Talk:William Blair & Company/Archive 1

Pending changes
This article is one of a number selected for the early stage of the trial of the Pending Changes system on the English language Wikipedia. All the articles listed at Pending changes/Queue  are being considered for level 1 pending changes protection.

The following request appears on that page:

Comments on the suitability of theis page for "Pending changes" would be appreciated.

Please update the Queue page as appropriate.

Note that I am not involved in this project any much more than any other editor, just posting these notes since it is quite a big change, potentially

Regards, Rich Farmbrough, 00:39, 17 June 2010 (UTC).

Semi-protected edit request on 18 February 2015
I am the director of digital for William Blair and would like access to edit the page. There is a great amount of innacurate data on this page, including number of employees, offices, and locations.

William Blair Digital Director (talk) 16:40, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

❌ This is not the right page to request additional user rights and you have a clear conflict of interest, so should not be editing this page in any case. If you want to suggest a change, please request this in the form "Please replace XXX with YYY" or "Please add ZZZ between PPP and QQQ". Please also cite verifiable, reliable sources to back up each of your requests. - Arjayay (talk) 19:02, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

Not sure how wanting to keep information about my company accurate a conflict of interest. Anyhow, please change "920" employees to "over 1,200". Please change "based in Chicago with offices in London, San Francisco, Tokyo, Liechtenstein and Zurich." to "based in Chicago, with offices in 19 cities across five continents." Please change "The firm has broad employee ownership, with 173 principals, a large percentage of the professional staff and over $130 million of equity capital." to "The firm is 100% independent and employee-owned with more than than $74 billion in client assets."

References: www.williamblair.com; http://www.williamblair.com/Investment-Banking/Team-Contacts.aspx and http://www.williamblair.com/About-William-Blair.aspx

Unsourced for the most part
The following is unsourced and was moved here per WP:PRESERVE. Per WP:BURDEN please do not restore without finding independent, reliable sources, checking the content against them, and citing them, and ensuring that this content has appropriate WP:WEIGHT in the article overall.

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William Blair & Company opened on January 8, 1935, as Blair, Bonner & Co. The firm was founded by William M. Blair and Francis A. Bonner who had worked together at investment firm Lee, Higginson & Co., prior to its collapse in 1932-1933.
 * History

In its early days, it assisted the growth of the Household Finance Corporation, Continental Casualty and Continental Assurance companies (today CNA Insurance). The firm focused on raising capital, primarily for midwestern growth-oriented companies, through its own originated issues rather than distribute securities for larger Wall Street-based investment banks.

In 1941 Bonner left the company, and it was renamed William Blair & Company. In 1946 Blair's sons, William McCormick Blair, Jr., Edward McCormick Blair and Bowen Blair joined the firm. Blair, Sr. stepped down as managing partner in 1961, and handed the reins over to his son Edward. William M. Blair remained a senior partner of William Blair & Co. until his death in 1982 (age 97).

Under Edward Blair and Edgar D. Jannotta (managing partner from 1977 to 1994) the firm experienced two difficult periods: the late 1960s, when the inability to process trades resulted in a paper crunch that threatened the industry with shutdown, and the 1970s, when the market value of securities and underwriting activity declined substantially. The firm continued to help finance growth companies completing initial public offerings for companies such as Molex, Oil-Dri Corporation, and Safety-Kleen during the 1970s.

In the 1980s, the firm generally avoided many of the hottest areas including underwriting junk bonds, hostile takeovers and merger arbitrage. The company expanded its geographic reach, opening additional offices in London and Liechtenstein to better serve international clients. It enlarged its corporate client base to encompass more companies throughout the United States beyond the midwest and extended its corporate financial services.

During the 1990s, business continued to expand dramatically. Between 1991 and 1996 William Blair & Company lead managed or co-managed 196 equity underwriting transactions representing $13.6 billion in capital. William Blair & Company also expanded its debt finance services, becoming active in bond financing and bond trading. The firm continued to serve traditional debt-issuing clients such as private corporations and states, counties, municipalities and school districts while expanding this client base to encompass healthcare facilities, institutions of higher learning and transportation authorities. The firm also earned a growing national reputation for successfully floating bonds for cultural institutions.

