Private Equity

What we do

Most people in the industry recognize that Bain & Company and Bain Capital are separate companies, with no shared ownership or governance. However, in light of the heightened media attention we have received in this US election year, it may be worth setting the record straight: Bain & Company is not a private equity firm. We are the leading advisor to the private equity industry and its stakeholders.

In the past decade, Bain & Company has advised on half of all buyout transactions valued at more than $500 million globally. Our work with buyout funds represents 75 percent of global equity capital. Our practice is more than three times larger than that of the next-largest consulting firm serving private equity funds.

And Bain’s work with private equity does not stop with buyout funds. We work across fund types, including debt, infrastructure, real estate and hedge funds. We also work for many of the most prominent limited partners to private equity firms, including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, financial institutions, endowments and family investment offices.

Private equity consulting at Bain represents about 25 percent of the firm’s global business. We maintain a global network of more than 400 experienced professionals serving private equity clients. Bain has deep experience working in all regions of the world across all major sectors–from consumer products and financial services to technology and industrial goods. We support our clients across a broad range of objectives:

Our approach

Deal generation: We work alongside investors to develop the right investment thesis and enhance deal flow by profiling industries, screening targets and devising a plan to approach targets.

Due diligence: We help investors make better deal decisions by performing due diligence, assessing performance improvement opportunities and providing a post-acquisition agenda.

Portfolio value creation: Immediately post-acquisition, we support the drive for rapid returns by developing a strategic blueprint, leading workshops that align management with strategic priorities and directing focused initiatives. During the ownership phase, we support leveraged efforts in revenue enhancement and cost reduction and refresh the value-creation plan.

Exit planning: We help ensure that investors consummate deals with a maximum return by preparing for exits, identifying the optimal exit strategy, preparing the selling documents and pre-qualifying buyers.

Distressed turnarounds: Private equity firms and financial investors benefit from Bain’s Corporate Renewal group, which provides expertise for boards and equity sponsors of underperforming, capital constrained companies. We focus on turnarounds that preserve shareholder equity. Our experts are uniquely skilled in financial restructuring and strategic, operational and organizational transformations.

Firm strategy and operations: Working jointly with private equity firms, we help them to develop their own strategy for continued excellence. Topics include asset class and geographic diversification, sector strategy, fund-raising, organizational design and decision making, winning the war for talent and maximizing investment capabilities.

Our team

Bain & Company maintains a broad network of experienced professionals serving private equity clients and other types of financial investors on four continents. We work with private equity clients as an integrated team, from deal partners to portfolio company executives.

  • Axel
  • Axel Seemann

    Partner

    Frankfurt

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