The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection

Today’s GuestOn this episode, we welcome Brad Nathan, founder and president of Toronto-based PE firm Lynx Equity.What You’ll LearnThe buy and hold strategy Returns models Investor relationsBreakdown[00:22] Introducing Brad [02:11] Common mistakes by PE firms [03:35] Buy and Hold Strategy [14:10] Insight on Lynx’s Success [17:13] Adopting a Different Returns Model [21:11] Investor Relations Process [27:12] Lynx’s Humble Approach [31:37] What Makes a Top Performer [35:29] Brad’s Influences [38:01] Where to find BradChallenges in private equityFor Brad, the biggest challenge in private equity is making sure that you have the right management team. Every company has revenue, cost of sale, and all the different aspects that contribute to its growth, but the key ingredient in a company is always the person running it.Secret to Lynx’s SuccessBrad is frank and says that Lynx’s success all came down to ability to raise capital. His tenacity and drive to never give up also contributed to the growth and success of Lynx today. Resources:Brad’s e-mail Brad’s LinkedInThank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Today’s GuestToday’s guest is Rami Cassis, founder of Parabellum Investments based in London.What You’ll LearnDiversification in PE High growth and high-risk sectors Current economic climateBreakdown[00:22] Introducing Rami [02:41] Common mistakes by PE firms [05:57] Diversity and diversification in PE [08:32] Rami’s buy and sell PE model [12:31] High growth and high potential sectors [17:23] Economic climate of at-risk sectors [19:45] What makes a top performer [25:37] What Rami likes and dislikes about PE [31:27] Rami’s influences [35:02] Where to find Rami Diversity in PEThe level of engagement between management teams and its private equity owners tends to be one-dimensional, limited only to board reporting and financial performance as the key metrics driving the nature of engagement between private equity and management teams. Rami thinks there should be more than that and diversity, such as having HR or Marketing in meetings, brings with it a more rounded and representative view of life than what is typically the case today.High-growth sectorsGrowth comes from two drivers, which is government spending or legislation, or consumer spending and Rami is seeing that people will invest in their health and wellness in the years to come. Hence, the three high-growth sectors now are pharma and life sciences, luxury, and financial services.Resources:Rami’s Twitter Rami’s LinkedInThank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Nick Antoine is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO and Managing Partner at Red Arts Capital, where he leads fundraising, research and thesis development. Before forming Red Arts in 2015, Nick served as Special Assistant to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ariel Investments, a $13 billion asset management firm. What You’ll Learn:Deal flow processes within a narrow nicheHow PE firms can differentiate themselves in a crowded marketUnderstanding competitive edge in private equityHow PE firms strike deals in the supply chain and logistics space Breakdown[00:50] Getting to Know Nick Antoine [01:36] Common Mistakes by PE Firms and Their Portfolio Companies [02:50] How Red Arts Capital Stands Out in the Marketplace[04:10] Why Red Arts Capital Settled on Supply Chain and Logistics[07:52] Deal Flow and the Benefits of Niching Down[11:30] Trends in the PE Space Post Pandemic[14:45] Nick’s Super Fast Career Progression[15:42] Nick’s Go-to Self-Improvement Resources[17:55] Key Attributes of a Top-Performing Individual[18:56] Parting ThoughtsResources:RedArtsCapital.comNick’s LinkedInThe Psychology of Money by Morgan HouselWhy Should White Guys Have All the Fun? By Reginald F. Lewis Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Introduction of Jeff GendelJeff Gendel is the Principal for Business Development at Gen II Fund Services, LLC, a private equity fund administrator that caters to $850B+ of private capital. Jeff oversees the firm, which offers a unique platform of resources that enables clients to manage their operational infrastructure, financial reporting and investor communications. What You Will LearnThe significance of the Operational Team in PE firmsPerception of Fundraising and Human CapitalChallenges on Reporting DemandsTrends and Areas Under ScrutinyScaling of PE Firms Post-COVID Breakdown[00:48] Getting to Know Jeff Gendel [03:11] Common mistakes of PEP firms and solutions[06:40] Trends and challenges PEP firms face  [08:42] Perception of fundraising[12:42] Thoughts on human capital[14:17] CFOs and operational teams in PEP firms [18:04] Pain Points for PEs on reporting demands[21:48] Trends and areas under scrutiny[25:14] Challenges that impact PE firms to scale[27:48] PE’s ability to scale post-COVID[30:58] Likes and dislikes about PE[33:08] How to get in touch with Jeff The Operational SideJeff Gendel sits down with Alex to discuss the importance of the operational side of PE firms in the industry. He highlights how the team that operates behind the scenes should be valued and is very important, especially for it to reflect the performance of the firm. Many firms are now conducting risk analysis as a solution to address certain output issues, and he identifies operational risk analysis as one key factor. Adding emphasis to talent acquisition for the operational management team, Jeff mentions that even recruitment of talents becomes a competitive struggle for firms, as they all attempt to get the best set of teams for their operations. Retention is also another item he brings up as it is inevitable that people will come in and go from firms, and the firm’s ability to keep the exceptional talent they have on hand is something that needs to be valued.  Key Information to ScaleJeff also cites the importance of information that circulates a firm. On top of having the right operational team, they also are in charge of giving the firm the necessary information needed for the firm to adapt to the fast-paced environment. He mentions that information gained by the firm such as returns, ability to attract capital, and the performance difference from competitors will help the operational team materialize the strategy they need to generate the next steps and objectives the firm will have to go for. With this, firms are able to scale their performance and goals accordingly and bring positive outputs to clients and investors. Despite the COVID pandemic, the PE industry is very adaptable. Having a team that can help a firm manoeuvre through the economic environment with the right information will help the organization on a macro-level.  ResourcesJeff Gendel’s LinkedinGen II Website

