Investing in people to ensure the long-term value of your private equity investment
Investing in people to ensure the long-term value of your private equity investment
Most mergers and acquisitions require post-merger integration (PMI), the success of which is often determined by how the people involved in the process are managed and brought along on the journey.
In our article on accelerating value creation through talent management, we highlighted that poor management of the human element often contributes to the 70-90 per cent of all mergers that fail. A strong and capable workforce is necessary to ensure continued and accelerated success for an organisation, especially following private equity investment.
By investing in your people, you are investing in your organisation’s long-term success and ensuring its ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive under a new ownership structure.
The return on investing in people
Following a deal, portfolio companies must quickly and effectively navigate the changes and challenges that come with private equity investment. New perspectives, goals and strategies may be difficult for leadership and staff to adopt rapidly, but it is vital that challenges are addressed in the first 90 days after receiving investment, before change resistance or disillusionment occurs.
Those who adopt a proactive approach to align employees with the new vision and ensure a smooth cultural shift will enhance their overall performance across the lifecycle of the investment. Following a deal, a multifaceted approach to people engagement may include the following aspects.
Change management
A stakeholder change impact assessment can help execute change strategies and interventions to mitigate people risk and resistance. Minimising disruption to ‘business as usual’ is critical to the short- and long-term success of the investment
Leadership alignment
A focused talent strategy addresses key personnel risks and sets up the leadership team for success as they undergo changes post-deal. A collaborative approach which brings leaders together to define a common purpose, identify team priorities and find ways to work together will drive impact, results and return on investment. This approach has a twofold benefit:
- Aligning and solidifying a leadership team to attract and achieve investor trust
- Bringing your leaders together to optimally deliver on objectives post-investment.
Strategic communications
Portfolio companies will benefit from a defined, high-impact communication strategy and plan to foster transparency, trust, and engagement. Taking a proactive approach to developing targeted strategic communications aligned to organisational goals will always be successful when underpinned by the consideration of what needs to be known, by whom, when, and the intended impact.
Unlocking people’s value
Aligning people with an organisation's vision, strategy, processes, and technology is crucial to unleash its growth potential. It ensures everyone is working together efficiently and innovatively towards common goals.
As a portfolio company undergoes rapid growth, its strategy, purpose, and leadership approach will continue to evolve, necessitating ongoing reviews, coaching and optimisation to ensure the business is ready for its eventual exit. A comprehensive approach to unlock the value of the people involved may include:
- Incentives and remuneration - reviewing remuneration data against benchmarking data and providing an effective remuneration structure and framework to drive performance in the executive team
- Leadership coaching and mentoring - coaching and mentoring by providing one-off or ongoing support to portfolio company leaders as they grow, helping them to better understand their strengths and blind spots
- HR operational optimisation - reviewing current and future state HR policies, processes, and systems, and optimising the HR function. Portfolio companies will learn industry best practices whilst complying with appropriate regulations and accountable authorities.
How BDO can help
The true value of a private equity investment extends far beyond the financials. It lies in the people who drive the business forward. By prioritising talent management and focusing on the human side of post-merger integration, you not only mitigate the risks of failure but also unlock the full potential of your investment.
Whether you’re buying, selling or growing a business, our national private equity experts provide a holistic support at every stage of the process. Reach out today to learn how we can help.