The midmarket is an important sector for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and an important sector of the Chicagoland economy. Midmarket companies – with revenues between $10M and $2B – comprise 29% of all companies, provide 34% of the employment and generate 28% of the revenues. This is...
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Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Midmarket News, a joint publication of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Midmarket Institute. Here at the Institute, we have a very simple objective - to foster greater understanding, ...
READ MORE >Itasca-Based W.S. Darley & Co. scores huge credit line increase

When Paul Darley’s grandfather started selling firefighting and public safety equipment 102 years ago, he formed a banking relationship that would last 75 years and support Itasca, Ill.-based W.S. Darley & Co. through three generations of leadership. That relationship came to an abrupt end about 10 years ago, and provided a harsh lesson for the company on the importance of having a back-up plan.
READ MORE >Uncharted Seas – Cautious Optimism Moving Forward
A very appropriate preface to this piece on the macroeconomy is to remember that midmarket companies tend to live in niches – industry or sub-industry or geography....
READ MORE >Cash out, bulk up or stay put – Midmarket M&A Update
There is a huge pent up demand for M&A in the midmarket and we expect the rest of 2010 to be VERY active. With more than 90% of all midmarket companies being privately...
READ MORE >Onshoring: The Reinvention of Manufacturing in the US
Manufacturing has been transferred to offshore factories at an accelerating rate for decades, Come learn how manufacturers today are redefining the industry through ....
READ MORE >Realizing Breakthrough Performance for Midmarket Companies in an Uncertain Economic Recovery
Registration and networking begins at 7.30am
READ MORE >Obtaining credit in a tight market
The economy has turned a corner and, while there are many encouraging signs, volatility is likely to remain for some time. Some midmarket companies have put in ‘patient capital,’ cutting costs and instituting other measures that helped them emerge from this downturn with little damage. Some are even stronger than they were before thanks to conservative financial moves that allowed them to avoid taking on excessive debt. Many midmarket companies, however, have high debt levels. At the same time, many...
READ MORE >How to Choose the Right Bank for Your Company
The downturn resulted in a record number of bank closures, often disrupting existing relationships. For many midmarket companies, that means moving on from bankers and relationships that worked well for years and starting a new search for a bank that will not only provide credit but will also become a business partner. It is very important to cultivate a good relationship with bankers, making sure they understand how the business works and what the cash and ...
READ MORE >The recently enacted federal health reform legislation brings watershed changes to the way health insurance is structured, offered and purchased in this country. In three main phases beginning in 2011, the legislation is expected to decrease the ranks of the uninsured by millions and, over time, decrease the dollars Americans spend on health care by trillions. Employers and the group insurance plans they offer are squarely in the middle of the health insurance overhaul. For a more detailed explanation of all the challenges new health care legislation brings for employers, insurers...
READ MORE >In uncertain times, taking a counterintuitive leap of faith
We are clearly living in a period of extraordinary uncertainty. The events that are unfolding and will continue to unfold in front of our eyes will undoubtedly alter forever the economic models of the U.S. and most likely the rest of the world. Yet today’s economic turmoil may very well offer opportunities for healthy family businesses with strong core competencies, ....
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