Private n Listed

Fourty years ago, I started my career on the floor of the Sydney Futures Exchange - no screens, just noise, and traders reading each other in real time. Since then, I've sat in on four very different rooms: a trading pit, global and investment banks, deal table advising founders on selling businesses they spent decades building, and Boards that serve the community with no transaction at all.

Four Rooms. One lesson that kept repeating in every single one - and it's the thing I wish every business owner heard before they even think about their exit.

To open Season 2 of Private n Listed, I'm sharing the real, lived stories behind each of those rooms - and why trust, not numbers, is what actually gets a deal done.

I hope you enjoy.

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In this short Season One reflection, Jamie Spence draws together the most valuable lessons from conversations with Ed Huntingford, Andrew Walsh, Christiaan Hart, Dan Ahchow, Tim Collins and Bruno Arboit. 

From Wealth creation, systems and brand positioning to leadership, cross-border growth and exit preparation, one message stands out: businesses become more valuable when they are built to perform beyond their owner.

A practical episode for business owners who want to build a stronger, more transferable and ultimately more sellable business.  

Episode 17 - Not Every interested buyer is a real one. Here's how to spot competitors and opportunists disguised as acquirers - snd why your advisor's vetting process is the fine line of defence in any sale.

Hope you enjoy and get value from this episode.

Questions: [email protected]

In this episode, Bruno Arboit, Managing Director at Kroll Asia and China, shares lessons from nearly three decades across restructuring, disputes, valuation and business transition. His perspective is especially valuable for business owners thinking about succession, exit and how to prepare a business properly before a sale.

We discuss:

Valuation expectations & vendor positioning 

The importance of documenting the business well ahead of any prospective sale 

How cross-border negotiations can bring different cultural and commercial expectations into play.

A practical discussion with a highly respected business leader whose experience across the Asia-Pacfic region offers real insight for owners preparing for transition.

The Hidden Cost of the Wrong Exit Advisor 

SME & Family Owned Baby Boomer Businesses - stressful to leave money on the table - showcase your business - but find the right way first.

In this episode:

1 - Preparing and Timing - Data Room - Video - present both the good side and what could be improved with innovation/technology systems or processes - barriers to entry 

Remember these businesses are where entrepreneurial ideas and intellectual capital emerge 

2 - How to get a Good Advisor - research and ask around, go online yourself  - you are not a listed company or large corporate so cost and value add is important -  conduct a two way interview to build Trust

3 - What Matters is not just financial analysis ability but industry and M&A experience - there is no substitute for experience in operating or managing in your industry 

The most important input to a credible advisor:

Network - the depth and breadth of an advisors relationships, and not just a pitch book 

Listeners will enjoy first hand insights from former DCH Auriga CEO Tim Collins  into growing and transitioning Private and Listed companies across Asia-Pacific. Tim has lived and worked in Asia for 29 years, running businesses for conglomerates Cadbury Schweppes, Li & Fung and most recently DCH Auriga. He shares some secrets on how to learn and manage businesses across multiple countries and cultures. His expertise spans Healthcare, FMCG, Logistics and much more...

We also discuss M&A and transitioning businesses across the region.

I'm sure you will enjoy the conversation.

Questions: [email protected]

Change is constant, but the best businesses know how to respond. In this episode I look at how businesses adapt under pressure, why timing matters, and how owners can create more options for the future. 

In this episode of Private n Listed, I speak with entrepreneur Dan Ahchow about the role of software, operational change, and succession in a huge but often overlooked sector: facilities management. We explore why this baby boomer-driven industry is ripe for transformation, how technology can unlock efficiency and scale, and what it takes to improve businesses from the inside out. Dan also shares lessons from founding, scaling and selling Service Central, along with his experience across business ownership, hospitality, and regional investment.

In this episode of Private n Listed, I speak with photographer and filmmaker Christiaan Hart about how strong visuals can shape the way a business, brand, or sporting event is perceived, and how is can support growth and create a better first impression. Christiaan shares his journey from professional tennis coaching into visual storytelling, and explains why short video and imagery can be especially powerful for businesses preparing to scale, transition or exit. We discuss his work across businesses, luxury brands, and sport, and why the right visual story can matter just as much as the numbers.

Andrew Walsh joins "The Drinks Journey" to share insights from his career across Asia, and his transition from multinational drinks businesses into investing in and building independent spirits brands.

I hope you find this episode interesting.

Questions about the Podcast to [email protected]