Mike Esposito shares his journey from a 30-year career at Goldman Sachs to co-founding Franchise Equity Partners, highlighting their differentiated approach to private equity through franchising and multi-unit retail investing.⏱️ Key Timestamps00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – Career background and transition to PE 01:45 – Pitfalls of “me-too” PE strategies 03:13 – Leaving Goldman Sachs during COVID 04:41 – Advisory vs ownership mindset 05:36 – Why franchising & multi-unit retail 07:00 – Barriers limiting PE in franchising 08:26 – Unique LP structure with HPS 11:17 – First non-franchise deal (European car wash platform) 13:42 – Why Europe offered better value than the US 16:06 – Minority vs majority investing strategy 17:04 – “Minority, passive, permanent” model 19:28 – Importance of backing the right people 22:24 – Power of a focused investment strategy 24:27 – Using data science for investment insights 26:23 – Contact details🔑 Key TakeawaysFocused strategies outperform crowded PE tradesFranchising offers a large, undercapitalised opportunityMinority investing unlocks access to restricted sectorsLong-term alignment appeals to family-owned businessesEurope can offer stronger fundamentals vs overheated US marketsData and analytics are key to gaining an edgeRaw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/ 🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.comLooking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guidesfor proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.