Ewan Mackinnon is a Partner for Maven Capital Partners, a VCT, Private Equity and Property Fund Manager that provides funding to growth-focused UK SMEs and tax-efficient investment opportunities for investors What You will LearnHow to correct common mistakes made by PE firms and portfolio companiesHow Maven Capital Partners drive value creationHow the UK CPT works for MavenEducational resources for industry awareness Breakdown[00:51] Getting to know Ewan Mackinnon[04:13] One mistake PE firms or portfolio companies and actions to correct them[07:47] Model to drive value creation and new expertise into portfolio companies[09:16] Inspiration to move into PE[11:28] Challenges faced in business completion due to outside London set up[13:31] How UK’s Venture Capital Trust Model works with Maven Capital Partners[16:14] Likes and Dislikes of the PE industry [20:47] Educational resources for the industry to check [24:17] Deal Flow for Maven Capital Partners[25:19] How to get in touch with Ewan Mackinnon[26:18] Side discussion with Ewan [Resources] Ewan Mackinnon’s EmailEwan MAckinnon’s Linkedin  ​​Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Paul Doyle is the Managing Partner at Blackford Capital, a Private Equity firm in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which makes majority control investments in founder and family-owned, lower middle market manufacturing, industrial and distribution companies.  What You Will LearnProcess PE firms can adopt to achieve specific objectives Internal relations to build morale and improve working environments Literatures on proper leadership and management Other resource materials utilized for industry information Breakdown[00:40] Introduction of Paul Doyle[06:06] On mistake in PE firms/Portfolio Companies and how to correct it[12:54] Top 4 book recommendation on leadership[21:34] Recommendations for Portfolio Leaders in the Private Equity Industry[29:39] 3 Attributes that make a top performer[35:17] What do you love and dislike about the PE industry [40:43] Any other books or areas of information to be recommended ResourcesPaul Doyle’s LinkedinThank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Nevin Raj is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Grata, a B2B search engine for discovering small to middle-market private companies. At Grata, Nevin is responsible for leading operations of the business, from sales and marketing to customer success and product initiatives. What You'll Learn:How PE firms are preparing for the impending recessionPredictions for Private Equity investing 2022 and beyondKey identifiers for an impending recessionHow PE investment strategies have evolved over the years Breakdown[01:15] The Highly Discussed Impending Recession[03:23] Supply and Demand and How They Contribute to Recessions Occurring[04:30] The Low Interest-Rate Environment[05:59] Thesis Driven Investing in Private Equity[10:05] Opportunities For PE Firms In case of a Recession[14:45] What to Expect From Private Equity Ten Years From Now[18:27] Parting ThoughtsResources:Nevin's LinkedInGrata.com Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Today we welcome Matthew Frankel, the Managing Partner at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP). Over the course of four decades, LLCP has differentiated itself through its successful structured private equity investment strategy across the United States and Europe. What You’ll LearnStructured private equity investmentsEquity ownership of management teamsHow LLCP expanded globallyRelationship building between investor and portfolio companies Breakdown[00:48] Getting to know Matthew Frankel [02:11] Common mistake by PE firms and portfolio companies [06:23] Pros and cons of structured private equity investing [12:22] Challenges as managing partner[17:23] Bridging cultural gaps[20:32] Alignment of interests and goals [24:06] Current trends within the PE industry[25:53] Matthew’s learning resourcesResourcesMatthew’s LinkedInLLCP’s E-mailLLCP’s Website Thank you for tuning in! To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Krista Morgan is the General Partner at Stage, a majority female-led private equity fund focused on acquiring controlling interests in companies undergoing a change in capital structure, strategy, operations, or growth. What You'll LearnHow VC firms take over firms and lead them to growthWhat it's like to work in a female-led investment firmWhy most start-ups failThe publicity and business that comes with winning awards Breakdown[00:50] Getting to Know Krista Morgan[03:05] Common Mistakes by PE Firms and Portfolio Companies[04:30] There's Always Room For Venture Capital Investing[06:40] Characteristics of a Start-up Doomed to Fail[09:18] Success Rates and Common Challenges in Most Startups[13:10] How Krista and Her Team Take Over and Scale a Business[17:04] Women in Leadership Positions in the Venture Capital Space[20:47] The Benefits of Winning Awards in Business[ 24:58] Key Attributes of a Top Performing Individual[29:26] What Krista Likes and Dislikes About Being an Investor[31:51] Krista's Go-To Information Resources[33:01] Parting Thoughts Resources:Krista’s LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Today we welcome Steffen Pauls, who is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Moonfare. Previously, Steffen was KKR's Managing Director and Country Head in Germany. At present, Moonfare is an award-winning digital platform that enables individuals to invest in top-tier private equity funds. What You’ll LearnChanges in the PE industry mindset over the yearsSteffen's time at KKRHow Moonfare makes individual investing possibleMoonfare's due diligence process Breakdown[01:00] Getting to know Steffen Pauls [03:12] Common mistake by PE firms and portfolio companies [06:49] Working for KKR [11:06] Create best returns in private equity [14:53] Individual investing with Moonfare [23:05] Is Moonfare regulated? [25:54] How Moonfare chooses funds [29:54] Notable attributes of a top-performer [33:54] Private equity: the good and the badResourcesSteffen’s LinkedInSteffen’s E-mailMoonfare Website Thank you for tuning in! To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.