The Secrets to Sourcing Proprietary Deals in Private Equity with Ryan Gable

🔹 Ryan Gable, Managing Partner, BW Forsyth Partners Ryan discusses how his team uses a hybrid private equity model backed by Barry-Wehmiller to execute people-first, long-term acquisitions. With over 55 deals and zero exits, Forsyth has developed a sourcing and integration playbook that challenges traditional PE norms, focusing instead on trust, cultural alignment, and multi-decade value creation. Ryan breaks down how to build relationships that convert to proprietary deal flow, structure rollover equity with flexibility, and align seller incentives for lasting outcomes. 💡 Things you will learn: 🔹 How to source proprietary deals by building trust with founders and prioritizing cultural fit 🔹 Why Forsyth avoids traditional PE norms like over-leveraging and fixed exit timelines 🔹 How they structure flexible equity rollovers and provide liquidity without needing to sell _____________ 💡 Episode Timestamps [00:02:00] From Investment Banking to Building Forsyth with Barry-Wehmiller [00:07:00] Why Barry-Wehmiller Created a New Investment Arm Instead of Scaling Internally [00:10:00] The Hybrid Equity Model: Strategic Backing + PE Agility [00:14:30] Rollover Equity and How Forsyth Structures Flexible Liquidity [00:23:30] From Auction Fatigue to Sourcing Proprietary Deals [00:26:00] How Forsyth Builds Trust With Sellers (And Wins Deals Off-Market) [00:31:00] Why Founders Should Think About Selling Before They’re Ready to Retire [00:41:00] Structuring Earnouts that Sellers Actually Want to Hit [00:49:00] The “Less is More” Approach to Post-Close Integration [00:56:00] The Future of M&A: Return Expectations, Capital Saturation, and Deal Discipline _____________ Website: http://mascience.com/ Linkedin: / mascience Kison's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kisonpatel __________________________________________________________ M&A Science is the #1 podcast for M&A tips, techniques, and strategies for success. We bring you behind the scene stories and proven techniques of real-life M&A deals. #finance #podcast #ceo #investment #investing #investmenttips #entrepreneur #privateequity