Bill Chisholm (businessman)

Chisholm grew up in Georgetown, Massachusetts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmtw.com/article/bill-chisholm-boston-celtics-sale-symphony-technology-group/64241549|publisher=WMTW|title=Who is Bill Chisholm? More on the man who agreed to buy Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion|author=Reed, Russ|date=March 20, 2025}} His father, William F. Chisholm Sr. (1929–2017), played a role in establishing the Georgetown High School soccer program,[https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/william-chisholm-obituary?id=15750881 Obituary: William F. Chisholm, 1929-2017.] and his mother, Judy Chisholm, worked as an administrative assistant at Brooks School.CNHI (March 22, 2025). [https://www.cnhi.com/rss_feed/new-celtics-owner-wins-praise-from-his-brooks-school-family/ New Celtics Owner Wins Praise from His Brooks Family.] Chisholm and his siblings attended Brooks School, where he played basketball, lacrosse, and soccer, and led the soccer team to its first ever Class A New England Prep championship. In his senior year, he won The Boston Globe's All-Scholastic award for soccer.Burt, Bill (March 21, 2025). [https://www.eagletribune.com/chisholm-award/image_bc102328-8614-49fa-baae-6d4db76c3066.html Photo: Chisholm Award.] The Eagle-Tribune. He graduated from Brooks in 1987.

He went to Dartmouth College, where he played for the soccer team{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/20/sports/celtics-who-is-william-chisholm/|newspaper=The Boston Globe|title=What we know about William Chisholm, the Celtics' new owner|author=Touri, Amin|date=March 20, 2025}}Hall, Alex (March 20, 2025). [https://www.unionleader.com/sports/college/new-celtics-owner-chisholm-found-his-role-on-dartmouth-mens-soccer-team/article_f3cfe4de-09ad-4990-88b1-8f18f74d6ad3.html New Celtics owner Chisholm found his role on Dartmouth men's soccer team.] Union Leader. and was a member of Alpha Chi Alpha. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1991.[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5435f72ae4b09dbd92eb43ad/t/58bcec7a2985266cccb16a1e/1464153039577/Dartmouth_Commencement_1991.pdf Dartmouth College Commencement Exercises. Sunday, June 9, 1991. Hanover, New Hampshire.] He later received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1996.FAFCO INC. (April 7, 1999). [http://pdf.secdatabase.com/60/0000352956-99-000008.pdf Form DEF 14A. Definitive proxy statements. Filing Date: 1999-04-07. Period of Report: 1998-12-31. SEC Accession No. 0000352956-99-000008.] Securities and Exchange Commission. He grew up a fan of the Boston Celtics and is reported to have an "encyclopedic knowledge" of the team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2025/03/who-is-new-boston-celtics-owner-william-chisholm.html|newspaper=The Republican|title=Who is new Boston Celtics owner William Chisholm?|author=Robb, Brian|date=March 20, 2025}}

After graduating from Dartmouth, Chisholm worked as an analyst for PaineWebber in New York.Clan Chisholm Society Newsletter (Spring/Summer 1991). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5802c4d9414fb5e45ce4dc44/t/5998d1c04c0dbfbeebe2badd/1503187393806/Chisholm+Society+Newsletter-Spring-Summer+1991.pdf.] American Branch, Clan Chisholm Society. 5. From January 1994 to August 1994, he served as chief financial officer of International Sports Publishing. From August 1996 to January 2000, he served as a management consultant at Bain & Company.FAFCO INC. (June 7, 2002). [http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1897/89161802002060/filing-main.htm Schedule 14-A Information. "From January 1994 to August 1996, Mr. Chisholm attended Wharton Business School where he received a Master of Business Administration degree. From August 1996 to January 2000, Mr. Chisholm served as a management consultant at Bain & Company, an international strategy consulting firm. In February 2000, Mr. Chisholm joined Symphony Technology Group, a venture capital firm, as a Partner. Mr. Chisholm is the son-in-law of Mr. Freeman A. Ford, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company."] Securities and Exchange Commission. 4.Gee, Kevin (March 24, 2025). [https://aletteraday.substack.com/p/letter-272-bill-chisholm-2014 Letter #272: Bill Chisholm (2014). Transcript of interviews.] Substack. In 1999, Chisholm was elected to the board of directors of FAFCO INC., a solar pool heating company that was headed by his father-in-law, Freeman A. Ford.FAFCO INC. (April 14, 2000). [http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1897/89161802002060/filing-main.htm Form DEF 14A. Definitive proxy statements. Filing Date: 2000-04-14 | Period of Report: 1999-12-31 SEC Accession No. 0000352956-00-000010.] Securities and Exchange Commission. The company ceased operations in 2024.Szumlanski, Jason (November 27, 2024). [https://floridasolardesigngroup.com/farewell-to-fafco Farewell to FAFCO.] Florida Solar Design Group.

