Baird Private Equity Reports Active 2008, Sees Opportunity in 2009

Global Firm Celebrates 20 Years of U.S. Buyout Investing

• Raising over $170 million for Baird Venture Partners III; 
• Deploying over $210 million in 24 new or follow-on investments; and 
• Realizing over $150 million principally through 9 exits.

“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.

Baird Capital Partners Celebrates 20th Anniversary
This year, Baird Capital Partners (BCP), the U.S.-based buyout fund of Baird Private Equity, celebrates 20 years of successful investing in smaller, high potential companies in the Business Services and Manufactured Products sectors. In addition to a strong investment team, BCP’s resources include operating partners, sector-focused advisory boards, dedicated portfolio management professionals and extensive on-the-ground resources in Asia.

Since inception, BCP has:

• Invested in 42 platform companies, including 3 companies during 2008; 
• Realized nearly $500 million through 31 full or partial exits, including over $90 million in partial and full realizations in 2008; and 
• In 2008, BCP was named a top 20 "Consistent Performer" among buyout managers by Private Equity Intelligence Ltd. (Preqin), in its 2008 Preqin Private Equity Performance Monitor. Preqin reviewed over 1,400 global firms in developing the list.

Attractive Opportunities to Invest in 2009
“Importantly, the private equity model is not broken and the business is not dead as some would like you to believe,” said Carbone. “For those funds like ours which have always used modest leverage and have available capital today, 2009 should provide unique opportunities to invest in quality companies at attractive prices.”

Baird Private Equity’s international network and in particular its push into China in 2003 presents the firm with many advantages in helping lower middle market companies in today’s environment.

“We continue to see attractive investment opportunities both domestically and in the international markets,” said Carbone. “Though far from immune to the world economic issues, China, for instance, continues to have many of the right elements for profitable and productive investing especially given our long-standing and proven approach.”

About Baird Private Equity
Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments in smaller, high potential companies in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners, in China through Baird Capital Partners Asia, and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe and Granville Baird, an affiliated fund manager that invests in Germany. Baird Private Equity has a global team of approximately 80 professionals in nine offices across the United States, Europe and Asia, including one of the largest operating teams in Asia focused on smaller, high potential companies. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed approximately $2.4 billion in capital and invested in over 230 companies since the 1980s. For more information, please visit www.bairdprivateequity.com.