The Role of Private Equity Advisors in Business Deals

As the environment of business becomes more competitive, they tend to go outside their organizations to get the necessary completed transactions. One such avenue is through the expertise of Private Equity Advisors. These individuals are essential in developing successful business transactions as they have tips and techniques, which can either facilitate or deter a buyout, merger, or any other investment.

What is A Private Equity Advisor

Private equity advisors are professionals or firms that offer consultative services for a given amount of time during the investment process. They partner with private equity firms, corporates, and general large investors to screen and negotiate investment opportunities. Their work also covers sectors such as technology healthcare consumer goods among others so they can provide services that fit the demands of the business.

These consultants are usually highly educated and trained in finance investment banking and consulting. They possess knowledge and experience which are quite important when it comes to engaging in such business and careful strategies so that the client does settle down for a decision that does not in any way go contrary to what strategy has been put in place.

Functions of Private Equity Advisors

Finding Potential Target Companies

A central role of private equity advisors in business deals and their firms is scouting potential target investment companies for their clients. This means doing a lot of market surveys and analysis to find which companies or assets would benefit the client’s investment strategy. Advisors do that by building their network and knowledge to find deals that are not available to the general public, thus giving their clients a competitive edge.

Due Diligence

Due diligence is one of the most essential steps that every commercial transaction should analyze. That’s why equity advisors thoroughly examine the objective of companies’ financial standing, operational capabilities, and competitive positioning. This includes reviewing the target’s financials, recreating the business model, benchmarking the management, and understanding the risks of the deal. The information obtained at this stage is important in gauging the feasibility and worth of the investment.

Valuation and Negotiation

Valuation is an elaborate step that requires a practitioner to appreciate financial figures that change over time and trends in the market. Various methods are used by private equity specialists to arrive at a fair value for a target taking into consideration its assets, debt, revenue, and growth potential. After a value is placed, the advisors are involved in the discussions on the terms of the transaction so that their clients get the best terms possible in turn for the investment.

Post-Transaction Support

The involvement of private equity consultants is not limited to just signing the papers. Most of the time, they also provide post-transaction support to maintain the business. This includes re-strategizing, upgrading operations, and supervising to ensure that there is maximization of the capital invested. Advisors collaborate with management teams to ensure that appropriate methods and aids are put in place so that the business can achieve the desired objectives.

Impact of Technology on Private Equity Advisory

Data-Driven Insights

Advisors can collect large amounts of data and give a detailed picture of the markets and other available investment options. Such tactics enable private equity advisors to use facts rather than opinions in their decisions and recommendations which enhances the quality of advisory services.

Enhanced Communications

Technology enables enhanced coordination between equity advisors and their clients. With the aid of resources like video calls, platforms for collaboration, and systems for the secure exchange of information, investors can be kept involved and informed about developments throughout the deal thereby allowing the creation of stronger ties with them.

Improved Deal Tracking and Monitoring

An advanced software solution enables professionals to not only track the performance of the transaction but also monitor the investments made post-transaction. Such tools also offer analytics and reporting on a real-time basis which helps the advisors to pinpoint areas that need improvement and also make sure that ongoing value is being created for the client.

Advantages of Hiring Private Equity Advisors

Knowledge and Skills

Involving private investment advisors aids in tapping a wealth of knowledge and skills available around the investment landscape. Their experience regarding market conditions, sector activities, and financial figures prepares the patient with all the necessary information that should be on hand when making decisions.

Database of Connections

In most cases, private equity professionals possess great databases of potential clients and co-investors as well as other experts in the field. Such connections may encourage meetings and increase the rate of dealing activities hence enhancing profitable investments.

Reducing Exposure to Risks

Due to their complete due diligence process, capital advisors reduce risks associated with giving a business deal. Risk assessment includes financial and operational factors that help the client make decisions that reduce risks that may jeopardize the investment.

Enhanced Savings in Time

Time wastage is one of the most important aspects of making business deals as they are almost always complicated. The complicated process of business transactions is shortened through the engagement of private equity consultants allowing internal business teams to deal with ongoing core business activities.