In 1995 the firm opened a Zurich office, followed in 1996 by a San Francisco office, and in 1999 by a new office in Hartford. William Blair also expanded its international presence by increasing the size of its Tokyo and London offices. In August 2006, William Blair opened an institutional sales and trading office in downtown Boston, as part of an effort to locate in regions with a high concentration of clients. In 2007, the firm opened a new representative office in Shanghai and another institutional sales office in New York.

In July 2017, William Blair's Chicago headquarters moved to 150 N. Riverside Plaza. The new headquarters are Sustainability LEED-CS Gold Pre-certified with a maximization of open space, 1.5-acre park, plus 100% green roof.

-- Jytdog (talk) 17:01, 18 August 2017 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 31 July 2018
Hello - Can the first paragraph be replaced with the following because it is outdated?

William Blair is a premier global boutique with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. The firm provides advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with its strategic partners, William Blair operates in more than 20 offices worldwide which includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm has been privately held since it was founded in 1935 and has more than $94 billion in client assets (June 30, 2018). William Blair & Company has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.1 William Blair was named 2018 Investment Bank of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine.2

Business Overview William Blair has five business units: investment banking, asset management, private wealth management, equity research, institutional sales and trading.

Investment Banking William Blair’s investment banking group advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financing, short- and long-term investment strategies.

Asset Management William Blair’s asset management unit works with private and public pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, sovereign wealth funds, and financial advisors in managing U.S. equity, non-U.S. equity, fixed income, multi-asset, and alternative investment strategies.

Private Wealth Management The private wealth management team at William Blair advises high-net-worth individuals and families, foundations, and endowments on investing, wealth planning, lending, and philanthropy.

Equity Research The firm’s research group analyzes more than 600 companies, the majority of which are growth-oriented stocks across six industry sectors: consumer; financial services and technology; global industrial infrastructure; global services; healthcare; and technology, media, and communications.

Institutional Sales and Trading William Blair’s institutional sales and trading team provides investment strategies, access to senior management, underwriting, and trade execution for equity and debt securities to investors and issuers around the globe.

Community Engagement Throughout its history, William Blair has been committed to being a long-term community partner. Employees worldwide are active in their communities supporting food banks, environmental programs, and educational organizations. William Blair and its foundation provide financial support to hundreds of charities every year through its grants, sponsorships, and employee matching gifts program. In 2017, $2.4 million was invested by the firm and its foundation to support more than 500 charitable organizations.3

Management Executive Committee Stephanie Bramming Ryan DeVore John Ettelson Brent Gledhill John Moore Art Simon Jeff Urbina Jon Zindel

History William Blair & Company was founded by William McCormick Blair in 1935 to build an investment that could help Chicago and the Midwest rebuild from the Great Depression by providing financing for the region’s most promising growth-oriented companies. William Blair, which has remained privately held over its 80 plus years, grew into one of Chicago’s most successful underwriters, distributors, and investors in securities for emerging growth companies, following the philosophy of its founder.4 Over the decades, the William Blair took many growth companies public, expanded its private wealth services, developed and grew its asset management business. The firm expanded globally starting in the 1980s, opening a London office in 1984. William Blair’s Zurich office opened in 1995 followed by Frankfort in 2013.

Can you please include these external links? These are our websites. William Blair’s Official website (https://www.williamblair.com/) William Blair Funds’s Official website (https://www.williamblairfunds.com/default.fs)

Can you please revise these four pieces of content in the grey box at the right hand side of the page? This is more updated information as well. Key People	John Ettelson (President and CEO) - Please remove all others Products	Investment banking, asset management, financial services AUM		$94.4 billion in client assets (June 2018) Number of employees	1,500 (2018)

Can you please include the following references and links?: 1. William Blair website – “About William Blair.” Retrieved July 25, 2018. - Is it possible to update the date so that it's more current? 2. Mergers & Acquisitions April 2018, “Mergers & Acquisitions names winners of 11th annual M&A Mid-Market Awards.” (https://www.themiddlemarket.com/news/mergers-acquisitions-names-winners-of-11th-annual-m-a-mid-market-awards)

