Webinar recording: why you need to consider private equity if you are selling your business
Our latest ‘selling your business’ webinar focused on why business owners should consider private equity when selling their business. Lots of owners don’t think about private equity as an option when they’re looking to sell. Maybe there isn’t a full understanding of what private equity offers. Or in other cases there’s suspicion because of high profile deals that haven’t gone to plan.
The reality is that private equity deals make up the majority of transactions in many sectors right now, including media and marketing services. And those deals are driving growth. So, what are the benefits of private equity and how can you work out if it’s right for your business?
We welcomed our guest speakers Paul Cowan (Co-founder, The Client Relationship Consultancy) and George Tsangarides (Partner, Coniston Capital) who offered their insights having sat on opposite sides of the table in a recent transaction.
Our top five considerations for finding the right partner for your business are:
- Deals with private equity involvement make up over 50% of transactions in the current market. If you don’t consider private equity when selling your business, you’re ruling out over half your buyer pool.
- Find the right partner to unlock your goals and your business’ potential. The acquirer landscape and the private equity industry are a broad spectrum. Align your business with the most appropriate partner to find a shared ambition.
- Work on building a strong relationship with the key individuals at the acquirer or private equity house. Ensure this is based on total honesty and transparency, and that news is shared however good or challenging it is.
- Communicate effectively with your team. At the right time, be open with them about the direction the business is going in. Find the right internal people to help manage and drive the business forward throughout the period of change.
- If you’re considering private equity or a trade buyer, find out all you can about your potential partner. How have they responded to businesses going through difficult times? Speak to other businesses they’ve invested in to find out. Having confidence in the quality and principles of the people you’re working with is vital.
The Moore Kingston Smith media corporate finance team also provided an update on M&A activity and key trends from the last 12 months.
Please contact Esther, Paul or Dan if you would like to discuss this webinar in more detail or if you have any other private equity or corporate finance related questions.