Loading organizations...
Key people at Equity International.
Equity International is a Chicago, Illinois-based private equity firm that invests in real estate, infrastructure, and related operating companies primarily in emerging markets outside the United States. The firm makes entity-level investments to build institutional businesses alongside local operating partners across sectors such as shopping centers and homebuilding. Operating with fewer than 25 employees, the organization generates approximately $6.6 million in annual revenue through its equity stakes and subsequent exits. Under the leadership of CEO Tom Heneghan and Chief Investment Officer Brian Finerty, the firm has backed notable portfolio companies like Mexican commercial real estate developer Acosta Verde. Acosta Verde successfully went public via a SPAC merger on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores in 2020, marking a significant exit for the firm. Equity International was founded in 1999 by Sam Zell and Gary Garrabrant.
Equity International (EI) is a Chicago-based institutional investment management firm founded in 1999, specializing in private equity investments to accelerate growth for companies in emerging and frontier markets outside the United States[2][3][4]. Its mission centers on providing capital and expertise to world-class businesses in high-potential regions, with a focus on real estate and related sectors, managing multiple closed funds and employing around 13 professionals, including 11 in investment advisory roles[2][3][5]. EI's investment philosophy emphasizes buyouts, distressed assets, and turnarounds in compelling markets, leveraging its network to drive long-term value without specified startup ecosystem impact in available data[2][4].
Equity International was established in 1999 by key partners in Chicago, Illinois, at Two North Riverside Plaza[2][3][4]. The firm evolved from a focus on principal investments—specializing in buyouts, distressed, and turnaround opportunities in large companies—into a dedicated private equity player targeting non-U.S. markets, as evidenced by its management of at least seven closed funds with strategies like real estate and emerging market investments closing between 2011 and 2016[3][4]. Pivotal growth included building a team with roles like Managing Directors for finance, marketing, and portfolio management, solidifying its institutional presence[3].
Equity International rides the trend of globalization in private equity, capitalizing on growth in emerging and frontier markets where real estate and infrastructure demand surges amid urbanization and economic expansion[2][3]. Timing aligns with post-2010s recovery in non-U.S. investments, favoring firms with turnaround expertise amid market volatility[3][4]. Market forces like deepening capital markets and institutional demand for high-yield alternatives bolster EI, though its real estate tilt limits direct tech influence; it indirectly supports tech-adjacent ecosystems via portfolio growth in developing regions[1][2].
Equity International is poised to expand fundraisings in resilient emerging markets, potentially launching new vehicles post-2016 closes amid rising frontier market interest. Trends like sustainable infrastructure and digital real estate will shape its path, evolving its influence toward hybrid tech-proptech plays. This positions EI to deepen its legacy as a growth accelerator in underrepresented markets, echoing its 25-year focus on global opportunities[2][3].
Key people at Equity International.
