Woo Skin - Shop now
$22.65 with 24 percent savings
List Price: $29.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery April 19 - 24 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Saturday, April 19
Available to ship in 1-2 days
$$22.65 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$22.65
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Adam Coffey
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Private Equity Playbook: Management's Guide to Working with Private Equity Hardcover – February 14, 2019

by Adam Coffey (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 1,123 ratings
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$22.65","priceAmount":22.65,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"22","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"65","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2FF0uPesfvAoIm%2BNZztPrvylbXj6rVNq%2BBmkMd6%2BjIQf0tUM8nR6QaVHeryo0szGT49Cn1RR%2Bhrg0JeVypz9ZmU%2BocvnJgAQEwWf8W2h6chs2iEWWiOY9pGVbF25%2Fv%2BnZdiztLvQzBkNbW12XgMo42w%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Private equity firms are on the rise and rapidly changing the game. Today more than 5,500 P.E. firms own tens of thousands of companies, so it is essential for CEOs and senior management executives to understand exactly how private equity firms operate. This invaluable resource can help you devise a winning P.E. game plan for your own company that offers you greater freedom and financial success.

CEOAdam Coffey has almost twenty years of experience building businesses for private equity companies. In this authoritative yet approachable handbook, he covers:

  • The history and landscape of private equity
  • Ground rules for finding the right firm to partner with
  • Techniques for navigating the new governance
  • Strategies for continued growth in the private equity space
  • And more.

The Private Equity Playbook provides all the coaching you'll need to compete and win on this new playing field.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    184 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Lioncrest Publishing
  4. Publication date
    February 14, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.56 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1544513275
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1544513270
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition

Frequently bought together

The Private Equity Playbook: Management's Guide to Working with Private Equity
This item: The Private Equity Playbook: Management's Guide to Working with Private Equity
$22.65
Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 19
Available to ship in 1-2 days
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Exit-Strategy Playbook: The Definitive Guide to Selling Your Business
$24.42
Get it Apr 21 - 24
In Stock
Ships from and sold by MyPrepbooks.
+
Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion
$25.67
Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 17
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Adam Coffey has spent more than twenty years as president of three national service companies: Masterplan, WASH Multifamily Laundry, and now CoolSys, all of which have been owned and sold multiple times by private equity. Known for building strong employee-centered cultures, and for executing a buy and build strategy, Adam is highly sought after by private equity and is considered an expert in running industrial service businesses. He is a former GE executive, an alumnus of UCLA, and a veteran of the United States Army.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lioncrest Publishing (February 14, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1544513275
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1544513270
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.56 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 1,123 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Adam Coffey

Adam Coffey

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

CEO, Board Member, four-time Best-Selling Author, and Acclaimed International Speaker, Adam Coffey is a visionary leader who drives transformative growth and fosters high-performance cultures.

With 21+ years of experience as CEO, Adam led three national private equity-backed service companies for 9 private equity sponsors. During this time period he completed 58 acquisitions, his track record includes notable outcomes measured in the billions, averaging 5x MOIC at exit.

Adam is a respected mentor to MBA candidates and a sought-after speaker at top business schools. He brings diverse expertise from commercial and industrial service businesses, alongside being a licensed general contractor, pilot, former GE executive, and US Army veteran.

As an author, Adam’s books “The Private Equity Playbook” (2019), “The Exit Strategy Playbook” (2021), “Empire Builder” (2023), and "The Private Equity Playbook - Second Edition" (2024) all became #1 Amazon Best Sellers. Recognized as one of the “Most Influential Leaders” by the Orange County Business Journal 4 years in a row, he founded the CEO Advisory Guru in 2021, providing consulting services to private equity firms, their portfolio companies and to founders seeking to scale or exit.

Adam’s impactful seminars have generated millions in revenue, solidifying his position as one of the world’s top paid speakers. He resides in Westlake, TX, with his wife Ali and daughter Rose.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,123 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book provides a thorough understanding of how private equity firms operate and serves as a good introduction to PE strategies. They appreciate its readability and find it easy to understand, with one customer noting how the author demystifies the PE world. The book receives positive feedback for its actionable strategies, with one review highlighting its real-world examples, and customers value its brevity.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

67 customers mention "Insight"67 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides thorough insight into how private equity firms operate, with one customer noting it serves as a great primer for further study.

