We work closely with our management teams to build best-in-class businesses. Whether the focus is on revenue growth, cost optimization or overall operational efficiency, we have the combination of internal resources and expertise as well as access to proven relationships to deliver industry-leading performance. With a long history and deep experience transforming businesses at all stages of their life cycle, we have developed insights and processes to address the most complex problems.

Our management teams are often seeking support in three key areas, and we aim to provide that support:

THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP AND SPECIALIZED (FUNCTION OR INDUSTRY) EXPERTISE. Our PortCo leaders are a combination of both functional and domain experts, but no one is an expert in all things. Thus, we often act as a compliment to the skills resident on the management team. For areas which there is not deep expertise, we serve as a sounding board. For the areas that management has less expertise, we can supplement that expertise and help fill the need.

CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES. We often hear: “We would like to do XYZ. Do you know the right 3rd parties that can support”? The answer is usually yes, and if not, we will help find the right 3rd parties and ensure the engagements are executed well.

PROJECT EXECUTION BANDWIDTH. Leaders in mid-market businesses are typically required to wear many hats and are juggling many priorities. We strive to provide SG resources that expand the bandwidth of our management teams and allow them to go further, faster, and accomplish more.

The support of project execution can take several forms (depending on the project):

• Launching: Defining a strong project scope, identifying the right resources, and coordinating the initial project logistics are often time-consuming exercises. We support our teams by helping provide that legwork and getting projects off to a great start.
• Overseeing: In addition to launching projects, we often team up with the executive sponsor to ensure a given project succeeds. This typically occurs when 3rd parties are involved, and the project is critically important and has a lot of complexity. Our team of ex-consultants is a dedicated resource to ensure we get the most out of 3rd parties and deliver projects successfully.
• Supporting: Sometimes projects require deeper support than just oversight. In these scenarios, members of our team will assist in the daily execution of projects.  This often takes the form of project management, analytics support, solution development, training, etc. In this scenario, there is a Project Lead at the PortCo and the SG team supports with incremental resources.
• Leading: Selectively – typically when the PortCo does not have the capabilities. We will also act as the Project Lead to help guide a project to completion. This is typically an interim state as we are developing those capabilities within the PortCo team. Projects in this category are typically highly analytical and technological… and short-term in nature.

Over time, we have built broad networks accessible to our management partners. We readily connect our teams to other senior leaders, industry professionals and subject matter experts. Close collaboration with these resources ensures high levels of attention and a refined process for engaging in value-creating change.

The businesses in which we invest commonly haven’t considered all their financing alternatives. We help each business optimize its capital structure, finding a balance between the right amount of risk and flexibility needed for growth. At each stage of the investment, we ensure that our financing partners also view our portfolio companies as true business partners. Facilitating access to capital markets to drive the best terms and conditions possible is just one way we can help.

We leverage our decades of M&A and origination expertise to drive buy-and-build strategies. We help codify each business’s inorganic growth strategy, identify and prioritize targets, and then work to implement a programmatic, process-driven approach to pursuing, acquiring and integrating complementary businesses. Ultimately, our aim is to institutionalize the M&A process in each business, creating a foundation to drive value well into the future.