PE Insight Series: Deal Risks

In the fifth installment of the PE Insight Series, Todd Taskey chats with eight private equity executives about the common pitfalls that can cause promising deals to underperform. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: • [0:00] Introduction • [1:39] Thomas Cooperrider explains how weak leadership can be missed during due diligence • [4:14] The importance of assessing whether a team is ready to scale • [6:53] Why cultural fit matters in acquisitions and integrations • [9:40] Brian Schmidt talks about stress-testing the sustainability of a company’s success • [11:27] How cultural fit and client-service alignment can create friction after a deal closes • [13:56] Navigating founder dynamics and unexpected market shifts • [18:05] Lee Minkoff shares lessons on pricing, integration, and partner alignment • [22:56] How customer churn and inherited culture issues can impact growth In this episode… Even the strongest deals can hide risks that only become clear after the ink is dry. When a company looks great on paper, how can investors uncover the people, culture, pricing, and market dynamics that could affect long-term performance? Thomas Cooperrider, Stuart Coleman, Jamie Kennedy, Brian Schmidt, Bill Sommerschield, Chad Scripps, Lee Minkoff, and Larry Shagrin discuss lessons from deals that underperformed. With host Todd Taskey, they share how leadership gaps, cultural misalignment, pricing assumptions, customer churn, and market shifts can shape outcomes after a transaction. Resources mentioned in this episode: • Todd Taskey on LinkedIn -   / toddtaskey   • Tower Partners - https://www.towerpartners.com/ • Brian Schmidt on LinkedIn -   / brian-schmidt-b7949640   • Court Square - https://www.courtsquare.com/?utm_sour... • Bill Sommerschield on LinkedIn -   / bill-sommerschield-28730116   • Keystone Capital - https://keystonecapital.com/?utm_sour... • Chad Scripps on LinkedIn -   / cascripps   • Black Lake Capital - https://blacklakecap.com/?utm_source=... • Lee Minkoff on LinkedIn -   / lee-minkoff-14b09a36   • Renovus Capital - https://renovuscapital.com/?utm_sourc... • Lawrence Shagrin on LinkedIn -   / lawrence-shagrin-60819a   • Millpond Equity Partners - https://millpondequity.com/?utm_sourc... • Jamie Kennedy on LinkedIn -   / jamie-kennedy-cfa-25090212   • Griffin’s Wharf Partners - https://griffinswharfpartners.com/?ut... • Thomas Cooperrider on LinkedIn -   / tcooperrider   • Dynamic Core Capital - https://www.dynamiccorecapital.com/ • Stuart Coleman on LinkedIn -   / stuartbcoleman   • Superstep Capital - https://www.superstepcapital.com/ Sponsor for this episode… This episode is brought to you by Tower Partners, a private investment bank and advisory firm providing premier service to the lower middle market. We are a national firm with a global reach, supporting clients throughout the United States with headquarters in Columbia, MD, and an office in New York, NY. Our team of industry veterans has advised sell-side and buy-side engagements with over $20+ billion in value for entrepreneurs, family-run businesses, and financial sponsors. To connect with Tower Partners, visit https://www.towerpartners.com/ or email [email protected]. Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - https://rise25.com/ Brian Schmidt is a Vice President at Court Square Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity fund. Bill Sommerschield is the Managing Director at Keystone Capital, which invests in high-quality, market-leading businesses. Chad Scripps is the Managing Partner of Black Lake Capital, a private equity firm that invests in technology and innovation-enabled businesses. Lee Minkoff is the Managing Director of Renovus Capital, a private equity firm focused on lower-middle-market companies in knowledge and talent industries. Lawrence Shagrin is the Managing Partner at Millpond Equity Partners, a lower-middle-market private equity firm. Jamie Kennedy, CFA, is the Co-founder and Partner at Griffin's Wharf Partners, a private equity firm that pursues control buyout transactions in the lower-middle-market. Thomas Cooperrider is the Principal of Dynamic Core Capital Partners, a private equity firm that partners with industry experts and experienced executives to transform niche market leaders. Stuart Coleman is the Managing Partner of Superstep Capital, a private equity firm focused exclusively on digital services companies.