Private Equity

BDO is a leading adviser to private equity and venture capitalists.

Services for private equity firms and their portfolio companies

Supporting private equity investments at all stages of the lifecycle

BDO provides comprehensive support to the private equity sector. Our dedicated team works closely with a diverse range of clients, including private equity houses and firms, and the portfolio companies they invest in. Whether you're navigating complex transactions, seeking strategic advice, or optimising your operations, BDO is here to help you achieve your goals with tailored solutions and expert guidance.

From pre-deal strategy and transaction services to post-deal value creation and exit support, BDO can help you maximise value from your portfolio investments. Through a multidisciplinary team, global network, and deep industry expertise, our private equity (PE) specialists bring vast experience and knowledge to minimise risks and maximise your return at every stage of the investment lifecycle.

The private equity investment lifecycle

Not sure where you sit in the private equity investment lifecycle?

Our wealth of knowledge and experience means we understand the motivations and personalities of PE firms, funds and investors. Are you ready to begin or continue your PE journey? Contact BDO’s team of private equity advisers for more information.

CONTACT US

Helping firms secure deals and achieve growth and returns

We help PE firms find and transact the right deals and deliver the rates of return and growth that they and their funders are looking for. Our experts deliver a full range of due diligence, tax, and advisory services for clients. 

These include:

  • Buy-side advisory including introducing opportunities, modelling and valuation, project management and negotiation support
  • Transaction services and due diligence including financial due diligence, tax due diligence and IT and human capital due diligence
  • Fund audit and tax compliance
  • Tax structuring
  • Exit readiness including vendor due diligence and a review of all financial, tax and operational arrangements.

Whatever opportunity or challenge you face, we have the people with the right private equity experience and skills that can make a difference to your return on investment.

Helping ambitious businesses grow and transform

Private equity investment can drive ambitious businesses to transform and grow fast. The potential rewards for management and investors alike are huge. The outcome is often a very successful, and valuable business. 

BDO can help with:

  • Readiness and preparation including formulating your equity story, preparing your deal strategy, analysing the market and building an online ‘data room’
  • Marketing including a credible management presentation, lead buyer interactions, manage investor enquiries, guide valuations to drive meaningful offers
  • Deal completion including negotiating final offer to completion
  • Exiting and realising PE gains.

Unsure if PE is right for you?

Our Investor Readiness Tool can help you determine if you're ready for PE. Simply answer the ten-question survey and receive a simple answer to the question: "is PE right for my business?"

USE THE TOOL

Private equity options available

With more than 50 private equity funds in Australia alone, and each fund looking to differentiate itself with various investment target sizes, strategy, culture and specialist areas of expertise, it can be difficult to determine the right path to reach your PE goals. There are also venture capital funds and other financial sponsorship models with differing approaches to risk and reward to further complicate the process.

How can you determine if PE is the right choice for you? The table below illustrates ‘the universe’ of available private equity investors in Australia.

PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTOR TYPE

INVESTOR DESCRIPTION

INVESTMENT STYLE

Venture capital

Seed or early-stage often seek to sector specialise as investments are ordinarily pre-profitability or even revenue.

Minority investor, backing a management team and the development of valued Intellectual Property.

Development capital

Later stage, growth investors. Includes regional governmental or pseudo-government agency investment.

Minority investors with certain key minority control rights. Passive investment style.

Family office

Investment office of one or more High Net Worth individual(s) and associated family.  Focus is on diversification and reinvestment of wealth into a range of asset classes, which frequently includes Private Equity-type investment.

Both active and passive investors via majority and minority stakes in multiple that are typically held for a longer period than other institutional investors.  Often focused on investment in sectors and businesses familiar to the underlying family.

Sector specialists

Focus on key growth sectors as core investment hypothesis.

Use of activist sector experts to drive strategy and target specific acquisition targets.

Regional specialists

Regionally originated houses focused on specific geographies and regional industries.

Local industrial knowledge and connections. Leverage local networks and relationships.

‘Middle-market’ specialists

An active core of houses seeking transactions with a broad range of Enterprise Values.

Focus on deploying target levels of investment capital per deal in attractive businesses. Will require control.

Buy and build

A subset of the middle-market, focusing on the acquisition of core ‘platform investments’ upon which additional bolt-on acquisitions will follow.

Use of industry experts arbitraging combination synergies and knowledge of sectors.

Operational / transformational specialists

Seeking to transform suboptimal or underperforming businesses, which will typically be acquired at lower valuations.

Use of operating partners to deliver transformational change, often including enhancement of management teams.

International inbound

Overseas investors seeking acquisitions in Australia.

Seeking complementary investments or geographic foothold in the Australian business environment.

How BDO can help

We have a comprehensive suite of solutions for PE firms and their portfolio companies.

