What Is Private Equity?

Private Equity is all about buying, building, and ultimately selling businesses to make money.
Think of it like buying a run-down house, doing it up and selling it. But it’s not just about flipping companies.

Here’s how it works:

A Private Equity firm or group of investors acquires a business – typically one that's privately owned and not listed on the stock market. They use a mix of their own capital and debt to buy it, with the goal of growing the business, solving its problems, and driving operational excellence.

They're not interested in just owning businesses – they’re in the game to scale them, fix inefficiencies, bring in strong leadership, and then exit at a significantly higher valuation. This can involve everything from bolt-on acquisitions to cost-cutting, to overhauling the leadership team.

Crucially, Private Equity firms don’t usually run the business day-to-day – they hire exceptional executives to do that. That’s where our role comes in.

The businesses they acquire are called portfolio companies. These are typically held for 3 to 10 years, with a clear plan in place from day one to drive value.

At Raw Selection, we’ve structured ourselves around this model – with one division focused on hiring for Private Equity firms themselves, and another dedicated to building out the leadership teams of their portfolio companies.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Private Equity is one of the most lucrative, challenging, and rewarding sectors to recruit in. If you’re an ambitious recruiter who thrives on pace, precision, and impact – there’s no better place to be.

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