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Riverside’s value creation strategy: An exclusive look at how one PE firm helps portfolio firms grow

Good morning, Hubsters.

MK Flynn here on Tax Day.

I’m reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote: “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

To take your mind off taxes, we’ve got a special story on PE Hub today.

Senior reporter Michael Schoeck went behind the scenes at the Riverside Company’s annual leadership summit to take an exclusive look at how the prolific lower mid-market PE firm works with its portfolio companies to create value. You can read an excerpt, below.

Also below, I’ll introduce you to the latest addition to the PE Hub editorial staff. And I’ve got some shoutouts for colleagues in private equity public relations. 

Exclusive behind-the-scenes look

Value creation has become increasingly important to private equity firms in the deal downturn. Many firms are spending more and more time with their portfolio companies. To understand the details of how one firm is approaching the value creation process, PE Hub senior reporter Michael Schoeck accepted the Riverside Company’s invitation to cover its recent leadership conference.

Upgrade to the premium version of the Wire to read all about it.

Warm welcome

I’m excited to e-introduce you to the latest team member at PE Hub. John R. Fischer has joined us as a reporter, based in New York. He’ll be writing about private equity deals in the healthcare sector.

John was previously a senior reporter at DOTmed.com’s HealthCareBusinessNews, covering the medical equipment industry.

John will be covering the McGuireWoods Healthcare Private Equity and Finance Conference in Chicago in May and is looking to meet with sources there.

Feel free to drop him a line and introduce yourself. John’s email address is: john.fischer@pei.group

Shoutouts

Thank you to Chris Ullman for stopping by PEI Group’s new office on Fifth Avenue in New York to share insights gleaned from a long career as a public relations professional. Ullman previously served as the director of global communications at The Carlyle Group, led communications at the White House Budget Office, ran the public affairs office at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and was spokesman for the US House Budget Committee.

Recommended reading: Ullman’s recent book, Four Billionaires and a Parking Attendant, is filled with entertaining anecdotes about folks in private equity, including Carlyle co-founder David Rubenstein. And, for our listening pleasure, Ullman, who is a Grand Champion whistler, gave us a sample of his talents, whistling “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast.

Speaking of musical theater, I want to mention that Joanne Lessner, managing director of Lambert, is playing the role of Josephine in The Blue Hill Troupe’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor. Performances areApril 19-27 at El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio, and proceeds benefit The Young People’s Chorus of New York City.

And finally, on April 25, I’ll be speaking at the PEWIN New York Chapter’s Meet the Press event, along with my colleagues Snehal Shah of New Private Markets and Hannah Zhang of Private Equity International and Secondaries Investor. The event will be hosted at the offices of Dukas Linden Public Relations. Thanks to Emily Mendell of PEWIN and Jansel Murad of Dukas Linden for organizing it.

As always, you can reach me at mk.flynn@pei.group. I hope to hear from you!

Craig McGlashan will be with you tomorrow.

All the best,

MK

Read the full wire commentary on PE Hub ...

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They said it

“We believe in taking the ‘private’ out of private equity because we’re proud of what we do to help companies thrive. We think that private equity is a force for good that makes companies bigger and better, aligns interests and is a preferred form of ownership.”

— Graham Hearns, managing director, chief of staff, Riverside, on giving PE Hub exclusive access to the firm’s leadership summit