Evolving Alongside the Industrial Sector
Inside Baird’s Global Industrial Conference
Since 1971, Baird’s Global Industrial Conference has connected C-suite leaders with current shareholders, future investors and industry decision-makers. Since its founding more than 50 years ago, the conference has grown from a small forum to a destination event for the thousands of attendees that join us each year in Chicago.
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in the U.S. industrial belt, Baird has not only witnessed the evolution of leading industrial companies – we’ve participated in their growth, partnering with businesses across market cycles and sector developments. Learn more about our industrial expertise below.
A Brief History of Our Conference and Industrial Sector Expertise
1970s
After establishing our institutional investment department in 1966 – which was co-led by Fred Kasten, future President & CEO of Baird – we establish ourselves as an authority on Wisconsin companies. This niche strategy raises Baird’s profile with institutional investors.
1971
We host our inaugural Industrial Conference. Originally called the Capital Goods Conference, it would become one of the largest institutional conferences focused on the industrial sector – as well as the longest-running event of its kind.
1980s
Building on our deep relationships with Wisconsin firms and long history of following heavy machinery, brewing and paper companies, we expand our relationships to include some of the largest companies in these sectors, including Caterpillar, John Deere and International Harvester.
1987
Baird underwrites the number one IPO in the United States: Fastenal. After partnering with Baird on the offering, the company began presenting at the firm’s Industrial Conference and remains a perennial participant to this day. Our research team has covered Fastenal for decades.
Early 1990s
After hosting our Industrial Conference in Milwaukee for its early years, we move the annual event to Chicago. The new location helps facilitate the growth of the conference in the decades ahead.
1999
We expand our capital markets footprint overseas through the acquisition of London-based Granville, establishing our first European office. Baird goes on to open a Shanghai office in 2003 and a Germany office in in 2005.
2001
Our 31st annual conference takes place on the latter end of an economic recession, and investors continue to turn to Baird for insights in evolving times. We host more than 650 attendees, an increase of more than 50% over our 2000 conference, and 64 companies make formal presentations.
2003
We continue to build long-term relationships with global industrial companies. We served as lead manager on LKQ Corporation’s IPO in October. In the following years, we help manage two subsequent follow-on offerings and initiate research coverage of LKQ, which we continue to this day.
2003
Small- and mid-cap institutional fund managers rank Baird No. 1 for “most useful conferences and seminars” in a survey conducted by Greenwich Associates, a leading investment industry consultant. Baird has been recognized in Greenwich’s annual surveys annually since 2003.
2007
By 2007, our research coverage includes 100 industrial companies and we trade 186 industrial stocks. Since then, our team has expanded to 14 senior analysts who cover nearly 210 stocks.
2015
We share the first edition of our Global Industrial Report, an annual publication that features insights on long-term trends shaping the future of the sector from the firm's experts. We also host more than 1,700 attendees at our 45th annual Industrial Conference, which features 170 presenting companies.
2020
We celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Global Industrial Conference. The event now unites more than 3,000 industry leaders, institutional investors and private equity investors annually and features approximately 365 companies.
2021
Baird’s Global Industrial Investment Banking team achieves record-breaking results. The team executes more than 130 industrial M&A, equity, debt and other financing transactions.
2022
We host our 52nd annual Global Industrial Conference at a new venue, the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, reflecting the growth of the conference and Baird’s commitment to hosting the event in a city with strong ties to the industrial sector.
2023
Baird’s Global Industrial Investment Banking team navigated challenging market conditions and realized a ~2x EBITDA premium to the average industrial transaction multiple, meaningfully increasing overall market share.
Baird’s equity capital markets conferences unite institutional and private equity investors, portfolio managers and buy-side analysts with senior leaders from top companies in targeted sectors.
