PE Firm · Capital Allocator

Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

Medium
New York, United States · Founded 1979 · AUM $27 billion · Website
Leveraged BuyoutGrowth CapitalVenture Capital (Historically)Mezzanine DebtSubordinated DebtTechnologyHealthcareInformation/Business ServicesCommunicationsGovernment ServicesUnited States
Last verified
7/8/2026

Firm Overview

0
Portfolio tracked
5
Sectors
1
Regions
7/8/2026
Last verified

Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS) is an American private equity firm that specializes in leveraged buyouts and growth capital investments within the technology and healthcare industries.

Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS) was formed in 1979 by Patrick Welsh, Russell Carson, and Bruce Anderson. Originally established as a venture capital firm, it has evolved over four decades into a prominent private equity firm specializing in the healthcare and technology sectors. The firm has raised over $27 billion in capital across 13 equity partnerships and four subordinated debt partnerships, with a significant portion of that capital dedicated specifically to healthcare investments.

The firm is headquartered in New York and maintains a presence in San Francisco. WCAS utilizes a specialized Resources Group composed of operating partners who assist portfolio companies with strategic value maximization plans. This involves initiatives ranging from revenue enhancement and cost management to corporate governance and acquisition integration. Throughout its history, the firm has been a prolific investor, with dozens of public companies in its core industries having roots in WCAS's initial investments.

Founded1979
HeadquartersNew York, United States
AUM$27 billion
Employees90
StrategiesLeveraged Buyout, Growth Capital, Venture Capital (Historically), Mezzanine Debt, Subordinated Debt
Sector focusTechnology, Healthcare, Information/Business Services, Communications, Government Services
Geographic focusUnited States

Leadership

Anthony de Nicola
President & Managing Partner
A Managing Partner and President of WCAS who joined in 1994 and focuses on the information, business, and communications industries.
D. Scott Mackesy
Managing Partner
A Managing Partner who joined in 1998 and co-leads the firm's healthcare practice.
Jon Rather
CFO/COO
Patrick Welsh
Co-Founder
Co-founder who previously served as President of Citicorp Venture Capital.
Russell Carson
Co-Founder
Co-founder who previously served as Chairman of Citicorp Venture Capital.
Bruce Anderson
Co-Founder
Co-founder who was formerly an Executive Vice President of Automatic Data Processing.
Rick Stowe
Co-Founder / General Partner
Joined in 1979 as a General Partner after working at New Court Securities Corporation.

Notable Investments

Alliance Data SystemsCeridianClearwater AnalyticsPaycomQuickBaseBausch & LombKindred HealthcareSelect Medical CorporationLincare HoldingsUnited Surgical Partners InternationalU.S. Acute Care SolutionsAmdocsWindstream

Historical and current deals referenced in public sources.

Portfolio Companies

Portfolio not yet mapped for Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.

We couldn't find a public portfolio page on the firm's website. Operators and representatives are welcome to submit the official list.

Submit Update

Sources

This profile is based on publicly available information and may be incomplete or outdated. PE Firm Index is not affiliated with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and does not provide investment advice.

More PE firms in Technology

Browse the full PE firms directory.