Industry Updates

William Blair & Co announces acquisition of Guidance Capital LLC

Thursday, January 20, 2011

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Opalesque Industry Update - William Blair & Company, a global investment firm, today announced an agreement to acquire certain assets of Guidance Capital LLC, a specialist in developing and managing multi- manager hedge fund of funds strategies. William Blair & Company expects to complete the transaction in the first quarter of 2011; financial terms will not be disclosed.

“Our strategy is centered around meeting the evolving needs of our clients through active, disciplined management. We believe this addition closely complements and enhances our existing investment capabilities,” said Michelle R. Seitz, CFA, head of William Blair Investment Management and a member of the firm’s executive committee. “Guidance Capital gives us added perspective on the investment landscape. They will continue to operate as they successfully have to date, but will actively collaborate to leverage our broad intellectual talent for the benefit of all our clients.”

Guidance Capital was founded in 2001 and has offices in Chicago and Delaware. The firm manages a series of hedge fund of funds that fall under the broad categories of absolute-return, equity long/short, commodities, and managed futures strategies. The team of investment professionals currently located in Chicago will relocate to William Blair’s Chicago headquarters and will maintain its existing, independent, time-tested research and investment processes. William Blair & Company will maintain the existing Guidance Capital office in Delaware for the employees currently located in Delaware.

“We have known and respected the Guidance Capital team for many years. Their deep knowledge of the fund of hedge funds business is consistent with the depth and experience of all our investment teams,” said Michelle R. Seitz. “They have a very focused research and investment culture centered around providing client solutions. The cultural fit with us is very strong.”

Brian Ziv, one of the principals and founders of Guidance Capital said, “We look forward to joining an investment firm with a distinguished history, and a leadership team totally dedicated to building a sustainable investment franchise for their clients. Their focus on active management, in-depth research, and disciplined processes is completely aligned with our own investment principles. William Blair & Company provides us tremendous resources within an ownership culture that is so important to delivering differentiated, consistent performance over time.”

(press release)

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