Why This Checklist Matters.
Exit outcomes are driven less by narrative and more by operating predictability.
Buyers pay for:
They discount:
Bottom line: If execution doesn’t hold up under diligence, valuation compresses—regardless of growth story.
Buyers pay for:
- Durable EBITDA
- Revenue reliability
- Margin visibility
- Governance discipline
- Management depth
They discount:
- Forecast volatility
- Founder dependency
- KPI ambiguity
- Execution drift
Bottom line: If execution doesn’t hold up under diligence, valuation compresses—regardless of growth story.
What This Checklist Does.
The Portfolio Triage Checklist™ is a structured operating framework designed to answer one question:
If you launched a sell process in the next 6–12 months, would execution hold up under diligence?
It evaluates six critical areas:
Each section isolates where valuation risk is hiding—and where execution needs to tighten before exit.
If you launched a sell process in the next 6–12 months, would execution hold up under diligence?
It evaluates six critical areas:
- EBITDA Durability
- Revenue Engine Reliability
- Operating Cadence & KPI Governance
- Management Depth & Key-Person Risk
- Financial Hygiene & Diligence Readiness
- Strategic Thesis Integrity
Each section isolates where valuation risk is hiding—and where execution needs to tighten before exit.
What You'll Identify.
Using this checklist, you will quickly uncover:
These are the issues buyers surface and price against.
- Hidden margin fragility masked by growth
- Forecast reliability gaps
- Founder dependency risk
- Weak KPI ownership and enforcement
- Diligence friction points
- Misalignment with the original investment thesis
These are the issues buyers surface and price against.
How to Use the Checklist.
The checklist is designed for rapid, objective assessment:
Output = A clear view of whether the asset is:
- Score each statement (1 = Needs Attention, 3 = Partial, 5 = Strong)
- Identify the concentration of “3s” and gaps
- Interpret readiness based on the total score
Output = A clear view of whether the asset is:
- Ready for exit
- In acceleration phase
- Or requires execution compression before process launch
Who This Is For.
This checklist is built for:
- Private equity professionals evaluating exit timing
- Operating partners overseeing portfolio performance
- Founders preparing for liquidity events
- Investor-backed companies within 12–24 months of exit
The Reality Most Teams Miss...
Execution risk doesn’t show up in Confidential Information Memorandum (CIMs). It shows up in diligence. And by then, it’s priced in.
Across portfolio reviews, the most common pre-exit issues include:
These rarely fix themselves under sell-side pressure.
Across portfolio reviews, the most common pre-exit issues include:
- Revenue growth masking margin instability
- Forecast inconsistency
- Founder key-person exposure
- Weak operating cadence
- EBITDA normalization questions
These rarely fix themselves under sell-side pressure.
Get Your Portfolio Triage Checklist™.
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This checklist is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or due diligence. Results are based on self-assessment and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for decision-making. A formal engagement is required for a comprehensive evaluation.