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Exit Strategy Evolution: IPOs vs. Strategics in 2025 exit management Jul 07, 2025

NIQ is going public. Jefferson Capital just raised $150 million in its Nasdaq IPO. Hg-backed Visma is targeting a €19 billion listing in London.

After years of IPO drought, the public markets are sho...

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Energy Transition Deals: PE’s Climate Investment Thesis Jul 07, 2025

Nordic Capital just became the largest shareholder in Soltech Energy through a strategic solar deal. Ardian acquired 117 solar plants in Italy. Tikehau’s €1 billion continuation fund for Egis is speci...

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Debt-for-Equity: When Credit Becomes Control leverage Jul 07, 2025

Carlyle is eyeing a debt-for-equity handover of DAINESE to HPS Investment Partners and Arcmont Asset Management. The Italian motorcycle gear company, acquired in 2022 through a €285 million debt-finan...

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The 4.5 ft Leadership Mindset Jul 01, 2025

Somewhere between the 3 feet from gold and the 6 feet under, there’s a space where real leadership happens.

It’s not glamorous.
It’s not talked about in TED Talks.
But it’s where most private equity-...

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The PE Pretend Plan: Why Most Transformation Blueprints Fail Before They Begin entrepreneur pe model Jul 01, 2025

The Problem No One Talks About

Every PE-backed transformation starts with a plan.
Usually polished. Often templated. Always confident.

But let’s be honest—many of these plans are dead on arrival.
No...

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As a CEO, You’re Either Training the AI or Being Forgotten by It agentic ai ceo Jul 01, 2025

The New CEO Mandate: Train the AI or Disappear

There was a time when being a CEO meant leading strategy, building culture, and representing the company to shareholders.

That time hasn’t passed. But ...

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The Center of Gravity in Value Creation: Where Real Change Actually Begins value creation Jul 01, 2025

Everyone Has a Theory of Value Creation—But Few Know Where It Starts

In private equity, value creation gets a lot of airtime.
Frameworks. Operating playbooks. PMO checklists. Scorecards.

But most of...

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Cash Is Not Strategy: The Myth of ‘Dry Powder’ in Value Creation capital Jul 01, 2025

The Comfort (and Danger) of Dry Powder

In today’s private equity circles, there’s no shortage of capital.
Global dry powder has crossed $2.5 trillion. And counting.

For many firms, this is worn like...

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The Death of the Generic Dashboard: What PE Teams Really Need to See dashboards Jul 01, 2025

The Dashboard Delusion in Private Equity

Walk into any PE-backed portfolio company and you’ll likely find a well-designed dashboard.

It’s colorful. It’s templated.
And it’s dangerously misleading.

...
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Malcolm in the Middle: The Never-Ending Love–Hate With EBITDA ebitda Jul 01, 2025

Yes, this is one of those posts on EBITDA...

Some financial professionals love it. Others hate it.
Both camps make compelling points.

Here’s mine.

I’m an EBITDA enthusiast — and here’s why.

By des...

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The 7 AI Value Creation Levers in Private Equity (2025 Edition) ai Jul 01, 2025

The Question Everyone’s Asking in PE

“What’s the right way to use AI in value creation?”

It’s one of the most common—and most poorly answered—questions in private equity today.

Here’s the truth:

T...

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Post-Acquisition Hangover: What Happens After the OpCo Honeymoon Ends Jul 01, 2025

1. When the Deal Closes, Reality Moves In

In private equity, closing a deal can feel like a wedding—celebrations, shared vision, bold predictions.

But what happens next is less glamorous.

Because a...

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Tarriff Wars and Cross-Border Deal-Making: How Private Equity is Adapting to a Fragmented Trade Environment tarrif wars Jun 30, 2025

In an era of rising protectionism and geopolitical competition, global private equity (PE) firms are facing a new reality: cross-border deal-making is no longer a straightforward exercise in market ar...

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Recession Playbooks for PE Firms: Defense, Offense, or Both? pe recession Jun 13, 2025

As economic volatility continues to shape the global landscape, private equity (PE) firms are refining their strategies for navigating downturns. The events of 2008, 2020, and now 2025 each brought di...

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Is the Traditional LBO Model Broken in a High-Rate Era? interest rates lbo Jun 13, 2025

In an environment where interest rates have surged to multi-decade highs, the private equity (PE) playbook, particularly the traditional leveraged buyout (LBO) model, is being tested like never before...

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