102 - EBITDA vs. SDE: What Every Business Buyer Needs to Know with Dennis Unrein
Dec 30, 2024
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Dennis Unrein, a micro VC and founder of Private Ventures Group, shares insights on the evolving landscape of private equity focused on small businesses. He discusses the crucial differences between EBITDA and SDE metrics, helping buyers make informed decisions. Dennis highlights the unique opportunities in acquiring retiring baby boomer-owned businesses, particularly in niche industries like elderly care and telecommunications. The conversation also covers the benefits of self-funded searches and how Special Purpose Vehicles can simplify investments.
The podcast outlines the distinction between EBITDA and SDE metrics, emphasizing their importance in guiding smart acquisition decisions for business buyers.
A growing interest in acquiring retiring baby boomer-owned businesses reveals unique opportunities in niche markets like elderly care and telecommunications testing.
Deep dives
Investment Focus in Private Equity and Venture Capital
The discussion highlights the fundamental differences between venture capital and private equity investment models. Venture capital generally targets early-stage companies with the expectation that a small percentage will yield high returns, thereby employing a portfolio approach. In contrast, private equity focuses on established businesses with solid cash flow, typically requiring investors to expect a return of their investment rather than high-risk ventures. The conversation emphasizes a specialized approach in the private equity sector, concentrating on smaller enterprises—specifically those with a total enterprise value below $10 million—allowing individual investors a unique market access unavailable to larger institutional players.
Transition Towards Self-Funded Searchers
The podcast delves into the evolving model of business acquisitions from traditional search funds to self-funded searchers, who often lack substantial financial backing. This newer model leverages Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, allowing entrepreneurs to buy established businesses without the burdens of starting from scratch. This shift has become popular due to a wave of retiring baby boomers possessing profitable businesses, creating ripe opportunities for self-funded individuals. The conversation emphasizes the appeal of this self-funded approach, showcasing how it provides a streamlined pathway for aspiring entrepreneurs to acquire existing businesses while maintaining significant equity.
Understanding SPVs and Their Role in Investment
Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) are pivotal in structuring investments, especially for smaller deals, as they offer a cleaner investment approach for companies by consolidating multiple investors into a single entity. The use of SPVs enables better tax management, as they allow for the streamlined issuance of necessary tax documents to investors. The podcast explains how SPVs can facilitate a range of services and investments, including both equity contributions and preferred returns, thus providing flexibility for investors. This structure helps fund managers to easily bring investment opportunities to the table, showcasing how they can benefit both the company seeking investment and the individual investors supporting the operation.
Diverse Opportunities in the SMB Market
Significant interest is observed in the booming space of small to medium businesses (SMBs) that target various niche markets, particularly as many baby boomers retire. This demographic shift yields a multitude of opportunities for self-funded searchers to take over established businesses with existing customer bases and operations. The discussion mentions various unique business examples that may not initially appear attractive but offer substantial cash flow and stability. Ultimately, there is a strong encouragement for investors to consider sectors like elderly care, which is projected to experience continued growth due to an aging population, providing impactful business opportunities that address societal needs.
Join me Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik) as I sit down with Dennis Unrein (https://x.com/dennis_unrein), a micro VC and SMB-focused investor, to discuss the evolving world of micro private equity and self-funded searchers. Dennis shares his journey from JP Morgan to launching Private Ventures Group (PVG), a firm that helps high-net-worth investors and family offices tap into private markets. We break down concepts like SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles), the difference between EBITDA and SDE, and how to use media-driven strategies to find compelling deals.
In this episode, we also explore the growing trend of acquiring businesses in niche industries like elderly care and telecommunications testing, and why investing in retiring baby boomer businesses offers unique opportunities.
Questions this Episode Answers:
What is a self-funded searcher, and how does it differ from a traditional search model?
How do SPVs simplify investments and deal flow for small businesses?
Why are retiring baby boomer-owned businesses a goldmine for acquisitions?
How can SDE and EBITDA metrics guide smart business purchases?
What are the best industries to invest in right now for small-scale private equity?
Enjoy the conversation! __________________________
Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or send me an email at Nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________
00:00 Understanding Investment Metrics: SDE, Cashflow, and EBITDA 02:55 Navigating the Micro VC and SMB PE Landscape 05:47 The Shift to Self-Funded Searchers 09:07 Exploring the Self-Funded Searcher Model 11:54 Differentiating Between SDE and EBITDA 15:08 Demystifying Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) 21:05 Understanding Investment Entities and K-1 Partnerships 22:58 The Financial Burden of Self-Funded Searchers 24:24 Equity Structures in Self-Funded Searches 26:44 Navigating Debt and Equity in Business Acquisitions 29:40 The Risks of Operator Dependency in Self-Funded Deals 31:58 Building Deal Flow Through Content Creation 34:54 The Two and Twenty Model Explained 36:23 Advisory and Investment Strategies in SMBs 38:49 Identifying Opportunities in the SMB Space
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