PE Firm · Capital Allocator
Willis Stein & Partners
MediumChicago, United States · Founded 1995 · AUM $3.0 billion · Website
Leveraged BuyoutMiddle-marketConsolidationEducationMediaConsumer GoodsPublishingVeterinary ServicesRetailUnited States
Last verified
7/8/2026
Firm Overview
82
Portfolio tracked
6
Sectors
1
Regions
7/8/2026
Last verified
Willis Stein & Partners was a private equity firm based in Chicago that specialized in leveraged buyout transactions for middle-market companies.
Willis Stein & Partners was founded in 1995 by John Willis and Avy Stein following the acquisition of Continental Illinois by Bank of America. The founders, who previously led the private equity arm of Continental Illinois, quickly secured over $300 million in investor commitments for their inaugural fund. Over its history, the firm raised three private equity funds totaling nearly $3.0 billion.
The firm focused on middle-market leveraged buyouts and gained a reputation for consolidating for-profit educational institutions, at one point owning over 92 such locations. They were also active in the media and consumer goods spaces, managing notable assets like Ziff Davis and Petersen Publishing.
Despite its initial growth, the firm faced mixed results with its 2000 vintage fund. This led to a significant delay in launching a subsequent fund and a reduction in target fund size. The firm eventually began winding down its operations in 2012.
Founded1995
HeadquartersChicago, United States
AUM$3.0 billion
Target investmentMiddle-market companies
StrategiesLeveraged Buyout, Middle-market, Consolidation
Sector focusEducation, Media, Consumer Goods, Publishing, Veterinary Services, Retail
Geographic focusUnited States
Leadership
John R. Willis
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Co-founder and Managing Partner of Willis Stein & Partners since its inception in 1994.
Avy H. Stein
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Co-founder of the firm who previously worked at Continental Illinois Venture Corporation (CIVC).
Rohan S. Sajdeh
Managing Director
Focuses on investments in the consumer and business services sectors.
Eric J. Gaudet
Managing Director
Specializes in identifying and executing investment opportunities in various industrial and service industries.
Daniel P. Janiak
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer
Oversees the financial operations, reporting, and administrative functions of the firm.
Notable Investments
Ziff DavisRoundy'sJays FoodsLincoln Snacks CompanyPetersen Publishing CompanyNational Veterinary Associates
Historical and current deals referenced in public sources.
Portfolio Companies
| Company | Sector | Status | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-Center (A-Action) Service Co. | — | Exited | — |
| Advanced Accessory Systems | — | Exited | — |
| Advanced Media Information | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| AeroGroup International | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting | — | Exited | — |
| American Italian Pasta Company | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| American Whole Health | — | Exited | — |
| Aviation Communications & Control Group | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Baker & Taylor | Media/Communications | Exited | — |
| BHK Group | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Borgman Sales | — | Exited | — |
| CBRE (CB Richard Ellis) | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| Cenveo (Mail-Well) | Manufacturing/Industrial | Exited | — |
| Compagnie Méditerranéenne d'Assurances et de Réassurances (CMAR) | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| CompuCom Systems | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| CompuCom Systems, Inc. | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| Education Corp. of America | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Education Management Corp. | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| Enesco Group | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| excelCare | Healthcare | Exited | — |
| Focus Media | Media/Communications | Exited | — |
| Garden Ridge | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Gaylord Container Corporation | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Great Lakes Home & Resort (Great Lakes Window) | — | Exited | — |
| Hawaii Superferry | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Healthcare Tech | — | Exited | — |
| House of Blues Entertainment | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Housing Group Holdings (The Housing Group) | — | Exited | — |
| IDEX Corporation | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Illinova Corporation | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Interim HealthCare | Healthcare | Exited | — |
| Interlink Communications Partners (InterLink) | — | Exited | — |
| Interval International | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| K-V Pharmaceutical | — | Exited | — |
| Labels Are Us | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Landmark Aviation | — | Exited | — |
| Lincoln Educational Services | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| Lincoln Industrial Corporation | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| LinkShare Corporation, Inc. | Media/Communications | Exited | — |
| Makes and Models | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Making It Personal (MIP) | — | Exited | — |
| National Business Furniture | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| National Material (NMLP) | Manufacturing/Industrial | Exited | — |
| National Mobile Health Care | Healthcare | Exited | — |
| National Veterinary Associates (NVA) | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| NCO Group, Inc. | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| Next Media | Media/Communications | Exited | — |
| Next Media Operating Inc. | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Nightingale-Conant Corporation | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Ocean Design, Inc. (ODI) | Manufacturing/Industrial | Exited | — |
| Omniplex World Services | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| Omniquip International | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| OneLink Communications | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Orius Corp. | — | Exited | — |
| Pan Am International Flight Academy | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| PanAmSat Corporation | Media/Communications | Exited | — |
| Penda Corporation | Manufacturing/Industrial | Exited | — |
| Performance Logistics Group (PLG) | — | Exited | — |
| Petersen Publishing Company | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Precision Partners | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Protocol Communications | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Roundy’s Supermarkets | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc. | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| S&A Companies (Shelter & Arbors) | — | Exited | — |
| Sealy Corporation | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Shared Technologies Fairchild | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Stratavia | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Strategic Equipment and Supply Corp. (SESC) | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| Superior Vision Services | Consumer/Services | Exited | — |
| The Upper Deck Company | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Thermal Resources Management | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Transtar Industries | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Trend Homes | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
| Triad Communications (Triad Specialty Publications) | — | Exited | — |
| U.S. Shipping Partners | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Universal Technical Institute | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| US LEC Corp. | Media/Communications | Exited | — |
| Vanco Group Limited | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Velocita Corp. | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Veritas French Holdings (Veritas)v | — | Exited | — |
| White Mountains Insurance Group | Specialized Business Services | Exited | — |
| Ziff Davis Media | Consumer & Media | Exited | — |
Sources
- Wikipedia Wikipedia/Wikidata · public reference
- Firm website Firm website · primary public source
This profile is based on publicly available information and may be incomplete or outdated. PE Firm Index is not affiliated with Willis Stein & Partners and does not provide investment advice.
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