lev-os Preparing Growth Equity Exit Materials
When To Use
- Portfolio company is 12–24 months from a targeted exit (M&A sale or IPO)
- Sponsor needs to assemble a confidential information memorandum (CIM), management presentation, or data room for a sell-side process
- Company requires a financial audit readiness assessment before engaging bankers or underwriters
- Board or investment committee requests an exit-positioning memo comparing strategic sale vs. IPO vs. secondary pathways
- Management team needs coaching materials for buyer meetings or roadshow preparation
Inputs To Gather
- Historical financials: 3–5 years of audited (or reviewed) P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements
- Forecast model: Board-approved budget/plan with revenue build-up, unit economics, and margin bridge
- Cap table and waterfall: Current ownership, option pool, liquidation preferences, anti-dilution provisions, and payout scenarios at various exit valuations
- KPI dashboard: Core operating metrics (ARR/MRR, net revenue retention, LTV/CAC, gross margin, Rule of 40 score, churn, cohort data)
- Customer and market data: Top-customer concentration, TAM/SAM/SOM analysis, competitive landscape, and win/loss data
- Legal and compliance files: Material contracts, IP ownership documentation, pending litigation, regulatory licenses [VERIFY jurisdiction-specific requirements]
- Management bios and org chart: Key-person dependencies, employment agreements, non-competes, retention plans
- Prior transaction documents: Previous round term sheets, side letters, investor rights agreements, board consents
Workflow
Determine exit pathway and timeline
- Confirm whether the process targets a strategic sale, financial sponsor sale, IPO, or dual-track
- Align on valuation expectations and comparable transaction benchmarks (EV/Revenue, EV/EBITDA, EV/ARR multiples)
- Identify whether a Quality of Earnings (QoE) report is needed and engage accounting advisors early
Conduct audit readiness assessment
- Map GAAP/IFRS compliance gaps: revenue recognition (ASC 606), stock-based compensation (ASC 718), lease accounting (ASC 842) [VERIFY applicable standards]
- Review internal controls documentation and remediation items
- Confirm tax structuring (e.g., 1202 QSBS eligibility, state nexus, transfer pricing for international ops) [VERIFY tax jurisdiction]
- Flag related-party transactions, off-balance-sheet items, and non-recurring adjustments
Build the equity story and CIM
- Draft an investment thesis framing the company's market position, growth trajectory, and defensibility
- Structure the CIM: executive summary, market overview, business model, financial performance, growth plan, management team, transaction overview
- Prepare adjusted EBITDA / contribution margin bridge with clear add-back justifications
- Include cohort analysis, net retention trends, and unit economics to support valuation premium arguments
Prepare management presentation and Q&A
- Build a 30–40 slide deck covering the same narrative arc as the CIM but optimized for live delivery
- Draft an anticipated-questions document covering: customer concentration risk, competitive threats, margin expansion path, capital allocation, key-person risk, regulatory exposure
- Prepare financial model walk-through materials for detailed diligence sessions
Organize the virtual data room (VDR)
- Structure folders: corporate/legal, financial, tax, commercial, technology/IP, HR, insurance, regulatory
- Index all documents with version control and access-log tracking
- Stage disclosure in phases (Phase 1: teaser/NDA recipients; Phase 2: shortlisted bidders; Phase 3: final round)
Position for buyer or underwriter engagement
- For M&A: draft a target buyer list segmented by strategic vs. financial, rank by strategic fit and ability to pay, prepare tailored teasers
- For IPO: outline S-1/F-1 disclosure requirements, identify underwriter syndicate considerations, draft use-of-proceeds narrative [VERIFY SEC/exchange-specific rules]
- Model exit waterfall scenarios at low/base/high valuations showing proceeds to each share class
Output
- Audit readiness memo: Gap analysis with remediation timeline and responsible parties
- Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM): Narrative document with financial exhibits, suitable for distribution to prospective buyers under NDA
- Management presentation deck: Slide deck with speaker notes and appendix materials
- Q&A preparation guide: Anticipated diligence questions with recommended responses
- VDR index and staging plan: Document inventory with phased-access recommendations
- Exit waterfall analysis: Payout scenarios across valuation range for each equity class
Quality Checks
- Financial figures in the CIM tie back to audited statements or QoE-adjusted numbers — no unexplained discrepancies
- All add-backs and adjustments are individually documented with supporting evidence
- Cap table waterfall has been reconciled with the company's equity administration platform and legal counsel
- Customer metrics (retention, concentration, cohort data) are sourced from system-of-record data, not estimates
- Any projection or forward-looking statement is clearly labeled and supported by stated assumptions
- Regulatory and tax positions are flagged with [VERIFY] where jurisdiction-specific confirmation is required
- CIM and management presentation narratives are consistent — no contradictory data points or messaging between documents
- Sensitive information (employee compensation, customer names under NDA) is redacted or anonymized appropriately for each distribution phase