Founded in 1969, CMS is a venture capital firm that provides advisory services and funding for proprietary private niche investments in Real Estate, Life Insurance and Small Businesses/Special Opportunities. CMS defines Special Opportunities as private investments in non-publicly traded businesses which are positioned to generate returns on equity in excess of public equity market returns. Currently, the firm pursues these opportunities through two strategies: Direct Investments, which acquires smaller operating businesses, usually in control situations in cooperation with existing management; and Proprietary Joint Ventures in which CMS invests in (and co-invests) alongside top-tier private niche investors. To date, the firm's principals have invested $3.5 billion equity, acquiring over $12 billion assets.