The Chicago private equity giant released a filing with the SEC this week

Madison Dearborn Partners, a Chicago-based private equity giant, is launching its eighth fund. The company wants to raise $4.5 billion. The figure would top the $4.4 billion it raised for its predecessor fund just three years ago.

Investors in Fund VII included the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System, the Minnesota State Board of Investment, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

A filing with the SEC suggests that the figure is just a target. The private equity firm could raise more or less depending on investor sentiment. The PE shop currently has roughly $23 billion in AUM. The private equity shop launched in 1992. Its leaders are co-CEOs Sam Mencoff and Paul Finnegan.

In addition, in late 2018, the firm did announce a bit of a shakeup at the executive level. Mike Dolce took over the newly formed Capital Markets Group. Meanwhile, Josh Damon became the head of the firm’s Portfolio Resources arm.

More About Madison Dearborn Partners

Meanwhile, Madison Dearborn Partners currently owns 26 portfolio companies.

Furthermore, the list of these companies includes consulting firm Ankura and software developer Kaufman Hall & Associates. It also owns Spanish-language media giant Univision Communications. It has invested in roughly 140 companies since its inception.

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