Breaking news! Electronic Arts (EA) – the studio behind FIFA, Madden, and Battlefield – is being acquired in the largest-ever private equity buyout ($55B! Katie stuns at the size of the deal). In this episode, we break down:

✅ How Leverage Buyouts (LBOs) work (Rory’s $500k house analogy!) ☑️ The players: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund + Jared Kushner’s PE firm + Silver Lake
✅ EA’s $5B revenue surge, subscription model, and eSports addiction
✅ The real question: Do investors see a $55B gaming empire or a ticking time bomb?
📜 Regulatory delays (deal closes in 2027!) 🔍 Future predictions: 7-10 year hold + IPO exit
⚠️ Red flags: Can debt kill creativity?

• EA’s hook: Recurring revenue + eSports + global hits keep it debt-friendly 🚀
• Saudi’s strategy: Diversify from oil + dominate global sports**:SG 🏆**
• PE reality: "They’ll get creative fees" – but can they stomach $1.3B/year debt?
• Gamer sentiment: Questionable. “They’re brutal public!”

👉 Subscribe for more private equity deep dives!
👉 Drop your thoughts in the comments: Will gaming be the next trillion-dollar industry?

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🎙 Podcast – Strategies, PE 101 & witty banter

📚 Book – On‑Ramp to Exit, full deal life cycle

🛠 Resources – Free templates, guides, tools

🔗 LinkedIn – Follow us for fresh PE insights

================================

Who Are We?

Three insiders. One mic. All things private equity — explained. Hi 👋 We’re Ed, Rory, and Emily — a CEO, a CFO, and a Chief of Staff — here to demystify the world of private equity. Between us, we’ve sat in the founder’s chair, run PE‑backed companies, and worked on the deal side, so we know the wins, the pitfalls, and the jargon (and we’ll explain it).

Through the Private Equity Experience Podcast, our book On‑Ramp to Exit, and a library of free tools and templates, we share real‑world stories, practical strategies, and insider insights to help you navigate every stage of the PE journey — whether you’re leading a portfolio company, joining a deal team, considering PE, or just PE‑curious.

🔗Connect with Ed

🔗Connect with Emily

🔗Connect with Rory

In this 35‑minute episode, the hosts break down the five most common pitfalls that founders face when they bring a private‑equity (PE) firm aboard. From overlooked deal structures to the emotional reality of an eventual exit, the conversation is packed with hard‑won lessons, humorous anecdotes, and actionable advice for entrepreneurs who are looking to or already in a PE partnership.

“A founder’s job is to build a company. A PE partner’s job is to unlock value—so you need to know the difference.” – Ed Barton

Navigating private equity is less about groundbreaking innovation and more about precision, preparation, and clarity around expectations. The best strategies collaborate by anticipating disruption, understanding the deal, and being honest with themselves and their partners.

Don’t start with a belief you’ve navigated PE. Question it. Add these notes to your cheat sheet.

🔍 Key Takeaways
1️⃣ Understanding Deal Structures

• Founders often underestimate the importance of knowing the deal structure.
• Failing to understand exit strategies can trap founders, leading to economic uncertainty post-sale.
• Financial modeling accuracy is critical; overly optimistic projections can hurt valuations and future compensation.

2️⃣ Shifting from Founder to Employee

• After a PE deal, founders must shift from CEO to employee and accept decision-making authority shifts.
• Leadership transitions can strain relationships if not communicated clearly.

3️⃣ The Trapped Money Trap

• Founders may end up with trapped equity due to unfavorable deal terms or rollover options.
• Negotiating clear payout structures upfront is non-negotiable to maximize returns.

4️⃣ Ignoring PE’s Professional Rigor

• PE firms demand granular financial governance (KPIs, scenario analysis, forecasts).
• Founders who resist these changes risk losing credibility and control.

5️⃣ Lack of Exit Strategy Awareness

• Understanding the exit timeline (ranging from 5-10 years) helps founders plan post-sale.
• Silicon Valley’s or similar PE firms do not mate for life—expect transitions.

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🎙 Podcast – Strategies, PE 101 & witty banter

📚 Book – On‑Ramp to Exit, full deal life cycle

🛠 Resources – Free templates, guides, tools

🔗 LinkedIn – Follow us for fresh PE insights

================================

Who Are We?

Three insiders. One mic. All things private equity — explained. Hi 👋 We’re Ed, Rory, and Emily — a CEO, a CFO, and a Chief of Staff — here to demystify the world of private equity. Between us, we’ve sat in the founder’s chair, run PE‑backed companies, and worked on the deal side, so we know the wins, the pitfalls, and the jargon (and we’ll explain it).

Through the Private Equity Experience Podcast, our book On‑Ramp to Exit, and a library of free tools and templates, we share real‑world stories, practical strategies, and insider insights to help you navigate every stage of the PE journey — whether you’re leading a portfolio company, joining a deal team, considering PE, or just PE‑curious.

🔗Connect with Ed

🔗Connect with Emily

🔗Connect with Rory

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s actively reshaping the landscape of Private Equity (PE) right now. In this can’t-miss episode of The Private Equity Experience, hosts Emily Sander, Ed Barton, and Rory Liebhart dive deep into how AI is creating immediate, tangible value in the PE ecosystem.

The discussion kicks off with a rapid-fire round of questions about trusting AI in our personal lives, but quickly moves to how AI is transforming core business functions.

In this episode, you will learn:

Operational Engineering with AI: Ed Barton shares the insight that AI is taking the ability to operationally engineer a business to another level. Learn why PE firms should hunt for "people-heavy" businesses run by "Luddites" where AI can be applied quickly for massive operational leverage and a faster jump in valuation.

Diligence and Cost Savings: Rory Liebhart shares his personal experience saving "tens of thousands of dollars" on professional services and legal fees by utilizing basic AI tools like ChatGPT.

The New PE Investment Thesis: Where are the smartest investments happening? The hosts break down the "picks and shovels" opportunities—investing in the infrastructure that supports AI's growth, such as data centers, power generation, and internet service providers, as a lower-risk investment strategy compared to direct AI companies.

The Future of Human Reliability: Ed offers a fascinating prediction that AI's reliability will soon surpass human instinct, transforming how businesses must adapt in the next decade.

Whether you are a PE investor, a portfolio company executive, or a founder considering a sale, this discussion provides actionable insights on how to leverage the AI revolution for maximum value creation.

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🎙 Podcast – Strategies, PE 101 & witty banter

📚 Book – On‑Ramp to Exit, full deal life cycle

🛠 Resources – Free templates, guides, tools

🔗 LinkedIn – Follow us for fresh PE insights

================================

Who Are We?

Three insiders. One mic. All things private equity — explained. Hi 👋 We’re Ed, Rory, and Emily — a CEO, a CFO, and a Chief of Staff — here to demystify the world of private equity. Between us, we’ve sat in the founder’s chair, run PE‑backed companies, and worked on the deal side, so we know the wins, the pitfalls, and the jargon (and we’ll explain it).

Through the Private Equity Experience Podcast, our book On‑Ramp to Exit, and a library of free tools and templates, we share real‑world stories, practical strategies, and insider insights to help you navigate every stage of the PE journey — whether you’re leading a portfolio company, joining a deal team, considering PE, or just PE‑curious.

🔗Connect with Ed

🔗Connect with Emily

🔗Connect with Rory