Increased Power in Bargaining

The presence of qualified experts can boost a client’s power in bargaining. This entails the private equity consultants applying their skills and expertise to negotiate better deal provisions for their clients to deliver more and cheaper services for the clients. The participation of such private equity specialists in all business transactions cannot be underestimated.

Their role begins with helping find investment projects and conducting investment analysis to carry out the deal structuring. In doing so, these experts make it easy for any organization to undertake investment engagement.

With the dynamics of business today, it is clear that the role of private equity advisors in business deals will even be more pronounced. As such, when growth prospects become very competitive, companies may turn to these experts to harness their potential to wit, explore new avenues of growth, and enhance performance.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SAVANNAH BEAVER

TOM BAKER

Senior Advisor, IR & Communications

Tom is the CEO and cofounder of Reportable, a corporate communications and competitive intelligence software and service. Reportable is helping companies across all industries ranging from top venture-backed startups to publicly traded Fortune 500 companies. Tom has more than 20 years of experience working in corporate communications and investor relations for biotech and medical device companies. Tom graduated UCSD with a B.S. in Pharmacological Chemistry. An avid surfer, Tom grew up in San Diego and currently lives in the Boston area with his wife Melissa and 3 young boys.

LOUISE SHELMIRE

Compliance Advisor

Louise has been employed at Stonegate Capital Markets since 2018 as an independent contractor for compliance functions. Louise was previously with Tradestar Investments and Stockcross Financial Services. She has served as a Sales manager and Compliance Principal. Louise graduated with a BA from Louisiana State University. She currently holds FINRA Series 7, 63, 24, 53, 4, 65 and 9/10 licenses and is currently on a roster available to serve as a FINRA arbitrator.

TABER WETZ

M&A Due Diligence

Taber is a seasoned finance executive with relevant experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and system implementations. He specializes in helping small and midsize companies grow by developing actionable recommendations for operational improvement. Taber has held senior roles such as CFO and COO for public companies ranging from $1 million to $100 million, and President of a merchant bank that raised over $75 million for an alternative energy startup. He earned his BS in Finance/Accounting from Oklahoma State University. Additionally, Taber has led four reverse mergers into public markets, developed and raised over $75 million in seasoned offerings, and successfully implemented POS and accounting systems for multiple companies. His expertise includes financial planning, risk management, and business development, driving significant growth and operational efficiency.

CHRIS GAUVIN

M&A Due Diligence

Chris is a strategic finance executive with extensive experience in accounting, finance, information systems, and strategy. He specializes in helping small and medium-sized companies grow by clarifying strategic vision and creating scalable processes. Chris has held senior roles such as Divisional CFO for a $200 million P&L, VP of Finance at a healthcare startup, and Director of M&A for a $1.5 billion public entity. He earned his Master of Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin and a BBA from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Chris has led financial planning models for companies scaling rapidly, managed over 250 business valuation and due diligence transactions, and spearheaded strategic planning processes for entities with revenues exceeding $1 billion.

PAUL WHITLEY

Strategic Advisor, Stonegate Inc.

Managing Member CFO / COO / CRO
C‐Suite Support Inc.

Paul is a strategic Fractional CFO and Transformational Technology Leader. He joined Stonegate Capital Partners in 2024. His primary responsibilities include driving business growth through financial, operational, and digital transformation initiatives, as well as implementing quality of earnings assessments, preparing Confidential Information Memorandums (CIM), and providing valuation methodologies. Paul previously held senior roles in various high-profile companies, including Senior VP at a $2 billion hedge fund and CFO/COO at a $180 million public company. He earned his MBA in Internet Technology and E-Commerce from the University of Dallas and a BBA in Finance/Accounting from the University of North Texas. Paul is also known for his extensive experience in growing and sustaining shareholder value, system implementations, and mergers and acquisitions.

BOLTON CORWIN

Analyst, M&A Group

Bolton joined Stonegate in 2024. He attended the University of Oklahoma and studied in the school of Business. Bolton works with the Stonegate’s M&A group, interacting with private equity firms and family offices on Stonegate’s buy-side and sell-side transactional business.

