Building Value in Diversified Portfolios

If you want to impress Brad Nathan, the 46- year- old Founder and CEO of Lynx Equity Ltd., the honest approach is best. The former merchant banker, who also contributes to The Globe and Mail’s Leadership Lab column, founded Lynx – a private equity firm that specialize in buying small to medium sized businesses from retiring owners – in 2007 right before the recession of 2008-2009, believes cultivating an authentic connection in business is paramount. Nathan encourages open conversation about the pros as well as cons, when negotiating with prospective businesses. “There’s a problem in every single business. It’s better to be straightforward. When I meet with a new investor, I tell them about the failures as well as the successes. And I appreciate it also when they reciprocate. It’s better to be upfront.” Once a business is acquired, the company strives to provide a seamless transition, and maintaining consistency is key. “After an acquisition, it’s imperative to us to preserve the brand, culture and business relationships of the companies. It’s basically their ‘baby’, and we want to respect this,” he says.

Read full article as it was originally published January, 2015