Private equity firms are some of the most sought-after employers for those looking to build careers oriented around financial analysis and investing. Private equity firms are located all across the United States, and there are many of them. Many top firms will have multiple locations across the U.S. and major cities around the globe.
So, how do you know which firms to target? What are the top PE firms in XYZ city? If you’re ready to explore your options for private equity firms, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top private equity firms across twelve major U.S. cities.
Before we get to the list, let’s discuss how a top private equity firm earns its “top” moniker. The most important metric in this discussion is a firm’s value of assets under management. Top PE firms have billions of dollars in assets and, at the end of the day, firms that handle the most money have the most influence – and the most jobs available. Now, let’s get started with our list of the top PE firms in the U.S.
Private Equity Firms Dallas
The two biggest private equity firms Dallas has to offer are TPG and Lone Star Funds.
TPG Capital (Fort Worth)
TPG is a private equity investment firm that manages over $120B in assets. The Fort Worth headquarters is the center of activity for this global behemoth. Founded in 1992, TPG Capital focuses their efforts on leveraged buyouts and growth capital.
Lone Star Funds
This PE firm represents Texas with pride. The private equity firm focuses on distressed assets in North America, Europe, and Japan.
Private Equity Firms Chicago
When talking about private equity firms in Chicago, the two biggest are Thoma Bravo and Bain Capital.
Thoma Bravo
Thoma Bravo is a private equity firm with three U.S. locations that focuses on investments and private credit funds. The company has amassed over $100B in assets under management. Currently, just over 110 employees work for the firm.
Bain Capital
Bain is a world-renowned private equity firm with headquarters in Boston, MA. With over 1,000 employees and $160 billion in assets under management, Bain is a force in the world of PE.
Private Equity Firms Boston
The largest private equity firms in the Boston area are Blackstone and, once again, Bain Capital.
Blackstone Inc.
Blackstone is the largest private equity firm in the world, with $900+ billion in assets under management. That’s almost a trillion dollars! Blackstone focuses on real estate, hedge funds, PE, credit and insurance. CEO and founder Stephen A. Schwarzman has become one of the wealthiest men in the world through Blackstone.
Bain Capital
see Chicago
Private Equity Firms Houston
Blackstone and KKR headline the top two private equity firms in Houston.
Blackstone, Inc.
see Boston
KKR
KKR is a top private equity firm with close to $500B in assets under management. The company’s 1,600 employees can work at office locations in 21 cities across 16 countries worldwide. KKR is often considered the 2nd most prestigious PE firm in the world.
Private Equity Firms NYC
There are many private equity firms in NYC, a financial capital of the world. The two biggest private equity firms NYC has to offer are Blackstone and KKR. Both firms are headquartered in NYC.
Blackstone, Inc.
See Boston
KKR
See Houston
Private Equity Firms Atlanta
The top two private equity firms in Atlanta are H.I.G. and Roark.
H.I.G. Capital LLC
HIG is a private equity firm that invests in small and mid-sized companies. Founded in 1993, the firm claims around $48 billion in assets under management.
Roark Capital Group
Roark Capital touts $33 billion in assets under management. Founded in 2001, Roark has ~100 employees that work with middle-market companies, namely in the food & restaurant, health and wellness, and business services industries. Roark is based in Atlanta.
Private Equity Firms Denver
For private equity, opportunities in Denver are not as extensive as other major cities. That said, there are still promising roles. The two biggest private equity firms in Denver are Platte River and Excellere Partners.
Platte River Equity
Platte River Equity was founded in 2005. The young firm has a modest $1.3 billion in assets under management. The firm focuses on lower middle-market companies for investment.
Excellere Partners
This PE firm specializes in partnering with management teams and entrepreneurs in industries such as energy, healthcare, industrial technology, and more. The $1.36 billion in assets under management makes it the largest private equity firm in Denver, but not by much.
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Private Equity Firms in San Francisco
PE firms in San Francisco are plentiful. The top private equity firms in San Francisco are familiar names: Blackstone and KKR. These two begin an extensive list of firms that call the Bay Area home.
Blackstone, Inc.
See Boston
KKR
See Houston
Private Equity Firms Miami
The two biggest private equity firms Miami has to offer are Blackstone and Carlyle.
Blackstone, Inc.
See Boston
Carlyle
Carlyle is a multinational private equity firm founded in 1987. The firm focuses on leveraged buyouts, growth capital, energy, structured credit, and real estate. Carlyle boasts $325 billion in assets under management, and has over 1,900 employees.
Private Equity Firms Los Angeles
When it comes to private equity in Los Angeles, Blackstone and Carlyle are the biggest names in the area. Opportunities in Los Angeles PE are extensive and certainly extend beyond these two firms.
Blackstone, Inc.
See Boston
Carlyle
See Miami
Austin Private Equity Firms
Private equity in Austin, Texas is growing quickly, but it’s nowhere near the size or impact of PE firms in NYC, Chicago, or the like. Private equity firms in Austin are generally smaller than in major cities, making them less competitive for entry level positions. But, of the various Austin private equity firms, Blue Sage and CenterGate are the biggest and best.
Blue Sage Capital
This Austin-based private equity firm has over $400 million in assets under management. The firm claims growth, buyout financings, and recapitalization of small middle-market companies as its focus areas.
CenterGate Capital
CenterGate focuses its private equity operations on lower to middle market companies. Industries served included business services, technology, and healthcare.
Private Equity Firms in Philadelphia
PE in Philadelphia, like in Austin, is smaller-scale than many other cities on the list. The private equity firms in Philadelphia may not be as nationally-recognized as some of the others on this list, but nonetheless, they represent good landing spots for candidates looking to land their first PE role.
Hamilton Lane
Hamilton Lane is an alternative private equity firm. The firm has $850+ billion in assets under management and supervision.
LLR Partners
This lower middle market private equity firm focuses on the industries of education, fintech, healthcare, software, security, and industrial tech.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to break into PE, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the firms on this list. The private equity firms here comprise most if not all of the heavy hitters in the industry. Work with our team to prepare for the private equity interview process.
Additional Resources:
- Top 25 Consulting Firms
- Top 10 Boutique Consulting Firms in US
- Consulting Resume: Complete Guide
- Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide
