Larry Kaumeyer

This is the third article in a three-part PE Hub Canada series on what CEOs, managers and investors must consider in the various stages of a business transition. Previously, Larry Kaumeyer, a CEO who grows and oversees businesses for a private equity firm, discussed pre-acquisition considerations and the realities of the post-acquisition period. In this third piece, he looks at how CEOs and owners—including private equity owners—can prepare to sell a business, sharing his tips on several factors that are key to getting to the finish line.

In an earlier PE Hub Canada feature article, Larry Kaumeyer, a CEO who grows and oversees businesses for a private equity firm, discussed the interaction between a general partner and the senior leadership of a company in the pre-acquisition period. In a second article, Kaumeyer focuses on what typically happens after a PE firm has made an investment and what he has learned as a chief executive in navigating change from a day-to-day perspective. He discusses issues in three post-acquisition areas that the CEO and senior leadership team must immediately address.

Private equity investment in Canada continues to expand, with increasing numbers of investors looking to realize above-average returns. But the pre-acquisition stage can be extremely challenging, especially for general partners who will be actively involved in growing the company to achieve the expected returns. In a PE Hub Canada feature article, Larry Kaumeyer, a CEO who grows and oversees businesses for a PE firm, says GPs can lay the groundwork for a successful investment by combining strategic and financial analysis with a host of soft skills that build trust with owners. He offers several tips in five key pre-acquisition stage areas.