Adams Street Partners

Adams Street Partners was founded in 1972 as the growth equity division of First National Bank of Chicago, where it was known as First Chicago Investment Advisors.^[2][6][7]

In 1989, its CEO Gary P. Brinson led a $100 million management buyout of the division from First Chicago Corporation and spun it out as a separate firm named Brinson Partners (Brinson).^[3][2][6][7]

In 1994, Swiss Bank Corporation (SBC) acquired Brinson for $750 million.^[2][7]

In 1998, SBC merged with Union Bank of Switzerland to form UBS. Brinson operated as part of UBS Asset Management.^[2][8][9]

In September 2000, Brinson formed Adams Street Partners to circumvent bank-related regulatory requirements, such as the prohibition on owning more than 24.9% of any non-banking company. Brinson held 24.9% of ASP while the rest was held by the employees of ASP.^[2][10]

On January 1, 2001, Brinson spun out ASP as a separate firm.^[3][2][11]

In May 2008, ASP acquired Brinson's stake of 24.9% for $156 million from UBS, making it fully employee owned.^[2][3][12]

In May 2014, Royal Bank of Scotland sold a minority stake of its private equity unit to ASP for $167 million.^[13]

In 2016, ASP launched its own venture capital and private credit business.^[14][15]

• Official website