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Private Equity 101: Understanding the Deal Process

If you’ve watched my video on why you should consider selling your business to Private Equity, that probably made you curious about what goes on behind the scenes of a multi-million dollar private equity deal.

In this video, I break down how deals are structured and why execution is key to success. In private equity, no two deals are alike—but there’s a roadmap successful firms follow so stay tuned!

This video is part of my ebook series on How To Sell Your Business To Private Equity.

My Ebook: How To Sell Your Business to Private Equity.
📚 https://amzn.to/4fF51IB

Want to learn more about Private Equity or growing your business? Book a time on my calendar link below 👇
📅 https://calendly.com/nick-ky08/30min

PE Deal Structuring and Execution

In this section, we’ll walk through the common chronology and components of a PE deal, acknowledging, of course, that all deals are unique.

To start, what is a PE firm? A PE firm is an investment manager who raises money for the fund in order to pursue a given investment strategy. This capital usually comes from large, institutional investors such as pensions funds, endowments, hedge funds, etc., but high-net-worth individuals (and sometimes PE investment managers themselves) also invest in these funds. In this structure, the investment manager is what’s known as a general partner (GP) and all of the other outside investors are limited partners (LPs).

You can contact us here:
🐣 twitter.com/NickFourPillars
💼 www.linkedin.com/company/four-pillars-investors
🖥️ www.fourpillarsinvestors.com
📧 nmclean@fourpillarsinvestors.com

🔎🔎 More about Nick McLean from Four Pillars:
Background: Operations management with an emphasis on Lean manufacturing; strategy development and execution; and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Which of the Four Pillars does Nick identify most closely with? ''Servant leadership. I consider one of the primary roles of a manager/leader to be to help those around you be more successful and to develop as individuals. When I think of myself as a leader, I am more interested in granting and sharing authority than hoarding it.''

🏛️ More About FOUR PILLARS:
Four Pillars is a company built on a strong foundation of shared values and a commitment to long-term ownership of small businesses. Their approach is centered on purchasing and operating these businesses while providing support and collaboration without becoming a burden. They work closely with company management, aiming for shared success and sustainable growth.

Guided by their core values, Four Pillars views success as a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. Their values serve as a compass to navigate difficult decisions, whether they pertain to ethics, strategy, operations, or new challenges. They are relentless advocates for the common good, ensuring that every decision is made in the best interests of their portfolio companies and investment partners.

Four Pillars stands out with their creative positioning approach, employing informed and agile strategic planning to leverage the unique strengths and advantages of each company they invest in. They capitalize on key differentiators and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within their team and the companies they serve.

As entrepreneurs themselves, Four Pillars connects deeply with the businesses they work with, offering a balanced perspective and the tenacity needed for success. They are known for their integrity, hard work, and relentless drive to identify opportunities and drive growth. This makes them an ideal investment partner for businesses seeking to excel.

The company's ability and agility are evident in their swift and purposeful actions. They streamline the transactional process while maintaining operational precision, drawing on their experience in both healthy and distressed markets. Their track record speaks to their confidence and precision in executing various deal types, establishing them as leading investors for companies seeking to capitalize on their momentum.

Four Pillars' values, or pillars, guide their personal and professional decisions. The first pillar emphasizes the importance of strong relationships as the cornerstone of success, built on trust and a commitment to doing what is promised. They challenge the status quo with a critical and objective approach, identifying areas for improvement while recognizing and preserving what works well. Servant leadership is central to their philosophy, with a focus on teamwork, collaboration, and shared decision-making. Lastly, persistence defines their character, driving them to overcome obstacles, close deals, and manage businesses for long-term success.

In summary, Four Pillars is a values-driven company that combines strategic expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, and unwavering commitment to their partners' success. They provide a compelling mix of service quality, integrity, and an agile approach that sets them apart in the investment industry.