Ropes & Gray, Erie Street Capital, Pfingsten Partners, and PSP Discuss Private Equity Value-Creating Strategies At Chicago Booth’s 19th Annual Private Equity Conference

In today’s increasingly competitive deal market, PE partner Marty Ruhaak moderated a discussion at Chicago Booth’s 19th Annual Private Equity Conference with PE industry leaders on how to find and create value for quality M&A targets, distinguish yourself from the pack and win deals.

On March 6, private equity partner Martin “Marty” Ruhaak moderated a panel titled “Finding and Creating Value in a Competitive Deal Market,” during the 19^th Annual Private Equity Conference hosted by the Private Equity Group at Chicago Booth and the Polsky Center. During the discussion, panelists, which included Terry Graunke, Chairman and CEO at Erie Street Capital, Phillip Bronsteatter, Managing Director at Pfingsten Partners, and Michael Oleshansky, Managing Director at PSP, addressed how to find value for quality M&A targets in a well-shopped market, how to distinguish yourself and win deals, and how to maintain growth post-deal. Additionally, they emphasized the need for PE operations teams to build trust with management teams at portfolio companies to gain a better understanding of the management dynamic, culture, and create value.

Annually, Chicago Booth’s Private Equity Conference brings together between 300 – 400 industry practitioners and MBA students to network and gain insight on the current trends and developments in private equity related to a specific theme. The theme of the program this year is “Investment Thesis Evolution: Growth to Buyout.”