Director, Exits & Realizations

Description

VP/D of Exits & Realizations role reports directly to one of the Co-Heads of the Transaction Team. This role will be responsible for developing and executing exit strategies for MiddleGround Portfolio Companies. 

• Develop and Execute Exit Strategies: Create and implement comprehensive exit strategies for portfolio companies, considering various exit options such as mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, or secondary sales, to optimize returns for investors.
• Lead the Exit Committee: Develop processes that enable effective Exit Committee meetings, with clear and effective decision-making criteria. Ensure that MiddleGround upholds an effective Exit Preparation Process consistently across all portfolio companies.
• Portfolio Management: Oversee the entire lifecycle of portfolio companies, actively monitoring their performance, financial health, and value creation, with the primary goal of optimizing returns and preparing them for successful exits. Support deal teams, portfolio company management teams and boards of directors in value maximizing strategic initiatives and market positioning over the course of MiddleGround’s hold. Recommend and oversee relevant resources, as needed, in support of these goals.
• Due Diligence and Valuation: Conduct thorough due diligence on potential exit opportunities, including financial analysis, market research, competitive landscape assessments, prospective buyer analysis. Support in accurately valuing portfolio companies, as required, to determine appropriate exit timing and pricing.
• Process Management: Ensure that internal processes are followed with respect to determination of exit timing, adherence to valuation policies, and accountability within exit process timelines and milestones. Develop processes to determine and support portfolio company readiness for exit. Help to select advisors for sell-side mandates and guide and review all process and marketing materials.
• Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with internal teams, General/Limited Partners, external advisors, portfolio company management teams, and boards of directors to communicate and align on exit strategies, progress, and critical milestones. Ensure that all stakeholders are informed and engaged throughout the exit process.
• Market Research and Trends Analysis: Collaborate with the VP/D of Capital Markets in staying current with industry trends, market conditions, and emerging opportunities to identify the optimal timing and method for exiting portfolio companies. Continuously evaluate and adapt exit strategies based on changing market dynamics.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business, or related field required; master's degree preferred
• 7+ years’ experience in sell-side mergers & acquisition advisory; highly desirable to have relevant experience with enterprise values between $50m and $500m
• Proven track record operating in industrials, B2B manufacturing, specialty distribution, or related industries 
• Strong understanding of exit options, including M&A, IPO, and secondary sales
• Strong financial analysis skills, including experience in financial modeling, valuation techniques, and a deep understanding of accounting principles
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work closely with internal teams, external advisors, and portfolio company management
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to coordinate and lead cross-functional teams both directly and indirectly 
• Proactive in adapting exit strategies in line with market developments, collaborating with Deal Leads and the VP/D of Capital Markets
• Results-oriented and focused on producing high-quality product and results through creative problem solving