Frontenac Marks Fifty-Year Anniversary
Chicago, IL
Frontenac, a Chicago-based private equity investment firm, is pleased to announce it is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021. The firm was founded with an entrepreneurial spirt supported by perseverance, investment discipline, a people-first philosophy, and an unwavering commitment to its investors. As Frontenac celebrates its 50th year in the private equity industry, these ideals remain the firm’s guiding principles.
“We are proud of our legacy as a pioneer in private equity investing and our role in building great companies. We are just as excited about our firm’s future as we build upon this record of success and innovation.” said Walter C. Florence, Managing Partner.
Since its founding in 1971, Frontenac has raised more than $2.1 billion of capital and has invested in more than 275 companies. Frontenac’s first fund began with a single-family investor. Today, Frontenac’s eleventh fund is comprised of a variety of investors including family offices, endowments, insurance companies, pension funds and fund of funds.
“Frontenac began with a spirit of genuine partnership. Our culture continues to thrive based on this foundation of teamwork and collaboration. We are grateful to our team members, both past and present, our investors and our portfolio company employees who carry this successful partnership forward,” said Paul D. Carbery, Managing Partner.
Frontenac Launches Koldyke Fellow Program
Giving back is part of Frontenac’s legacy. It began with Mike Koldyke, who founded Frontenac in 1971. Mike is recognized for his civic and philanthropic endeavors, most of which related to his long-standing commitment to education. Mike was the founder and Chairman Emeritus of both the Golden Apple Foundation and the Academy for Urban School Leadership and served as the first Chairman of the Chicago School Finance Authority.
This year, to mark the firm’s 50th anniversary, Frontenac is proud to introduce the Koldyke Fellow Program in honor of the firm’s founder. Frontenac’s Koldyke Fellow Program is designed to provide opportunities to students of color who aspire to become private equity professionals. Frontenac will award its first Koldyke Fellow Program internship later this year.
About Frontenac
Frontenac is a Chicago-based private equity firm. The firm focuses on investing in lower middle market buyout transactions in the consumer, industrial, and services industries. Frontenac works in partnership with established operating leaders, through an executive-centric approach called CEO1ST, which seeks to identify, acquire, and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and operational excellence. Over the last 50 years, Frontenac has built a leading franchise working with over 275 owners of mid-sized businesses as they address complex transition issues of liquidity, management enhancement, and growth planning. For more information, please visit www.frontenac.com.