Private Equity can be an attractive option to raise capital for start-ups. In this article we will understand the process and its opportunities for start-ups.
Article written by Matteo Marica in his Column "What drives successful start-ups?" for The Young Economist.
Private Equity (PE) refers to the provision of equity capital by financial investors to non-listed companies with a high growth potential in the medium to long term.
Investments in PE can be an attractive option for start-ups: they provide an alternative access to capital compared to Banks and, particularly, expertise that can help the start-up grow and scale. PE firms often invest in start-ups, especially in the later stages of development. In this article we will analyze the PE process, which usually involves the following steps:
Identifying investment opportunities: PE firms typically use a variety of methods to evaluate potential investment opportunities in target companies, such as market research, industry analysis and appointing external advisors.
Conducting due diligence: Once a potential investment opportunity has been identified, the private equity firm will conduct due diligence to assess the investment viability across several dimensions, such as financial, legal and social dimensions, as well as the firm's market positioning and its governance. This stage implies a huge effort of the firms and significant abortion costs in case the deal is stopped.
Negotiation: If the due diligence process is successful, the terms and conditions (T&C) of the investment are set forth and negotiated (i.e. the amount of the investment, the ownership stake of the PE firm, the exit strategy). In this stage, the PE investor is often asked to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to avoid diffusion of confidential information received from the firm or from its advisors.
Signing and Closing: Once the T&C of the investment has been agreed upon, the investment is finalized and the structure of the deal is presented to the Board of Directors. Then, the management board can reject or approve the deal: in case the deal is approved, the counterparties sign the contract they agreed. A condition precedent (CP) at the closing can be included in order to proceed.
Value Creation and Growth: After the investment has been made, the Private Equity firm works with the company to support and sustain growth, providing the necessary skills and resources necessary to achieve the firm's goals.
In a nutshell, the Private Equity process is a complex and multifaceted process that involves identifying and evaluating potential investment opportunities, negotiating the terms of the investment and supporting the growth of the invested companies.
However, the process may be slightly different for start-ups compared to more established companies, as start-ups may have different needs and lower resources for due diligence purposes. In both Europe and the US, PE plays a vital role in supporting the growth and development of firms. However, the nature of these industries implies different conditions for start-ups across the Countries.
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