Customer Type: PE Firms

PEI Operating Partners Forum – New York 2022 Event Recap

October 27, 2022 Delaney Walker

On October 19th and 20th, 2022, our team had the opportunity to attend and sponsor the PEI Operating Partners Forum – New York 2022. It was PEI’s largest event to date with over 500 PE ops professionals in attendance, a testament to the growing ops function in private equity.

At the conference, our founder & CEO, Sean Mooney, hosted a panel titled, “Unlocking the Due Diligence Imperative to Rapidly Achieve the Value Creation Plan”. The panelists – Cici Zheng of ParkerGale Capital, Marc Jourlait of The Riverside Company, and Kalyan Mukherjee of Apollo Global Management – all shared insightful thoughts on this topic and we have captured some our key takeaways below:

Leveraging Diligence Streams to Inform Value Creation

  • Overall, value creation plans are being created and put into place earlier in the process than has been done historically.
    • Benefits include building trust with the management teams and having the time and information upfront to formulate a more fully baked value creation plan.
  • Ops teams find it critical to work with specialized groups for commercial due diligence that already know and understand the market.
  • Areas assessed upfront in diligence to help ops teams better understand risk include human capital, technology, operations, and ESG.

Working with Deal Teams & Managing the Diligence Chaos

  • Ops teams have discovered that working with deal teams from day 1 helps avoid any post-close surprises.
  • Early work with the deal team helps the ops teams better understand what the deal team is underwriting for, allowing the ops team to better prioritize and position value creation plans.
  • Many firms are leveraging technology to manage the many diligence processes that are happening at any given time.

We greatly enjoyed learning from these thought leaders and connecting with both familiar as well as new faces at the PEI Operating Partners Forum – New York 2022. You can learn about specific ways we equip PE operating professionals with the exact-fit, specialized third parties they need here. If you have an immediate need we can support, contact us here and we will immediately get started.

ESG consultant needed across portfolio

PE founder needs ESG consultant for 3-year plan

A PE firm founder came to us with a critical need for an ESG consultant that could help their firm develop an ESG plan and implement it across their portfolio. Having recently recognized the growing importance of ESG to GPs and LPs, they urgently needed a specialized consultant to help with their planning on how to effectively implement ESG initiatives at both the firm and portco level. The founder wanted a provider who could build out a 3-year ESG implementation plan focused on the most critical aspects of ESG from an LP’s perspective, as well as help them implement practical efforts to integrate ESG into their standard due diligence process. Ultimately, the founder needed a best-in-class ESG consultant who understood their size fund and how LPs looked at them, could build out a strategic plan that the deal team could execute, and support the firm with the timing of the implementation.

BluWave identifies top provider for client’s needs

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade ESG consultant needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of ESG consultants that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted providers from our invitation-only Intelligent Network that fit their exacting needs.

Firm confidently engages provider to begin ESG strategy work

Within 24 hours of the initial scoping call, the PE firm was introduced to three top ESG strategy providers that met their exact criteria. The founder selected their ideal choice. The PE firm was able to confidently engage a top ESG consultant to build out the plan they needed to implement ESG efforts across both the firm and the portfolio.

ACG M&A East 2022 Event Recap

October 25, 2022 Delaney Walker

Our team had the chance to attend and sponsor ACG M&A East 2022 in Philadelphia on October 17th and 18th. At the conference, our founder & CEO, Sean Mooney, had the opportunity to be one of seven speakers to speak on the topic of “Trends and Best Practices in Value Creation”.

In Sean’s presentation, he shared the most recent data in our Value Creation Index and the functional trends we have been seeing within that- specifically within HR, technology, and sales & marketing. The main points he shared from our data were:

  • PE firms and their portcos are focusing on data & analytics to help them become more agile and change with the times.
  • Organizations that traditionally had outside sales are now transitioning to inside sales due to the digital boom.
  • Marketing functions are becoming more crucial than ever.
  • PE firms are bringing in wartime generals in place of peacetime ministers for the new now.

In addition to Sean’s talk, we were able to listen to insights from Dave Helgerson of Hamilton Lane, Dan Kessler of Energage, Justin Kulla of TZP Group, Keith Scandone of O3, Christopher Simmons of LLR Partners, and Laura Queen of 29Bison. The main topics of their discussions were ESG, DEI, talent & culture, and digitization & customer experience. We have shared our key takeaways below:

ESG

  • The ESG mandate from LPs is growing.
  • The 3 key factors to ESG are framework, investment process, and organizational guide.
  • Implementing ESG can be a competitive advantage that allows you to unlock opportunities that no one else sees.

DEI

  • DEI is an ongoing journey, not a destination.
  • DEI is all about problem-solving.

Talent & culture

  • Capturing the voices of employees is soon to be the biggest trend in diligence – unhappy employees without a voice can become the biggest issue post-close.
  • Implementing frameworks to assess and drive culture initiatives is critical.

