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The untapped multiplier in your portfolio — smart brand strategy.

Private equity firms are experts at spotting financial and operational inefficiencies — but there’s an often-overlooked asset that can unlock significant enterprise value: the brand.

A strong brand and a modern, focused marketing strategy don’t just support sales — they enhance valuation, drive growth and support scalability.

Why brand should be on your radar.

In the race to improve EBITDA and position companies for successful exits, branding may seem like a soft investment. In reality, it’s one of the most underutilized strategic levers for value creation. When thoughtfully managed, brand and marketing efforts can directly impact multiple valuation drivers — revenue growth, customer retention, pricing power and market differentiation.

Five brand & marketing fundamentals for your portfolio companies.

1. Clarify and align brand purpose.

A clearly articulated brand purpose creates internal alignment, improves leadership clarity and strengthens company culture — all of which contribute to better performance and smoother integrations. Whether acquiring add-ons or repositioning a legacy asset, a unified brand story can create cohesion quickly.

Impact - Stronger internal culture, clearer messaging, faster integration

Metrics to watch - Employee engagement, brand recall, deal cycle time

2. Build a differentiated position in the market.

Most mid-market companies underinvest in brand positioning. A distinctive brand not only stands out to customers — it can also command higher margins, reduce sales friction and position the business as a category leader.

Impact - Increased pricing power and win rates

Metrics to watch - Revenue growth, gross margin and share of market

3. Professionalize and scale marketing systems.

Many companies have ad-hoc marketing efforts that lack data discipline and performance tracking. By investing in CRM systems, lead gen automation and analytics, PE firms can scale demand generation efficiently.

Impact - Predictable lead flow, better marketing ROI

Metrics to watch - Cost per lead, marketing attribution rate, sales velocity

4. Create a cohesive customer experience.

From the website to sales materials to customer support, every brand touchpoint shapes perception. Auditing and improving these experiences builds trust and improves retention — key metrics for recurring revenue businesses.

Impact - Higher retention, improved LTV

Metrics to watch - Net Promoter Score, churn rate, conversion funnel efficiency

5. Elevate the brand before exit.

Prior to a liquidity event, a focused investment in brand modernization and messaging can materially improve market perception. Buyers see a polished, confident brand as a signal of strong leadership and long-term value.

Impact - Improved exit valuation, more buyer interest

Metrics to watch - Website engagement, inbound inquiries, marketing-qualified leads

The brand value multiplier.

Unlock growth and maximize returns by treating brand as a business asset — not just a marketing function.

Each of these steps builds cumulative value — the earlier they're introduced post-acquisition, the greater the return.
The takeaway.

Brand is not just about logos or taglines — it’s about creating an ecosystem that communicates trust, accelerates sales and justifies premium pricing. In a world of increasing competition, PE and BDC firms that unlock the strategic value of brand and marketing stand to win bigger and faster.

Unlocking brand potential isn’t just good marketing — it’s smart investing. Lovely People is here to help. Let’s talk.