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Standard Private Equity Dictionary

"Window of opportunity " | Without more money, the company is dead

"Feeding frenzy " | At least one interested new customer

"Work closely with the management " | Talk to them on the phone once a quarter

"Volume-sensitive " | Massive fixed costs

"Too early to tell " | Results to date have been grim

"Ingredients are there " | Given two years, might find a workable strategy

"Long selling cycle " | Yet to find a customer who likes the product

"Value-added investor " | Generally comes to board meetings but spends most of the time on “emergency” phone calls

"Opportunistic investment strategy " | Absolutely no investment strategy

"Somewhat below plan " | 75% revenue shortfall

"Limited downside " | It can’t get much worse

"Acquisition strategy " | Current products have no market

"Core business " | Obsolete product line

"On a manufacturing learning curve " | Can’t make the product with positive margins

"Reposition the company " | No market for current products

"Cyclical industry " | Posted a huge loss last year

"Passive investor " | Phones once a year to see if company is still in business

"Upgrading the management team " | The organization is in complete disarray

"Strategic investor " | Investor will pay a preposterous valuation

"Well below plan " | An outright, unmitigated disaster

"Unique " | No more than six competitors

"Investing heavily in R&D " | Trying desperately to catch the competition

"Currently revising the budget " | Financial plan is a total disaster

"Rifle-shot approach to a few investors " | You’re the only potential investor left

"Turnaround opportunity " | Lost cause

"Major opportunity " | Last chance

"Possibility of slight shortfall " | 50% revenue shortfall

"Basically on plan " | 25% revenue shortfall

"Entrepreneurial CEO " | Totally uncontrollable, bordering on maniacal

"Considerably ahead of plan " | Hit plan in one of the last three months

"Niche strategy " | Small-time player

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