Acquisition Collective

Private Equity Is Losing Deals… Here’s Why

Jay Bourgana Season 2 Episode 3

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0:00 | 41:19

In this episode of Acquisition Collective, Jay Bourgana sits down with Bryan McFarland on why private equity is losing deals in today’s market. Most assume private equity wins M&A deals through capital and scale, but in reality, independent buyers are winning more business acquisitions through trust, speed, and long-term alignment.

Bryan breaks down how private equity often focuses on short-term EBITDA gains, cost cutting, and quick exits, while operators win by preserving culture, building relationships, and improving deal flow. They walk through how buying businesses today requires patience, industry knowledge, and an operator mindset.

If you are serious about M&A deals, improving deal flow, and competing with private equity in business acquisitions, this is a grounded look at what actually works when buying businesses.

Private equity does not lose to capital. It loses to misalignment and short-term thinking.

00:00 - Introduction and Bryan’s Background
02:20 - Why Buying Businesses Beats Starting
04:14 - Day One After Acquisition: Do Nothing
08:49 - How to Evaluate Business Acquisitions Beyond EBITDA
10:21 - Why Sellers Choose Operators Over Private Equity
22:51 - Private Equity Mistakes in M&A Deals
23:54 - Short-Term Thinking vs Long-Term Ownership
31:12 - Speed, Trust, and Winning Deal Flow
39:34 - Final Advice for Sellers and Buyers

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Comment: why do independent buyers win deals against private equity?