Permanent Capital
No fund lifecycles. No redemption pressure. Capital committed for the long horizon that meaningful ownership demands.
Est. 1897
Discretionary Capital Advisory for Families, Founders, and Institutions
A century of quiet counsel. Capital deployed with patience, protected by discretion.
Begin a ConversationCapital Stewardship Across Generations
We do not chase markets. We steward capital across generations — patiently, privately, and with the long horizon that families and institutions require.
Direct Ownership
No fund-of-funds layers. Direct stakes in exceptional businesses and assets, held alongside our partners.
Discretionary Mandate
Full discretionary authority. Decisions made quietly, without committee delays or public disclosure requirements.
Multi-Generational
Structures designed for transition. Governance frameworks that preserve unity and purpose across generations.
A Representative History
Confidentiality precludes a public ledger. What follows are representative engagement types — not a solicitation, not a track record.
Single-Family Office Architecture
Structured a $2.3B single-family office from operating company proceeds. Designed governance, investment policy, and direct co-investment program.
Multi-Generational GovernanceIndustrial Technology Platform
Led a $180M direct co-investment alongside a European industrial family. Majority stake in a precision manufacturing platform across three continents.
Control-OrientedThird-Generation Transition
Advised a $4B family enterprise through G3 succession. Restructured ownership, established family constitution, and designed liquidity pathways for non-operating members.
Governance & ContinuityEvergreen Holding Vehicle
Architected a perpetual capital vehicle for a founding family. Flexible mandate across public equities, private credit, and real assets with no fund expiry.
Permanent CapitalEuropean Real Estate Restructuring
Acquired a distressed €340M commercial portfolio across Germany and Benelux. Repositioned assets, restructured debt, exited at 2.8x over 36 months.
Operational TurnaroundPerpetual Charitable Trust
Established a $500M perpetual charitable trust with mission-aligned investment policy. Integrated grantmaking with impact-linked returns.
Mission-Aligned CapitalSterling Hartwell
Founded in 1897 as a private partnership advising industrial families in the American Midwest. Over a century later, we remain a private partnership — owned by our partners, accountable only to our clients.
We do not raise funds. We do not market. We do not appear in league tables. Our mandate is simple: deploy and protect capital for a select group of families, founders, and institutions who value discretion as much as returns.
Four partners. Twenty-two professionals. Offices in Chicago, London, and Zurich. Capital deployed across six continents. One mandate: stewardship across generations.
1897
Founded
4
Partners
22
Professionals
3
Offices
Begin a Confidential Conversation
We accept new relationships by referral and direct inquiry only. All inquiries are treated with strict confidentiality. We respond to every serious inquiry within 48 hours.