ROBIN AGIR

Associate, Institutional Sales

Robin is an institutional sales associate. He joined Stonegate in 2022. He was formerly with SRG Capital Partners. He graduated from The University of North Texas with a degree in marketing and communications.

ROBERT LYNCH

Associate, Institutional Sales & Research

Robert joined Stonegate in 2024. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Economics with Finance Applications, and minors in French and Advertising.

BEN DOSSETT

Vice President, Institutional Sales

Ben is a Vice President. He joined Stonegate in 2022. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in general business with a sales certificate. He was formerly with Liberty Mutual Insurance.

LAURA ENGEL, CPA

Senior Advisor,
Research

Laura joined Stonegate in 2011. Her background spans over 20 years in financial services, having held diverse roles in public and private accounting, consulting, and executive leadership. She has broad industry experience within the healthcare, medical technology, and private equity sectors among others, partnering with high-growth organizations as a senior financial officer and consultant. She graduated from the University of Virginia and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

QUENTIN HARRAH

VP, Institutional Sales

Quentin is a Vice President. He joined Stonegate in 2021. He graduated from Louisiana State University with degrees in marketing and professional sales.

JUSTIN MARTIN

Managing Director,
Institutional Sales & ESG Advisory

Justin is a managing director and helps lead the institutional sales effort. He also advises issuers on ESG rating policies and best practices. He joined Stonegate in 2012 and graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Justin is licensed with Stonegate Capital Markets, Inc. and currently holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 79 licenses.

ZACH AMREIN

Head of
Business Development, CCO & CFO

Zach is the Head of business development, Chief Compliance Officer, and our CFO. He joined Stonegate in 2016. He formerly worked in Finance at Legacy Housing. He graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Finance and Accounting. Zach is licensed with Stonegate Capital Markets, Inc. and currently holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 27 licenses. 

DAVE STORMS, CFA

Director of Research
Stonegate Capital Partners

Dave joined Stonegate in 2022. He was most recently an equity research analyst at Goldman Sachs. He was formerly a Senior investment analyst at Beneficial Financial Group, an analyst at Valuation Research Corporation, and an investment analyst with The Board of Pensions (PCUSA) focused on public equities. He started his career at Vanguard after receiving his undergraduate degree from Rowan University and a Masters in investment management from Temple University. David is licensed with Stonegate Capital Partners and currently holds FINRA Series SIE, 7, 87.

PRESTON GRAHAM

Partner
Stonegate Capital Partners

Preston is the Head of Institutional Sales. He joined Stonegate in 2010. His primary responsibilities involve managing the sales desk, overseeing our institutional outreach effort, and advising issuers on capital markets strategy. Preston was previously with Howard Financial Services in Dallas. He graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in finance. Preston is licensed with Stonegate Capital Markets, Inc. and currently holds FINRA Series 7, 63, 79, and 99 licenses.

JESSE SHELMIRE

Co-CEO, Partner
Stonegate Capital Partners

Jesse is Co-CEO/Partner of Stonegate Capital Partners/Stonegate Capital Markets(Member FINRA/SIPC), and a Co-Founder of Stonegate Healthcare Partners. Jesse spent the first decade of his investment career in 1981 at Smith Barney in retail sales and then later at Jefferies in institutional sales. In the mid-90’s, Jesse was the Managing Director of Investment Banking for First London Securities where he managed public and private transactions. In 1999, Jesse joined Stonegate where he’s managed ~100 transactions and currently provides advisory services for both public and private companies with a focus on healthcare. Jesse received his Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1979 from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Jesse is licensed with Stonegate Capital Markets and currently holds FINRA Series 7,24, 63, 79, 99 licenses.

SCOTT GRIFFITH

Co-CEO, Partner
Stonegate Capital Partners

Scott joined Stonegate in 1992 and is a co-owner of Stonegate. Prior to joining Stonegate, Scott was a Vice-President at Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette from 1980 to 1988 and a Vice-President at Smith Barney from 1988 to 1992. He received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Florida State University in 1979. Scott is licensed with Stonegate Capital Markets and currently holds FINRA Series 7, 14, 24, 63, 79, 99 licenses.