Digitization & customer experience

  • Customer experience is a journey, not a funnel.
  • Putting your customers at the center of your business model is a constant that will never change.

We greatly enjoyed learning from these thought leaders and connecting with both familiar as well as new faces at ACG M&A East 2022. If you are in need of third-party resources for your ESG, DEI, talent, or digitization needs, give us a shout and we will be happy to quickly hop-to.

Full value creation vitally needed for carveout

Firm needs value creation providers across services

A PE firm came to us with a critical need for multiple value creation providers for a recently acquired manufacturing portco. A new carveout from a large company, the firm needed to engage multiple providers to aid with the carveout process over the next 14 months before the TSA that extended critical services ended. They needed PE-grade providers for IT strategy and implementation, hardware replacement, cybersecurity assessment, an interim CFO role, capacity planning and operations improvement, and procurement & sourcing. Each provider needed to meet a unique set of criteria in order to suit the firms needs for the new carveout.

BluWave indentifies pre-vetted providers for each need

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade carveout needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of providers that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria for each carveout need, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted providers from our invitation-only Intelligent Network that fit each one.

Firm engages PE-grade providers with exacting expertise

Within 24 hours of the initial scoping call, the PE firm and portfolio company were introduced to the first set of providers they needed that specialized in the manufacturing industry. For each carveout need, we presented select providers, and the client then selected their ideal choice. The PE firm was able to quickly engage a variety of top providers to meet each of their needs and ultimately, ensure a seamless carveout process.

Quality of earnings provider needed for healthcare target

On-site quality of earnings provider needed immediately

A PE firm associate came to us with a critical need for a provider to perform quality of earnings diligence on a target healthcare company. With their go-to providers booked up, they urgently needed a provider with capacity to quickly assess the company’s YTD financial and operating information since the business had recently transformed. Not only did the firm need an immediately available provider, but they were also looking for a provider that could work onsite and that had knowledge of the medical and insurance billing industry.

BluWave has exact-fit provider in network with healthcare background

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade quality of earnings diligence needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of QofE providers that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted quality of earnings diligence providers from our invitation-only Intelligent Network that fit their exacting needs.

Firm engaged provider to move forward with the deal

Within less than 24 hours of the initial scoping call, the PE firm was introduced to an exact-fit, PE-grade quality of earnings provider that was immediately available and specialized in the healthcare industry. The client engaged this provider to begin the following week and the firm was able to confidently assess the target’s financial operations and EBIDTA evaluation thanks to their help.

Interim CFO Crucially Needed for Portco Carveout

Firm needs interim CFO to lead carveout

A principal at a PE firm came to us with a critical need for an interim CFO to lead the carveout of a manufacturing company that they had just signed on. With closing occurring in 60 days and a 12-month TSA that would then begin, the firm urgently needed an interim CFO that could be dedicated to the carveout infrastructure. The firm needed an individual who could perform advanced carveout tasks but was also willing to roll up their sleeves and be hands-on in tasks like setting up the GL architecture. It was critical that the firm found an interim CFO with a deep track record in PE, carveout experience, the ability to be onsite 3 days per week, experience in the manufacturing industry, and functional expertise in a wide variety of financial and accounting areas in order for the carveout to be smoothly executed.

BluWave understands unique need & identifies exact-fit interim CFOs in network

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade carveout-specific interim CFO needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of carveout-focused interim CFOs that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted interim CFOs from our invitation-only Intelligent Network that fit their exacting needs.

Firm engages interim CFO and successfully proceeds with carveout

Within 24 hours of the initial scoping call, the PE firm and portfolio company were introduced to two PE-grade interim CFOs with extensive carveout experience and industry expertise. The client selected their ideal choice. The PE firm was able to confidently and quickly engage the interim CFO and trust them to lead the carveout thanks to them already being BluWave-vetted.

Environmental diligence critically needed for target

Evaluating target company, firm needs environmental diligence provider

A PE firm managing director came to us with a critical need for an environmental diligence provider to assess a target company they had in the manufacturing sector. Having recently signed an LOI, the firm had 60 days to quickly perform extensive diligence on all areas of the aluminum manufacturing company. Given the company’s industry, the firm was specifically interested in performing an environmental assessment and discovering what the findings were. The company had multiple locations, so the firm came to us in urgent need of a PE-grade provider that could conduct diligence across multiple states and that also had experience with this subsect of the manufacturing industry.

BluWave identifies pre-vetted environmental diligence providers from network exact-fit for need

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade environmental needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of environmental diligence providers that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted providers from our invitation-only Intelligent Network that fit their exacting needs.

Firm engages exact-fit provider to conduct diligence

Within 24 hours of the initial scoping call, the PE firm was introduced to an exact-fit environmental diligence provider that specialized in environmental inspections in the manufacturing industry. The PE firm engaged the provider and was able to successfully complete their environmental assessment within their timeframe, allowing them to move forward with the deal with a full understanding of the environmental standing of the company.

