In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Konstanze Nardi, Partner at EY and leader of EY’s Global Exit Readiness offering, to explore how private equity firms and portfolio companies can prepare for successful exits and maximise value.

Konstanze shares insights from EY’s Global Private Equity Exit Readiness Study, based on perspectives from 100 PE executives and 100 C-suite executives from recently exited PE-backed companies.

Konstanze and Alex also discuss the importance of starting formal exit preparation 12–24 months before a sale. She explains why consistent KPI reporting, granular data and evidence of value creation need to be built over time, rather than manufactured in the final few months.

Key Takeaways

• Treat exit readiness as a value creation discipline rather than a last-minute transaction exercise.
• Start thinking about the eventual buyer and equity story from the point of acquisition.
• Begin formal exit preparation 12–24 months before a potential sale.
• Build consistent data and evidence around value creation initiatives over time.
• Focus on three core exit levers: evidence, narrative and management credibility.
• Prepare management teams to confidently explain the data and handle difficult buyer questions.
• Consider AI through both a value-creation and risk perspective as part of the equity story.
• Give LPs transparency around value creation, credible exit routes and liquidity plans.
• Strong leadership, trust and people remain fundamental to creating value.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Konstanze Nardi and EY’s Exit Readiness offering
01:28 – The biggest mistake companies make with exit readiness
02:53 – EY’s Global Private Equity Exit Readiness Study
04:18 – The gap between sponsor and management support
05:17 – When should companies start preparing for an exit?
06:14 – How early preparation can improve valuations
06:49 – The growing role of AI in exit readiness
08:23 – How AI is becoming part of the equity story
09:24 – The three levers that build buyer confidence
10:23 – Building a compelling future value creation story
10:53 – The importance of management involvement
11:21 – LP perspectives on liquidity
13:06 – The experiences that shaped Konstanze’s career
14:10 – Why leadership, trust and people matter
14:40 – How to connect with Konstanze

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.com

EY Insights Private Equity Exit Readiness: How to Maximise Valuation Before the Sale

The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection

EY Insights Private Equity Exit Readiness: How to Maximise Valuation Before the Sale