According to an SEC filing, Chisholm was a partner of the Valent Group, an early-stage venture firm, from January 2000 to January 2002.Form S-4 (October 3, 2003). [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1260946/000104746903034778/a2119115zs-4a.htm Information Resources, Inc. Litigation Contingent Payment Rights Trust. Annex C: Directors and Executive Officers.] Securities and Exchange Commission.

In February 2000, Romesh Wadhwani invited Chisholm to join Symphony Technology Group (Symphony), a venture capital firm, as a partner.Forbes (August 20, 2009). [https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0907/investing-wadhwani-private-equity-done-right.html Private Equity Done Right.] see "William Chisholm, who has worked for Wadhwani for seven years, recalls how the Saturday before the deal closed he was summoned to his boss' home." In August 2001, Chisholm acquired a "less than 5%" ownership in Symphony.Symphony Technology Group (March 28, 2025). [https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/160676 FORM ADV: Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration and Report By Exempt Reporting Advisers. Symphony Technology Group, LLC. FINRA CRD # 160676. SEC file number: 801-73246. Form submitted 3/28/2025 7:00:20 PM.] U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In July 2002, Chisholm through his living trust acquired "5% but less than 10%" ownership in Symphony. In 2017, Wadhwani retired as Symphony's CEO, and the firm was reconfigured as STG Partners, LLC.Investment Adviser Brochure (March 30, 2020). [https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=635659 Symphony Technology Group, LLC. see “STG Partners LLC was founded in 2017 … to succeed the Management Company (Symphony) and is led by William Chisholm. The Management Company (Symphony) and STG Partners have different ownership, but have significant overlap with regard to advisory personnel, investment strategy and processes. The Management Company receives services from employees of STG Partners, who also provide services to STG Partners, Fund V and portfolio companies of Fund V. Additionally, Fund V may invest in portfolio companies that are the same as, or similar to, portfolio companies invested in by the Funds.”]STG Partners (November 16, 2020). [https://stg.com/news/stg-raises-2-0-billion-for-stg-vi-in-a-four-month-fully-virtual-fundraise/ TG raises $2.0 billion for STG VI in a four-month fully virtual fundraise.] see "About STG Partners: STG and its predecessor, Symphony Technology Group ('Symphony'), …" STG Partners, LLC (March 29, 2024). [https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/291048 Investment Adviser Firm Summary. FORM ADV: STG PARTNERS, LLC ( CRD # 291048/SEC#:801-112130 ).] Investment Advisor Public Discourse.

STG Partners and Symphony are two different firms, yet maintain an inter-company agreement.Symphony Technology Group (March 29, 2024). [https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/291048 Investment Adviser Firm Summary. FORM ADV: SYMPHONY TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC (CRD # 160676). see “The values shown in Items 5.A and 5.B include employees of STG Partners, LLC (CRD number 291048) that provide services to the registrant (Symphony) pursuant to an intercompany agreement.”] Investment Advisor Public Discourse. In December 2017, Chisholm was named managing partner and chief investment officer (CIO) of STG Partners.{{Cite web|url=https://stg.com/who-we-are/|publisher=Symphony Technology Group|title=Who We Are|access-date=March 20, 2025}} As a managing partner, Chisholm, individually, acquired a "less than 5%" ownership in STG Partners. In 2021, he acquired a beneficial ownership, "50% but less than 75%", in STG Management Feeder, L.P.,STG Partners, LLC (March 29, 2024). [https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/291048 Investment Adviser Firm Summary. FORM ADV: STG PARTNERS, LLC ( CRD # 291048/SEC#:801-112130 ).] Investment Advisor Public Discourse. which owns "greater than 75%" of STG Management Holdings, which is the controlling entity of STG Partners. On March 28, 2025, STG Partners reported that it represented 19 clients in pooled investment vehicles totaling approximately $12 billion in assets under management, a slight increase from 2024.AUM13F (March 29, 2024). [https://aum13f.com/firm/stg-partners-llc STG Partners, LLC. CRD: 291048. SEC: 801-112130. AUM $11.7 BB.] In addition, the SEC document noted that STG Partners maintains "less than one billion dollars" in total assets. As well, Chisholm and his living trust own less than 15% of Symphony, which has assets under management of approximately $341 million.

