Accent Capital Partners

Private Equity Funding:

A Long-Term Relationship

You own a company on the brink of exponential growth. The next step: partnering with a private equity firm that has the money and savvy to make it happen. A match made in heaven? Not so fast. Receiving funding from a private equity (PE) firm requires creating a tight business relationship that will stand the test of time. Think years, not months or weeks.

Your PE Partner: A Mentor and Advisor

While a commercial loan officer may look at your books from time to time, a PE investor will be actively involved in your business from Day One. They will offer the financing ability and business savvy to support you and your company through a period of rapid change or growth.

What to Look For in PE Firms

There are three ways you can find a PE firm: go direct, hire an investment banker, or rely on referrals from other professionals, such as your lawyer or accountant.

Regardless of how you go about finding the PE firm, you need to consider:

Industry Expertise - Most PE firms specialize in specific industries where they
Stage of Business - Some PE firms focus on companies in early stages of growth, while others seek more established firms. Often the preference is simply about the nature of the deals. Some investors specialize in firms facing early expansion, while others prefer helping larger businesses prepare to go public in a few years.
Size of Firms - Most firms specialize in deals of certain sizes; some focusing on
Location - A local presence is relevant, particularly for companies under $50 million in value. Early on, expect the PE firm to be involved on a weekly or monthly basis: it’s simply easier and less expensive if they are based nearby.

Making the Final Cut

Once you have found PE firms that fit your company’s needs, and you are in the process of presenting your proposal, you need to screen each other for a good fit as business partners.

Ultimately, you should screen for competence, but do the deal for chemistry. You should seek someone who you respect, enjoy working with and can learn from. Most importantly, your PE firm needs to “get” your vision for your company, and stretch you to an even larger vision.

Accent

Capital

Partners

Accent Capital Partners

Private Equity Funding:

A Long-Term Relationship

You own a company on the brink of exponential growth. The next step: partnering with a private equity firm that has the money and savvy to make it happen. A match made in heaven? Not so fast. Receiving funding from a private equity (PE) firm requires creating a tight business relationship that will stand the test of time. Think years, not months or weeks.

Your PE Partner: A Mentor and Advisor

While a commercial loan officer may look at your books from time to time, a PE investor will be actively involved in your business from Day One. They will offer the financing ability and business savvy to support you and your company through a period of rapid change or growth.

What to Look For in PE Firms

There are three ways you can find a PE firm: go direct, hire an investment banker, or rely on referrals from other professionals, such as your lawyer or accountant.

Regardless of how you go about finding the PE firm, you need to consider:

Industry Expertise - Most PE firms specialize in specific industries where they
Stage of Business - Some PE firms focus on companies in early stages of growth, while others seek more established firms. Often the preference is simply about the nature of the deals. Some investors specialize in firms facing early expansion, while others prefer helping larger businesses prepare to go public in a few years.
Size of Firms - Most firms specialize in deals of certain sizes; some focusing on
Location - A local presence is relevant, particularly for companies under $50 million in value. Early on, expect the PE firm to be involved on a weekly or monthly basis: it’s simply easier and less expensive if they are based nearby.

Making the Final Cut

Once you have found PE firms that fit your company’s needs, and you are in the process of presenting your proposal, you need to screen each other for a good fit as business partners.

Ultimately, you should screen for competence, but do the deal for chemistry. You should seek someone who you respect, enjoy working with and can learn from. Most importantly, your PE firm needs to “get” your vision for your company, and stretch you to an even larger vision.

Private Equity Funding:

A Long-Term Relationship

You own a company on the brink of exponential growth. The next step: partnering with a private equity firm that has the money and savvy to make it happen. A match made in heaven? Not so fast. Receiving funding from a private equity (PE) firm requires creating a tight business relationship that will stand the test of time. Think years, not months or weeks.

Your PE Partner: A Mentor and Advisor

While a commercial loan officer may look at your books from time to time, a PE investor will be actively involved in your business from Day One. They will offer the financing ability and business savvy to support you and your company through a period of rapid change or growth.

Read More
What to Look For in PE Firms
There are three ways you can find a PE firm: go direct, hire an investment banker, or rely on referrals from other professionals, such as your lawyer or accountant.
Regardless of how you go about finding the PE firm, you need to consider:
- Industry Expertise - Most PE firms specialize in specific industries where they
- Stage of Business - Some PE firms focus on companies in early stages of growth, while others seek more established firms. Often the preference is simply about the nature of the deals. Some investors specialize in firms facing early expansion, while others prefer helping larger businesses prepare to go public in a few years.
- Size of Firms - Most firms specialize in deals of certain sizes; some focusing on
- Location - A local presence is relevant, particularly for companies under $50 million in value. Early on, expect the PE firm to be involved on a weekly or monthly basis: it’s simply easier and less expensive if they are based nearby.
Making the Final Cut
Once you have found PE firms that fit your company’s needs, and you are in the process of presenting your proposal, you need to screen each other for a good fit as business partners.

Ultimately, you should screen for competence, but do the deal for chemistry. You should seek someone who you respect, enjoy working with and can learn from. Most importantly, your PE firm needs to “get” your vision for your company, and stretch you to an even larger vision.