3. William Blair website – “About William Blair.” Retrieved July 25, 2018. (https://www.williamblair.com/en/About-William-Blair.aspx) Kristinacampos (talk) 19:26, 31 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Wikipedia articles about a company or organization are not an extension of their website. An external link to the company website is acceptable, but the article needs to rely on independent, third-party sources, not on information taken directly from company websites or employees.
 * Also, I note that you referred to "our websites" in your request. You clearly have a conflict of interest with this article, and if you are being compensated in any way to make any edit on Wikipedia (including editing this talk page), you must disclose that relationship publicly. &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 22:34, 31 July 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 August 2018
Please update the following information as the existing page is out of date. Also, the below info contains additional information.

William Blair is a financial services firm with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. The firm provides advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs.

As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with its strategic partners, William Blair operates in more than 20 offices worldwide which includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.

Headquartered in Chicago, the firm has been privately held since it was founded in 1935 and has more than $94 billion in client assets (June 30, 2018). William Blair & Company has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.1

William Blair was named 2018 Investment Bank of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine.2

Business Overview William Blair has five business units: investment banking, asset management, private wealth management, equity research, institutional sales and trading.

Investment Banking William Blair’s investment banking group advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financing, short- and long-term investment strategies.

Asset Management William Blair’s asset management unit works with private and public pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, sovereign wealth funds, and financial advisors in managing U.S. equity, non-U.S. equity, fixed income, multi-asset, and alternative investment strategies.

Private Wealth Management The private wealth management team at William Blair advises high-net-worth individuals and families, foundations, and endowments on investing, wealth planning, lending, and philanthropy.

Equity Research The firm’s research group analyzes more than 600 companies, the majority of which are growth-oriented stocks across six industry sectors: consumer; financial services and technology; global industrial infrastructure; global services; healthcare; and technology, media, and communications.

Institutional Sales and Trading William Blair’s institutional sales and trading team provides investment strategies, access to senior management, underwriting, and trade execution for equity and debt securities to investors and issuers around the globe.

Community Engagement

Throughout its history, William Blair has been committed to being a long-term community partner. Employees worldwide are active in their communities supporting food banks, environmental programs, and educational organizations. William Blair and its foundation provide financial support to hundreds of charities every year through its grants, sponsorships, and employee matching gifts program. In 2017, $2.4 million was invested by the firm and its foundation to support more than 500 charitable organizations.3

Management (for display on right hand side bar) Executive Committee Stephanie Bramming Ryan DeVore John Ettelson Brent Gledhill John Moore Art Simon Jeff Urbina Jon Zindel

References

1. William Blair website – “About William Blair.” Retrieved July 25, 2018.

2. Mergers & Acquisitions April 2018, “Mergers & Acquisitions names winners of 11th annual M&A Mid-Market Awards.”

3. William Blair website – “About William Blair.” Retrieved July 25, 2018.

4. Chicago History Magazine December 1992, “Down To Business: William Blair & Company,” Chicago Historical Society. Goldhabersteve (talk) 03:29, 1 August 2018 (UTC) Goldhabersteve
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Please provide your request in a specific X to Y format in a neutral point of view, preferably supported by secondary sources. LittlePuppers (talk) 02:45, 4 August 2018 (UTC)

Hello,

I'm resubmitting the updates from last week with the links to the references.

The first and second paragraphs of the company description are incorrect and outdated. Please change the first paragraph, which reads "William Blair & Company ("William Blair") is a privately held financial services firm that provides investment banking and brokerage services." to the following: "William Blair is a global financial services firm that focuses on investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. The firm provides advisory services, strategies, and solutions within its primary areas of business."

Please change the second paragraph (which is not relevant to the firm's business and is more related to the other organization mentioned), which currently reads "In 2004, the principals of William Blair Capital Partners completed a spinout from William Blair to form Chicago Growth Partners, a private equity firm focusing on investments in growth capital and leveraged buyouts of lower middle market growth companies.[2] In August 2006, the remaining partners of William Blair Capital Partners suspended efforts to raise William Blair Capital Partners VIII, which had been reportedly targeted at about $250 million. The remaining team left William Blair to found a new private equity firm, Seyen Capital." to

"William Blair is an independent and employee-owned firm that operates in more than 20 offices worldwide which includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.