In March 2025, Chisholm led an investment group, including current Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, Bruce A. Beal, Jr., Rob Hale, Sixth Street Partners, and others,Boston Basketball Partners (March 20, 2025). [https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250320304302/en/Boston-Basketball-Partners-Announces-Sale-of-Boston-Celtics-to-Group-Organized-by-William-Chisholm-for-%246.1-Billion Boston Basketball Partners Announces Sale of Boston Celtics to Group Organized by William Chisholm for $6.1 Billion.] to enter into a definitive agreement to purchase the Boston Celtics for an initial valuation of $6.1 billion from Boston Basketball Partners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44328557/sources-bill-chisholm-agrees-buy-celtics-61-billion|publisher=ESPN|title=Sources: Bill Chisholm agrees to buy Celtics for $6.1 billion|author=Bontemps, Tim|date=March 20, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Reports: Bill Chisholm buying Celtics for record $6.1B |work=Reuters |date=March 20, 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/reports-bill-chisholm-buying-celtics-record-61b-2025-03-20/ |access-date=March 20, 2025}}

In 2024, the Celtics' annual revenue was $493 million.Novy-Williams, Eben, and Scott Soshnick (March 12, 2025). [https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/celtics-bidders-pagliuca-middleman-chisholm-friedkin-1234842780/ Celtics Bidders: Friedkin, Middleman, Chisholm, Pagliuca.] Sportico: The Business of Sports. The proposed Celtics purchase price is the largest amount ever for a North American sports franchise.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/celtics-reportedly-to-sell-to-bill-chisholm-for-north-american-record-6-1-billion|publisher=NBC Sports|title=Boston Celtics being sold to Bill Chisholm for North American record $6.1 billion|date=March 20, 2025|author=Helin, Kurt}}

The NBA league office must first review the agreement.Felt, Hunter (March 27, 2025). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/hunterfelt/2025/03/27/the-boston-celtics-sale-may-have-already-hit-its-first-hurdle/ Why The Boston Celtics Sale May Have Hit Its First Hurdle.] Forbes.Booth, Tim (March 27, 2025). [https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/mar/27/what-nba-said-about-sonics-possible-return-at-boar/ What NBA said about Sonics’ possible return at Board of Governors meeting.] see Adam Silver, “I would say in terms of looking at this year, we’re still in the process of digesting the Celtics transaction. There’s no question a major transaction like that becomes relevant to expansion. So that deal has just been presented to us, so we’re analyzing it and my sense is that once we’ve been through that process that we’ll turn to it in a more serious way.” The Spokesman-Review. After its review, Chisholm's proposal will be submitted to the NBA's Board of Governors for approval. Chisholm's offer guarantees that Wyc Grousbeck will remain as Celtics CEO and NBA governor until 2028.Primack, Dan (March 21, 2025). [https://www.axios.com/2025/03/21/celtics-sale-questions-answers The Boston Celtics sale raises lots of questions.] AXIOS. The agreement calls for Chisholm and his investors to acquire at least 51% of the team. The remaining 49%, currently held by Grousbeck and his investors, some of whom are also part of Chisholm's group, would maintain the option to hold the remaining shares until 2028, where they may be sold for a higher valuation.KIRO 7 News Staff (March 21, 2025). [https://www.kiro7.com/sports/basketball/kraken-owner-responds-celtics-sale-our-ownership-group-is-ideally-positioned-an-nba-team/NWKPJDJXYJG3BCRDQV6MBI5D6Q/ Kraken owner responds to Celtics sale: ‘Our ownership group is ideally positioned for an NBA team’.]Reynolds, Tim, and Jimmy Golen (March 20, 2025). [https://www.denverpost.com/2025/03/20/celtics-sold/ NBA champ Celtics sold for record $6.1 billion to group led by private equity mogul Bill Chisholm.] Associated Press. Goldman Sachs, Jordan Park Group,

