single CIO or head of private equity. Investment decisions are made by a team of professionals within the firm's Private Capital division, which operates under the broader Mesirow employee-owned structure. Specific named individuals are not disclosed on the firm's website.

Is Mesirow Private Equity structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a fund of funds?

Mesirow Private Equity operates as a fund of funds manager within the larger Mesirow financial services firm. It is not a single family office. Mesirow is an employee-owned, diversified financial services firm founded in 1937, with the private equity arm acting as one of its core institutional investment capabilities.

What investment stages does Mesirow Private Equity typically target?

Mesirow Private Equity focuses on growth capital and buyout strategies, primarily through fund commitments and co-investments. The firm does not publicly specify a minimum or maximum check size, nor does it disclose a strict stage preference beyond growth and buyout. Its website describes a focus on 'high-growth opportunities across private capital markets.'

Does Mesirow Private Equity participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The firm engages in both primary fund commitments and direct co-investments. Its fund-of-funds offering, launched in the 1990s, suggests a core strategy of allocating to external managers, while co-investments provide additional direct exposure. The firm does not publicly disclose its fund commitment or co-investment volume.

Where does the underlying wealth originate?

Mesirow is an employee-owned financial services firm, not a family office, so there is no single underlying family wealth source. The capital managed by Mesirow Private Equity comes from institutional clients including pension funds, endowments, foundations, and insurance companies. The firm's employee-ownership model means its own professionals are shareholders.

Does Mesirow maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?

Mesirow operates sustainability and community engagement programs as part of its corporate structure, but does not disclose a separate foundation. The firm reports being a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and publishes community impact metrics, including family services, mentorship, and economic opportunity initiatives.

What is Mesirow's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?

Mesirow Private Equity co-invests alongside select external managers, typically within its core fund-of-funds relationships. The firm does not publicly disclose specific co-investment partners or deal-level examples. Its broader platform also includes investment banking and capital markets services, which may create sourcing advantages for co-investment opportunities.

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