EQ is the most important trait
Soft skills are the most important for an independent sponsor, according to Kevin Wong at Lang Partners, a Dallas-based Family
2026
64 posts
"You never keep 100% of the EBITDA that you buy."
Alan and Dana bluntly state that you never keep 100% of the EBITDA that you buy. Execution always leaks value.
Family Offices + Independent Sponsors = Strong Match
James warns that when 1 LP represents 80-90% of the capital in a deal, the sponsor is no longer in
Geography is no longer an edge or hidden opportunity
A former attorney, Mike Healy founded Gardner Standard in 2010. His initial focus was on overlooked geographies, such as western
Independent sponsors are disciplined on valuation
The latest Axial Independent Sponsor Report shows strong pricing discipline, with the vast majority of deals completed below 7x EBITDA,
Good legal hygiene
If you're in a legally sensitive situation: limit written communication. That's my # 1 advice for legal
Do a sell-side QoE when you exit
Do a sell-side QoE when you exit. Benefits: • Higher valuation (see chart below from GF Data). • You can include it
Build board = Build value
The best way to add value in the straddle period between signing the LOI and closing the deal: build a
US Citizenship
I am officially a US citizen! The Naturalization Ceremony was a memorable & meaningful occasion; Judge Natalie Adams and the
19,000 PE firms; you need to stand out
There are 19,000 private equity firms in America, all trying to buy businesses. I cannot overstate the value &
"Our buyer has spent $2.5m on DD so far."
"Our buyer has spent $2.5m on DD so far." If you're exiting, the buyer'
Make 25 intros each week
World-class networker shared that one of his KPIs was to make 25 introductions each week. “If you provide valuable intros,
Be tactful in diligence
The “buyers have every right to dig deep” statement rings true, but lacks nuance. On large deals, institutional investors will
How to hire A+ players
How do you hire true A+ players, and not settle for “good enough”? When hiring, it’s common to fall
$50m Rollup vs. $2.5m LBO
Just met a first-time searcher with a $2.5m deal under LOI at below 4x. Option A: The Standard LMM
Raise your prices, now
Happy New Year! 🎆 Start 2026 by raising your prices. Raising prices is the fastest way to increase your profits. Yet