JP Morgan,

Mary Callahan Erdoes, and BDT & MSD Partners, whose co-CEO is Gregg Lemkau, Chisholm's Dartmouth classmate and soccer teammate,{{cite news|title=Irish Extra: Former Player Endows Clark's Former Position at Dartmouth; see "Lemkau, who graduated from Dartmouth in 1991, and his wife Kate created the Bobby Clark Head Coach of Men's Soccer position at Dartmouth through an endowment of $2 million."|url=https://fightingirish.com/irish-extra-former-player-endows-clarks-former-position-at-dartmouth/|date=August 12, 2015|website=Fighting Irish.com}} assisted in financing the Celtics deal.{{Cite web |last=Gasparino |first=Charles |date=March 24, 2025 |title=How Bill Chisholm shocked even partners at his own firm with Boston Celtics bid -- as speculation swirls over whether he can pay |url=https://nypost.com/2025/03/24/business/how-bill-chisholm-shocked-even-partners-at-his-own-firm-with-boston-celtics-bid-as-speculation-swirls-over-whether-he-can-pay/ |access-date=March 27, 2025 |language=en-US}}

NBA investment rules dictate that a lead owner or "control person" must raise cash, not debt, and must possess at least a 15% financial interest in the team.Young, Dennis, and Margaret Fleming (March 21, 2025). [https://frontofficesports.com/bill-chisholm-new-celtics-owner/#:~:text=NBA%20rules%20require%20the%20controlling,in%20financing%20toward%20the%20purchase.) Who Is Celtics Buyer Bill Chisholm? The private equity executive was a little-known figure before agreeing to buy an NBA team this week.] Front Office Sports. In addition, according to the league's private equity ownership rules, Chisholm's ownership percentage must be greater than a private equity fund, such as Sixth Street Partners.Rivera, Gio (March 27, 2025). [https://nesn.com/2025/03/nba-rumors-celtics-might-have-issue-to-address-before-sale-approval/ NBA Rumors: Celtics Might Have Issue To Address Before Sale Approval.] New England Sports Network. It is estimated that Sixth Street has committed $1 billion to the Celtics purchase.Coffey, Brendan (March 20, 2025). [https://www.sportico.com/business/finance/2025/sixth-street-boston-celtics-san-francisco-giants-1234844055/ Sixth Street Burnishes Portfolio with NBA’s Celtics, MLB’s Giants.] Sportico. As the control person, Chisholm must purchase more than a $1 billion stake in the Celtics; approximately $500 million is due when the deal closes, and the remainder balance within three years of the purchase date.

It is not clear how much money Chisholm has or has to invest in the proposed $6.1 billion Celtics purchase.Leung, Russell, and Jason Pramuk; with Michael Ozanian, Leslie Picker and Scott Wapner (March 20, 2025). [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/20/boston-celtics-sold-for-6point1-billion-to-bill-chisholm-sixth-street-group.html Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion to group led by private equity executive Bill Chisholm.] CNBC. Although a Forbes article calculates his current net worth greater than $1 billion,Dolan, Kerry A. (March 2025). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2025/03/22/the-little-known-billionaire-buying-the-boston-celtics/ The Little Known Billionaire Buying The Boston Celtics.] Forbes. he is not included on either the Bloomberg Billionaires Index or Forbes Billionaires list.O'Connell, Robert (March 2025). [https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/boston-celtics-sale-william-chisholm-367d5b00 He Just Bought the Boston Celtics — and No One Knows Anything About Him.] Wall Street Journal.

