When developing a private equity deal thesis, there are several inputs that you may consider, including: 

 Written by:  The PE Guru – Gerald Moran O’Dwyer, III – Blackmore Partners, Inc. 

• Industry trends: Understand the current state of the industry in which the target company operates, including any major trends or shifts in the market. Identify potential growth opportunities and potential challenges. 

• Competitive landscape: analyze the target company’s competition and understand the target company’s position in the market. Identify the target company’s competitive advantages and disadvantages. 

• Financial performance: Review the target company’s financial performance, including revenue, profit margins, and cash flow. Identify any areas for improvement and assess the target company’s growth potential. 

• Management team: Evaluate the target company’s management team, including their experience and track record. Assess their ability to execute the proposed business plan. 

• Operational improvements: Identify opportunities for operational improvements, such as cost savings, revenue enhancements, or other efficiencies that can be achieved through changes in the company’s operations.   

• Exit strategy: Consider the potential exit options for the private equity firm, such as an IPO, a sale to a strategic buyer, or a recapitalization. Understand the market conditions and timing that would be favorable for the exit. 

• Capital structure: analyze the target company’s capital structure and identify potential opportunities to optimize the company’s debt and equity mix. 

• Synergies: Identify potential synergies with other companies in the private equity firm’s portfolio, such as cross-selling opportunities or shared resources. 

• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors: Investigate the target company’s environmental, social, and governance policies and practices and evaluate how they align with the private equity firm’s values and investment criteria. 

• Valuation: Assess the target company’s valuation, including a review of comparable transactions and a discounted cash flow analysis, to ensure that the deal is financially attractive. 

These inputs can be used to form a comprehensive deal thesis and help identify potential opportunities and risks associated with the investment.