BAIRD PRIVATE EQUITY ANNOUNCES RECORD YEAR IN 2007 FOR FUNDRAISING, NEW AND FOLLOW-ON INVESTMENTS, AND EXITS







Appoints Aaron Rudberg Director of Investor Relations, Promotes CAO Scott Skie


To Partner






CHICAGO, January ##, 2008 – Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), today announced a record year in 2007 for fundraising, new and follow-on investments, and exits. Additionally, as part of its continued growth, Baird Private Equity appointed Aaron Rudberg to the newly created position of Director of Investor Relations and promoted Scott Skie, currently Chief Administrative Officer, to Partner.


A Record Year


“The combination of our deep sector and investment experience, our global operating resources and our focus on smaller, high potential companies allows us to create value in our companies and provide attractive returns to our investors,” said Paul Carbone, Director of Baird Private Equity. “Our success in 2007 demonstrates that our long standing strategy is working in today’s competitive and increasingly challenging environment.”


Details of Baird Private Equity’s record year include:



Through its various buyout and venture funds, Baird Private Equity makes venture capital, change-in-control and growth equity investments in smaller, high-potential U.S. and European companies. Baird Private Equity has raised and managed $2.4 billion in capital globally, and is an active investor in companies in the Business Services, Manufactured Products and Healthcare/Life Sciences sectors.


Rudberg Named Director of Investor Relations


Working closely with Carbone and Skie, Rudberg will manage Baird Private Equity’s relationships with current and prospective investors in the United States and abroad, and oversee its communication, sales and marketing activities. Rudberg also will be involved in broader strategic and new product development initiatives.


“This is an outstanding opportunity to join a dynamic, multi-fund, multi-currency private equity team that is active in North America, Europe and Asia,” said Rudberg.  “I look forward to building broader recognition for Baird Private Equity’s distinctive approach in the marketplace and increasing investors’ appreciation of our unique global platform and the value we create for them.”


Rudberg joins Baird Private Equity with nine years of private equity and entrepreneurial experience, including the last three at Muller & Monroe, a Chicago-based private equity fund-of-funds.  Rudberg was a Principal at Muller & Monroe, where he was a member of the firm’s investment team and helped manage the firm’s investor relationships.  Prior to Muller & Monroe, Rudberg spent time with two venture capital firms and was Director of Marketing at a venture-backed software company.


Rudberg began his career as a James H. Dunn Fellow in the press office of former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.


Skie Named Partner, Continues as Chief Administrative Officer


Skie has been named a Partner while continuing as Chief Administrative Officer, responsible for all financial and administrative matters for Baird Private Equity.


Prior to joining Baird in 2005, Skie most recently served as Chief Financial Officer for LaSalle Capital Group, a Chicago-based middle-market private equity firm. He received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.


About Baird Private Equity


Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, change-in-control and growth equity investments in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe and Granville Baird Ltd, an affiliated fund manager that invests in Germany.  With more than 40 investment professionals in the United States and Europe and over 20 operating professionals in Asia, Baird Private Equity has raised and managed $2.4 billion in capital.  For more information, please visit www.bairdprivateequity.com.


Baird Private Equity’s operating team in China and India, located in four offices, focuses exclusively on facilitating and executing Asia sourcing, manufacturing and distribution opportunities for portfolio companies of its various funds.  The group’s investments are supported by Baird’s full range of financial advice, operating expertise and industry research, providing a unique full-service approach to the entire private equity investment process.