Headquartered in Chicago, the firm has been privately held since it was founded in 1935 and has more than $94 billion in client assets (June 30, 2018). William Blair & Company has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.[1]

William Blair was named 2018 Investment Bank of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine.[2]"

Sjhays4250 (talk) 14:30, 6 August 2018 (UTC)Scott HaysSjhays4250 (talk) 14:30, 6 August 2018 (UTC)

Edit request on 9 August 2018
The first and second paragraphs of the company description are incorrect and outdated. Please change the first paragraph, which reads "William Blair & Company ("William Blair") is a privately held financial services firm that provides investment banking and brokerage services." to the following:

"William Blair is a global financial services firm that focuses on investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. The firm provides advisory services, strategies, and solutions within its primary areas of business."

Please change the second paragraph (which is not relevant to the firm's business and is more related to the other organization mentioned), which currently reads "In 2004, the principals of William Blair Capital Partners completed a spinout from William Blair to form Chicago Growth Partners, a private equity firm focusing on investments in growth capital and leveraged buyouts of lower middle market growth companies.[2] In August 2006, the remaining partners of William Blair Capital Partners suspended efforts to raise William Blair Capital Partners VIII, which had been reportedly targeted at about $250 million. The remaining team left William Blair to found a new private equity firm, Seyen Capital." to

"William Blair is an independent and employee-owned firm that operates in more than 20 offices worldwide[1] which includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.[2] Headquartered in Chicago, the firm has been privately held since it was founded in 1935 [1] and has more than $94 billion in client assets (June 30, 2018). William Blair & Company has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.[1] William Blair was named 2018 Investment Bank of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine.[4]"

References: 1.	Bloomberg, Company Overview o William Blair & Company, LLC-- https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=664056 2.	William Blair Website - “About William Blair.” Retrieved August 6, 2018. https://www.williamblair.com/en/About-William-Blair.aspx 3.	Mergers & Acquisitions April 2018, “Mergers & Acquisitions names winners of 11th annual M&A Mid-Market Awards.”: https://www.themiddlemarket.com/news/william-blair-wins-m-a-mid-market-award-for-2017-investment-bank-of-the-year Sjhays4250 (talk) 17:31, 9 August 2018 (UTC)


 * Pictogram voting comment.svg Note: I'm moving this request over to the COI request queue, hopefully that'll get some users with that expertise looking at this request. &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 19:41, 14 August 2018 (UTC)


 * The requesting editor Sjhays4250 has not disclosed their COI either on this talk page or on their own talk page, as they were asked to do so by 14 days ago. The only editor to do so thus far has been Shaymius10. If these edits were to be implemented for this editor, a disclosure ought to be made. I invite them to do so now if they could, disclosing whether they have been paid for these edits, and if so, by whom. Thank you!   spintendo   20:38, 14 August 2018 (UTC)


 * I propose that the article read as the following:"William Blair is a financial services firm focusing on investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. The firm, which opened in 1935, is independent and employee-owned, operating in more than 20 offices with headquarters in Chicago. The firm has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee."To the COI editor: Please advise if this is acceptable or if you have a counterproposal. Additional input and suggestions from other editors would also be appreciated.  spintendo   22:58, 15 August 2018 (UTC)


 * Having received no reply to the above proposal I made 3 days ago, I've gone ahead and implemented it per WP:BOLD.
 * Additionally, a Citation needed inline template was added to the infobox's AUM figure.
 * Finally, the COI editor has yet to respond with the necessary COI disclosures. It cannot be stated with certainty that any future edit requests will be handled by myself if the required disclosure continues to be avoided.
 * Regards,  spintendo   03:50, 19 August 2018 (UTC)

Key People
William Blair recently announced a change in Key People that should be reflected here.

Brent Gledhill (President and CEO) Matt Zimmer (Global Head of Investment Banking) John Ettelson (Chairman)

The changes are reflected on this page: The announcement regarding the President/CEO change is in this article: .Sjhays32 (talk) 00:35, 26 January 2022 (UTC)