A California resident, Chisholm is married to Kimberly Ford Chisholm,[https://us.macmillan.com/author/kimberlyford Kimberly Ford.] Macmillan Publishers.H., Hannah (2013). [https://issuu.com/freestyleacademy/docs/profile-by-hannahh Kimberly Chisholm.] Freestyle Academy. 1-4. whom he met as an undergraduate at Dartmouth. His wife is the great-granddaughter of Gutzon Borglum.Shanahan, Mark (March 2025). [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/20/lifestyle/kimberly-ford-chisholm-wife-of-new-celtics-owner/ A few interesting details about Kimberly Ford Chisholm, wife of the new Celtics owner.] The Boston Globe. Three generations of his and her families have attended Dartmouth.Crown Point Cabinetry and Phyllis Higgerson, Henhurst Interiors (August 28, 2018).

[https://www.nhhomemagazine.com/a-kitchen-on-campus/ A Kitchen on Campus.] New Hampshire Home. His father-in-law, Freeman Ford, is a Dartmouth alumnus.The Newsletter of the Great Class of 1963 (September 2022). [https://1963.dartmouth.org/s/1353/images/gid316/editor_documents/newsletters/sept_2022_newsletter.pdf?gid=316&pgid=61&sessionid=70ebfdd4-b1d9-4d6c-a0ee-54224ede8e03&cc=1 Freeman Ford: “Concerning the legacy issue, I have a confession to make. Both my daughters went to Dartmouth. Both married Dartmouth classmates. And all three children of my oldest daughter have or about to graduate from Dartmouth."] Dartmouth College. 3. The couple have three children,JDRF (December 10, 2015). [https://www.breakthrought1d.org/northernca/2015/12/10/volunteer-spotlight-on-the-chisholm-family/ Volunteer Spotlight on The Chisholm Family.] Breakthrough T1D. who are all Dartmouth alumni.[https://dartmouthsports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/will-chisholm/18404 Will Chisholm '2019]; [https://sites.dartmouth.edu/vsfd13/about-me/ Aidan Chisholm ‘2021]; and [https://dartmouthsports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/quentin-chisholm/34335 Quentin Chisholm ‘2024]. The Chisholms

own a home on the border of the Dartmouth campus in Hanover, New Hampshire.

In 2013, Chisholm required heart surgery.

The Chisholms have been active supporters of Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Foundation). In 2016, they were honored with the Breakthrough T1D Impact Award for their contributions to curing, preventing, and treating Type 1 diabetes. In 2020, they were recognized as lifetime members of the JDRF One Society, which recognizes donor who have pledged and/or donated more than one million dollars to Breakthrough T1D.

[https://www.breakthrought1d.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2020DonorHonorRoll.pdf Donor Honor Roll 2020.] Breakthrough T1D.[https://www.breakthrought1d.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/STEW-2019DonorHonorRoll.pdf T1D Champions Every Day, All Day. Donor Honor Roll 2019.] Breakthrough T1D.

He has donated to Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA). [https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=william+chisholm&type=donors Chisholm, William. Atherton, CA 94xxx. Managing Director. Money to Candidate: Josh Harder (D). (1.) Date: 10-22-2018. Amount: $2,700. (2.) Date: 03-02-2020. Amount: $2,700. (3.) Date: 03-02-2020. Amount: $2,700.] Open Secrets.

Chisholm has served on the board of directors for a number of companies. From 2008 to 2012, he served as chairman of Aldata Solution Oyj, a software company.Aldata Solution Oyj (April 2, 2008). [https://abnnewswire.net/press/de/49863/ALDATAS-BOARD.html Aldata’s Board.][https://www.solteq.com/en/investors/solteq-as-an-investment/acquisitions-and-divestments/aldata-solutions-finland Aldata Solutions Finland: Aldata Solution Finland (currently SymphonyEYC Finland Oy). “Solteq Plc purchased the entire share capital of Aldata Solution Plc on 22 March 2012.”]

He is or was a board member of Cadmium, CAI Software, eProductivity Software, Jobrapido, RSA, Skyhigh Security,[https://www.skyhighsecurity.com/about/leadership.html Leadership & Management. Board of Directors. Symphony Talent, Trace One and Trellix.

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