Q3 2022 BluWave Insights

October 18, 2022 Delaney Walker

Every quarter our team analyzes the projects we work on with our 500+ PE firm clients to get a birdseye view of the market. We recently compiled our Q3 findings into our Q3 2022 BluWave Insights Report. Request your copy.

Key findings from Q3 ’22 include:

  • Value creation activity has increased 11% YoY.
  • Human capital remains PE’s primary area of focus at 36% of all Q3 activity.
  • Technology activity has changed 86% YoY.
  • Sales & marketing activity has changed 29% YoY.

Learn more about the insights we gleaned from Q3:

We can support your value creation needs, human capital needs, technology needs, sales & marketing needs, and more.

Video transcript:

BluWave serves a trusted role with more than 500 of the world’s leading private equity firms and thousands of proactive businesses by connecting them with the best-in-class third parties to help build value with speed and certainty. From our unique vantage in the private equity landscape, we’re able to glean insights into how and why the best business builders in the world are assessing opportunities and building value in their portfolio companies. Here are some of the top takeaways from the BluWave Activity Index during Q3 2022.

First and foremost, value creation remains key in private equity. Despite the unsteady economic landscape, PE firms are equipping their portfolio companies with resources to maintain the momentum of previous value creation efforts. The BluWave Value Creation Index shows a more than 11% increase in Q3 value creation activity year over year. It is evident that PE firms are running towards the storm, treating economic uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a setback.

Number two, technology is surging as digitization continues to be embedded in the post-COVID world. Private equity firms are equipping portfolio companies with data and analytics capabilities to enable data-driven decision making and workflow automation. We’ve seen technology activity rise from 8% of all activity in Q3 2021 to 15% of all PE activity in this past quarter, and we expect to see technology activity remain high as firms continue to invest in subscription-based software companies due to their stability during volatile economic times.

Lastly, human capital remains private equity’s primary area of focus accounting for 36% of all activity in the BluWave Activity Index for Q3 2022. Firms continue to take strides to ensure the teams in their portfolios are top notch and well-equipped for success. This quarter we saw a surge of PE firms bringing in “wartime generals” with specialized skillsets equipped for the “new now” that can help guide portfolio companies to success in the current economic environment.

It is our hope that the information in the Q3 BluWave Insights Report will give you incremental edge as you build the best businesses in the world. If you’d like to learn more and get the report, please contact any member of the BluWave team or follow the link below. Onward.

Compliance group urgently needed for quality control process

Urgent need for FDA compliance group

A PE firm’s principal of operations came to us with a critical need for a compliance group that could help them assess a target pharmaceutical manufacturing company’s FDA-certified quality control process. Working on a fragile deal, the firm needed an expert provider who could assess the company’s processes in order to ensure they were well-documented, identify if there could be issues in the future given where the FDA was going, and note if the results from a recent FDA inspection were kosher. The firm needed the provider to be PE-grade, understand the pharmaceutical space, and be enough of an expert to also provide recommendations as they performed the audit.

BluWave finds exact-fit provider to match firm’s needs

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade compliance & regulatory needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of compliance & regulatory groups as well as independent consultants that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with a select pre-vetted provider from our invitation-only Intelligent Network that fit their exacting needs.

Firm engages presented provider to conduct quality control

Within less than 24 hours of the initial scoping call, the PE firm was introduced to an exact-fit PE-grade compliance group that specialized in assessing FDA quality control processes .The PE firm confidently engaged the provider to conduct the audit. Thanks to the provider’s work, the firm was able to gain the insights they needed on the current state and needed improvements of the target’s processes in order to move forward with the deal.

Leadership coach vitally needed for new CFO

Leadership Coach needed to mentor new CFO

A PE firm principal came to us with a critical need for a CFO consultant for their manufacturing portco. Since their seasoned CFO left the company around a year ago, a young, less experienced CFO entered the leadership role. Having never been a CFO before, the firm needed an executive coach who could provide the young CFO with leadership training and serve as a mentor to them to help them get up to the speed of a C-suite role. The firm urgently needed someone with experience as a CFO in a PE-backed company, knowledge in the alcohol beverage manufacturing field, and who was willing to be onsite for 20 hours a week.

BluWave finds exact-fit CFO consultant with industry expertise

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade executive coaching needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of executive coaches that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted executive coach from our invitation-only Intelligent Network that fit their exacting needs.

Firm confidently engages PE-grade CFO consultant

Quickly after the initial scoping call, the PE firm and portfolio company were introduced to two PE-grade executive coaches that specifically worked with CFOs in the manufacturing industry. The client selected their ideal choice, engaging an exact-fit exec coach with a consumer manufacturing background, multiple referrals from PE-backed companies, and availability to travel to the needed location. The PE firm was able to confidently move forward with the new CFO knowing that he was getting the training he needed to get caught up to speed.