Ryan Sullivan, North Park Group — the Ultra Long View on U.S. Manufacturing

Today’s conversation is with Ryan Sullivan, Managing Director and Co-Founder at North Park Group (https://northparkgroup.com/), a Chicago-based private investment firm focused on acquiring and operating US-based manufacturing and distribution businesses for the very long-term.

Ryan was a multi-chapter manufacturing operator and CEO and North Park Group reflects this operator DNA.  He shares his experience and investment perspectives on the resilience and adaptability of US-based manufacturing, how he and his team get comfortable taking an extremely long-term view of U.S. manufacturing, his unconventional approach to personal guarantees and leverage, LP liquidity, and the importance of taking care of every employee.

The key topics we cover in this 60-minute conversation include:

• Manufacturing in America in 2040 — A 15+ Year View
• What Separates Winners and Losers in the U.S. Manufacturing Space
• The North Park Model: De-Risking Transactions and Taking the Conservative Approach
• The Labor Spectrum and Why Every Employee Counts 
• The Emotional Impact of M&A: Why an Anti-Climatic Transition is the Best Transition
• Providing LP Liquidity with Indefinite Hold Periods

Masters in Small Business M&A (sign up for podcast drops here) is produced by its host Peter Lehrman and the team at Axial (www.axial.com). Axial makes it easy for small business owners to confidentially explore growth capital and exit transactions with top-ranked lower middle market M&A advisors and professional capital partners. In every episode, we explore the dynamic world of small business M&A, interviewing a mix of proven and emerging owners, operators, acquirers, and M&A advisors whose strategies and methods are being put to the test.

If you’d like to go deeper, head to Axial.com, where we make available Axial’s member directories, downloadable tools for dealmakers, the Axial lower middle market investment banking league-table rankings, the SMB M&A pipeline report, and other useful information. If you’re a business owner, professional acquirer, or M&A advisor, you can start using Axial for free at Axial.com.

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Resources:

Peter Lehrman on LinkedIn

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Ryan Sullivan LinkedIn

North Park Group

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