"...The author states that his book is a primer on the private equity business, but I believe that it is much more--I've read other books on the subject..." Read more

"...One point the book does make is that it is almost universally accepted in private equity that if a senior executive is not performing at a high level..." Read more

"Gave me a good introduction to PE strategies. I will read his other books. Definitely spurred ideas for my own company." Read more

"...is your playbook for crafting a killer exit strategy, applicable to any size business. Empire Builder throws in some extra firepower...." Read more

45 customers mention "Readability"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic read that provides a good understanding of private equity.

"...This is a fascinating read, down-to-earth and hands-on. Highly recommended" Read more

"...If the topic interests you, the book is well worth your time." Read more

"...This trilogy is a PE goldmine. If you're serious about building a billion-dollar business and navigating the PE landscape, Coffey's your guide...." Read more

"Adam is a gifted writer. And good writers are very clear thinkers...." Read more

38 customers mention "Ease of understanding"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand and well written, with one customer noting how the author makes complicated viewpoints simple.

"...This is a fascinating read, down-to-earth and hands-on. Highly recommended" Read more

"I read the paperback version - 177 pages. Well-written, read it in one day. Written as if it was a playbook for football, etc...." Read more

"Adam is a gifted writer. And good writers are very clear thinkers...." Read more

"Perfect introduction to the PE world - author is good at putting it in terms you can understand." Read more

7 customers mention "Author style"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's teaching style, with one noting their friendly approach and another mentioning how they demystify the PE world.

"...have me the 411 on understanding P.E. The author provides personal stories on what business decisions he made and why which I enjoyed...." Read more

"...But the author has a friendly, conversational tone and really made some very powerful and important points about the PE world, what's expected and -..." Read more

"...The author demystifies the PE world and shares his rich experiences with us in an easy conversational style...." Read more

"An interesting succession & planning tool - the author certainly brings credibility and down-to-earth information in an understandable and..." Read more

3 customers mention "Actionable strategies"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the actionable strategies in the book, with one customer highlighting its real-world examples and another noting its focus on exit strategies.

"...private equity trilogy throws open the vault on the world of M&A, exit strategies, and scaling your business from zero to a billion-dollar..." Read more

"...The book is filled with real-world examples and actionable strategies that gave me the confidence and understanding needed to navigate the private..." Read more

"...Also liked the story line and scenarios. Very motivational on taking the next step in your career or business." Read more

3 customers mention "Brevity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the brevity of the book.

"...that it is much more--I've read other books on the subject, but for brevity, de-mystification and just plain enjoyment this one beats them all--by a..." Read more

"Short, to the point, a good read for 2 hours. Would recommend it to beginners in the finance game - brings across all important points." Read more

"A brief and insightful read on the world of PE..." Read more

Shortcuts years of mistakes and lessons learned
5 out of 5 stars
Shortcuts years of mistakes and lessons learned
This book is an easy, insightful read geared mainly for two types - 1) Fortune 500 leaders contemplating a switch to a private equity (PE)-owned middle market company, or 2) the business owner looking to sell to a PE firm. The content is very accessible to anyone with a basic business acumen; Coffey's plain speak breaks down the landscape, operating mindset and keys to maximizing outcomes with PE firms. The paradigm presented is the reader is an athlete preparing to play a different sport (similar to a baseball player learning cricket), and it is divided into sections supporting that paradigm. There are nuggets of insight on nearly every page, and you're left feeling mentored by a pro. Required reading for anyone climbing the corporate ladder or selling their business to private equity.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Edward H. Brown
    5.0 out of 5 stars AN INSTANT CLASSIC! A MUST READ
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased "The Private Equity Playbook" by Adam Coffey and, frankly, I couldn't put it down. As a former owner of a nationally recognized middle-market service company. I wish that I had this book a few years ago. The author states that his book is a primer on the private equity business, but I believe that it is much more--I've read other books on the subject, but for brevity, de-mystification and just plain enjoyment this one beats them all--by a country mile.

    Coffey is a maverick. He sees himself as a blue -collar CEO/ He left home at 17. After a stint in the Army, he worked as an engineer and then changed to the business side , rising to middle-management with General Electric. Private equity recruiters came calling and he listened. For the last 20 years, Coffey has been President/CEO of three different national private equity backed companies. Each company has grown exponentially under his watch. And, he tells you how.