Stage 1 | Pre-deal support

When you’re preparing to invest in a platform investment or bolt-on acquisition, BDO can provide comprehensive transaction advisory services that integrate corporate finance, tax, advisory and digital offerings, providing in-depth insights on your target investments.

Our services in this stage include:
  • Financial due diligence
  • Tax due diligence
  • Buy-side advisory and market profiling
  • Valuations
  • Human resources due diligence
  • ESG due diligence
  • IT due diligence
  • Cyber due diligence
  • Integrity due diligence
  • Finance function diagnostic

Stage 2 | Post-deal support

After the completion of your deal, we assist in addressing the gaps and risks identified during the pre-deal stage and assist in implementing processes, systems and improvements to set your portfolio company up for success. 

Our services in this stage include:
  • CFO advisory
  • Outsourced CFO
  • Tax services
  • People advisory and leadership alignment
  • Change management
  • Sustainability strategy and consulting
  • Decarbonisation and carbon footprint measurement
  • Digital and technological modernisation
  • Cyber security

Stage 3 | Accelerating growth

As a portfolio company undergoes rapid growth, its strategy, purpose and processes will continue to evolve. Our experts assist with ongoing reviews and improvements to ensure your portfolio company continues to maximise its value throughout the investment lifecycle.

Our services in this stage include:
  • Outsourced finance functions
  • Tax services
  • Audit and assurance services
  • Risk advisory
  • IFRS and corporate reporting
  • People advisory
  • Technology solutions development 
  • Data management
  • Cyber resilience services

Stage 4 | Preparing for an exit

By effectively addressing the business’ operational areas in the due diligence stage, and throughout the investment’s lifecycle, we ensure you will be well-positioned when, or if, you decide to exit.

Our services in this stage include:
  • Stakeholder management
  • M&A sale advisory
  • Tax structuring
  • Vendor due diligence
  • Exit/IPO and investor readiness
  • Management buy-outs
  • Initial public offerings

Our core private equity services

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Deal advisory

For PE firms, deal advisory services assist with the identification and evaluation of investment opportunities.

They also enable the delivery of value creation during ownership and ensure successful exit and investment realisation.

BDO’s deal advisory team provides services across the whole M&A life-cycle, including M&A advisory, transaction services, valuations and value creation services. 

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Tax

BDO's tax services are comprehensive and valuable to organisations in any stage of growth. 

From tax due diligence, corporate tax, employment tax, speciality tax and transfer pricing, our tax advisers have the experience to assist with any tax issue, regardless of complexity or scale.

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Audit and assurance

BDO delivers high-quality audits that provide transparency and insights that you, your investors, and your shareholders can trust. 

Our PE audit approach is tailored to help deliver continual improvement in financial reporting and governance, which can help drive improved returns on exit.

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CFO services

PE firms can leverage CFO support to articulate a business’s value story to maximise return when they eventually exit.

Our CFO advisory experts support clients through the establishment, enhancement, review or repositioning of the finance function.

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Digital technology

The changing regulatory landscape coupled with the speed of innovation in digital technology can pose a risk to successful investment projects.

Our digital technology team can help you with compliance and keep you on top of emerging digital trends.

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Sustainability

Consumer demand and government legislation are driving the need for sustainability reporting in organisations. 

Sustainability reporting is becoming mandatory for many Australian organisations over the next years, and this could impact the value of any PE investments.

Our sustainability advisers can help ensure that your investments continue to deliver in value.

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Cyber security

For private equity firms, cyber security is not just a protective measure when assessing potential portfolio companies, but a critical component of business strategy, safeguarding assets, maintaining trust, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

BDO's cyber security team provides a range of services for private equity and beyond.

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People advisory

Most mergers and acquisitions require post-merger integration (PMI), the success of which is often determined by how the people involved in the process are managed and brought along on the journey. 

BDO's people advisory practice can help you with this process, ensuring your merger integrates successfully.

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IFRS and corporate reporting

Corporate reporting is complex, with the potential to negatively affect organisational performance, financial due diligence, and deal or investment value.

That is why having access to expert advice underpinned by an in-depth understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and corporate reporting is crucial.

It's the value of working with BDO

BDO is big enough to help you expand into any international market, while remaining agile and detail-oriented, providing the appropriate support for your business at any stage of growth; even if you’re just starting on your PE journey.

Since 2005, BDO has completed over 250 IPO listings, more than any other firm in Australia, and we’ve been proud supporters of many of these businesses from the earliest stages of their journey.

No matter what stage you are in, we are here to help. Contact one of our dedicated private equity advisers to get started, continue growing, or plan your next move.

Private equity insights

Meet our industry leader

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Greg Ellis

National Leader, Private Equity
Partner, Deal Advisory
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MEET OUR PRIVATE EQUITY TEAM

Contact us

Contact our team to discuss your needs using the request for service form. 
Alternatively, call 1300 138 991 to speak with an adviser in your nearest BDO office.