Hardware Podcasts

Always Be Exiting: How Manufacturers Build Value Years Before a Sale w/ Eric Wiklendt

The Manufacturing Executive · 29 Sept 2026 · 42m · Episode 329

What this episode covers

Eric Wiklendt, Managing Director at Speyside Equity, explains his two-phase 'portco value creation system' for middle-market manufacturing businesses: fixing margins through operational improvement (Phase 1) and then building top-line growth (Phase 2). He details how Speyside evaluates scalability, mitigates customer concentration risk, and structures management teams to ensure a business is sellable, arguing that owners should operate with the mindset of 'always be exiting' to maximize value. The discussion covers specific tools like sales force effectiveness frameworks and the importance of starting exit planning 24 months before a liquidity event.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Speyside Equity, Kelix Heat Transfer Systems, Eaton, Danaher, Toyota, Gorilla 76
Also
Industrial Marketing Summit

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