Roll Up Strategy in Private Equity

Gerry Williams, Partner at DLA Piper US LLP and a member of their management committee.

Private equity firms are established for the sole purpose of generating substantial financial returns for its investors. And one of the most effective ways of maximizing investment returns is the roll up strategy. This involves buying small-sized businesses in a highly fragmented industry and combining them into a larger platform. The goal is to improve efficiency and be sold later for a higher price.  

In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, we will discuss roll up strategy in private equity with Gerry Williams, Partner at DLA Piper US LLP.

Things you will learn this episode:

• Industries susceptible to roll up strategy

• Challenges of executing roll up strategy

• Negotiating the LOI in roll up strategy

• Typical deal structure in roll up strategy

• Employing Earnouts in roll up strategy

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Episode Bookmarks

00:00 Intro

04:06 Industries susceptible to roll up strategy

06:22 The trend of roll up strategy in private equity

10:42 Complexities of Roll up strategy

15:52 Challenges of executing roll up strategy

20:32 How to mitigate risks

24:19 Managing multiple roll up businesses

26:49 Negotiating the LOI in roll up strategy

33:00 Breakup fees on private deals

35:57 Typical deal structure in roll up strategy

43:24 Employing Earnouts in roll up strategy

48:07 Unique negotiations during LOI

49:31 Do’s and Don’ts of executing roll up strategy

52:57 Craziest thing in M&A