Private EquityHow We Create Value

Over the course of more than 35 years of private equity investing, we have helped many exceptional management teams build high potential businesses into enduring enterprises.

Targeted Sourcing

We have developed over time a highly targeted, tech-enabled sourcing and cultivation process that we believe makes us a preferred buyer of companies we want to own. We have developed deep networks in the ecosystems of the four sectors in which we focus. Our industry teams work closely with management teams, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, bankers, consultants, and advisors so we can be very targeted when pursuing investments and able to react quickly and decisively when evaluating opportunities. As with all aspects of our business, we highly value and nurture close connectivity with our partners in deal sourcing and frequently work with buy-side advisors.

Portfolio Company Support

We take a long-term, active approach to helping our companies grow and become market leaders. But that doesn’t mean we become operators – we are committed, supportive, active investors and board members.

Our Portfolio Support Group collaborates with our sector specialist investment professionals to introduce resources, best practices, and relationships that help companies grow and achieve our shared value creation goals. The team has varied backgrounds and expertise across a variety of disciplines along with the scale and depth to handle larger support needs.

Customized Approach

We work collaboratively with our companies to help define the value creation approach early in our investment chapter and remain actively involved throughout our ownership. No two portfolio engagements look alike; we customize our specific approach and resources working from a well-defined set of best practices. We frequently help our management teams with growth strategy, board construction, M&A execution and integration, capital structure optimization, pricing, distribution, globalization, systems implementation, and talent recruitment. We tailor each project around the unique needs of the management team and company, prioritizing the biggest drivers of value creation and bringing the right resources to bear on the opportunity.

The Berkshire Network

Relationships are important in all aspects of our business. Our Advisory Directors and Operating Executives/Advisors bring decades of management and sector expertise to both the diligence process and ongoing value creation plans. We have also fostered a community of executives across our portfolio who can serve as supportive resources to each other. Our annual Executive Conference and other forums for senior leaders at our portfolio companies are intended to build and enhance this special community. We believe that connecting our management teams with one another to help them compete and succeed in their markets is a key part of our role in helping our companies grow and our portfolio perform consistently.

The Next Chapter

When we start thinking about realizing an investment, we work with our management teams to optimize timing and exit strategy. We take the long-term view and are proud when our companies flourish as market leaders well past our ownership. We are flexible in considering different exit scenarios and work hard to achieve the best outcomes for our companies, their management teams and employees, our investors, and the next owners. Our mandate is also flexible to accommodate various ownership and partial liquidity scenarios.