Strategic Planning

Since 2003, Apex Growth Strategies has been dedicated to providing strategic planning services to the portfolio companies of private equity firms which invest in the lower end of the middle market.

200+

Portfolio companies served across multiple industries and go-to-market/operating models

35

Different private equity funds resulting in experience with different approaches to value creation

85%

Client companies have realized above market exit multiples

70%

Owner-founder, first-time institutional financial backing companies

65%

First 6 months

20%

2-3 year recalibration

15%

Pre-exit (12-18 months)

Planning engagements conducted across the hold period lifecycle

Keys to Strategic Plans That Create Value

For portfolio company management teams and private equity sponsors and their investors

1

Real value is created by achieving scalable growth during the hold period – and – building a model to enable the next investor to clearly see significant growth during their investment.

3

To achieve extraordinary value at exit, look five years out and work back to today … working from today forward will yield incremental thinking.

5

Ensuring the back end of the business efficiently and effectively scales with the projected growth can be the difference between a good exit and a great one.

2

Creating alignment between management and the private equity investor is an important key to success … seems obvious enough but requires understanding and nuance.

4

Ideas are usually not the problem … determining what will NOT be pursued can create as much value as those strategies you WILL execute.

6

Driving ongoing execution accountability and excellence is the key success factor.

Strategic Plan Elements

Each Board-approved strategic plan consists of the following strategic and tactical elements:

Organic growth

Add-on acquisition growth

Process or productivity improvement

Gross and EBITDA margin leverage

Systems and organizational structure

Forward-looking three-year proforma income statement

Our value story to the next investor

What we will not do

Executional accountabilities matrix

Testimonials

"Eddie inspired our senior management to really push the boundaries on our thinking, enabling us to develop an aggressive but grounded vision for our business, and realize a great exit."

Maura Mottolese

CEO, Tates Bake Shop

Seller: The Riverside Company · Acquirer: Mondelez International

"Eddie's respectful and engaging style, coupled with his keen insight into the nuances of private equity, drove a deep, honest and meaningful evaluation of our business by our management team. He helped us develop a strategy aligned with both the shorter-term interests of our financial sponsor and the longer-term growth and sustainability interests of our company."

Greg Rzonca

CEO, Pine Environmental

Seller: Saw Mill Capital · Acquirer: ACON Investments

"Eddie is a strategic thinker and critical thinker, who learned our business, and with a totally disarming style was able to challenge our executives, assumptions and vision to lead us to a well-constructed plan. He goes above and beyond in ownership and responsibility to get the best outcomes."

Karen Borchert

CEO, Modern Hire

Seller: The Riverside Company · Acquirer: HireVue

"We worked with Eddie on strategic planning and preparing our company for sale. During these projects, he solicited input from key stakeholders that ensured everyone's views were represented. His strategic thought leadership helped us develop a roadmap for success."

Bill Clendenen

CEO, Health & Safety Institute

Seller: The Riverside Company · Acquirer: DW Healthcare Partners

APEX GROWTH STRATEGIES