    The author likens the experience to building a winning team. He introduces two players , "Josh" and "Rose" ( a mirror of his former self ). Josh is the CEO of a middle-market service company. He has built the company into a recognized leader in it's field, and is thinking about selling out. He knows little about private equity and wonders if this is a viable exit strategy.--Rose is a " Fortune 500" middle-market executive who gets calls from private equity recruiters looking for a CEO/COO in a private equity backed middle-market company. She is doing well now, but wonders whether she should make a career change

    The heart of the book is Coffey's recounting of his own journey in the problems that he faced and decisions that he made. Among the many points that the book covers: private equities growth from 312 firms in 1990 to over 5300 firms today with over $3 trillion in assets under management--over 50% of middle-management companies to have a private equity partner in the next few years-- various type of funds today--the "playing field", the players and how they fit into the decision making for Josh and Rose--the rules of the game and the specific questions that Josh and Rose must ask themselves as well as the private equity firms--why an investment banker is needed--why the acronyms IRR,MOIC and DPI are so important as measurement guidelines--how partnering with a private equity firm is an accounting game changer--how EBIDTA can be fluffed up to accelerate growth--growth strategies through organic growth , price, product or service, rebranding and blue ocean search--equity creation for management through the ABC waterfall--why IRR is mandatory in the game--buy and build strategy with mergers and acquisitions--how to beat a recession-- how outside consultants could actually be worth the cost--why a private equity partner can create generational wealth for both Josh and Rose for years to come, " The gift that keeps on giving".

    Everything in the book is tied to Coffey's personal experiences in putting together a winning team. This is a fascinating read, down-to-earth and hands-on. Highly recommended
    29 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • fitzalling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Private Equity - Great outline and valuable pointers - read this
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I read the paperback version - 177 pages. Well-written, read it in one day. Written as if it was a playbook for football, etc. Explains the field of private equity, the rules of the game and describes the players. It uses two examples - Josh who has a business to sell and Rose who has a very responsible job, but is being pursued by private equity companies to work for them. He explains how to evaluate the characteristics of private equity in each of these two scenarios. He carefully labels the approaches of private equity in various circumstances as "neither good or bad, just different."

    The author has managed three different companies which have gone through the private equity process. He discusses shareholder agreements, employee contracts and generating wealth. He recognizes that an owner who wishes to sell the business may have different motives - such as, to retire, recognize wealth, continue to operate and grown the business. He encourages owners to recognize the wealth building opportunities from private equity's general need to purchase, grow and sell businesses in 3-7 years because of the structure of private equity.

    The book explains the sale process, what to expect after the sale has closed, and how to work with the previous owner's new masters. The world is now different and the prior owner who plans to stay on would be wise to recognize the expectations and business demands of private equity. The new masters can bring new knowledge and experience to the business that can be valuable.

    Ebitda - it's not the same as cash flow. It's now important and the book gives some practical examples of how ii differs from cash flow. The author encourages the seller of a business to get good accounting, tax and legal advice.

    The name of the game is growth. How do you get bigger? Organic, margin expansion and bolt-on acquisitions are strategies employed by private equity to do this. Ultimately, unless the business grows and prospers, private equity doesn't make money. The principals at the private equity firm who authorized the purchase suffer financially and professionally as well. The private equity principals will resist these losses and you may lose as well.

    If you are Rose, the book offers advice as well. However, deciding to work for private equity requires a careful analysis of where you are professionally now, what role you are being asked to play and the fit (chemistry) between you as Rose and the private equity principals who actively recruit you. One point the book does make is that it is almost universally accepted in private equity that if a senior executive is not performing at a high level, they should be terminated posthaste. Keep this in mind if you're being recruited.

    If I have a criticism of the book and I didn't deduct for this, it's that it doesn't go into failure. I think that the book outlines what could happen that would lead to failure.

    If the topic interests you, the book is well worth your time.
    15 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kenneth B.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to PE strategy
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Gave me a good introduction to PE strategies. I will read his other books. Definitely spurred ideas for my own company.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Raúl Cerón
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening insights to the PE world
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great and easy to read book. Adam shares his experience and provides helpful tips to dive into this world and make the most out of it.
    Liked it very much!
    Report
  • Andrea Bär
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent playbook describing the various strategies PE firms apply
    Reviewed in Germany on September 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This concept based book serves as a very valuable resource to get an overview on how private equity firms operate. A must read for everyone who wants to learn the principles about the game of PE.
    Report
  • Imad K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A straight to the point No BS kind of playbook
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on April 21, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Very eye-opening for any mid-career professional looking to step away from the salaried life and get into the Equity game and start building true wealth.
    Easy to read with or without an MBA background.
    WIll most likely be the starting point to a career change !
    Report
  • gines
    4.0 out of 5 stars very good read
    Reviewed in Spain on October 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very good read about the world of private equity
    Report
  • Cooper Brindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very informative in a simple understanding way.
    Report