Most PE-backed SaaS exits start too late: EBITDA focus at eighteen months, a numbers clean-up at twelve, pipeline theatre at six and an Information Memorandum written three months out. This guide argues that SaaS exit readiness is an operating discipline that should begin two to three years before a process, and sets out the evidence a buyer will test: net revenue retention, a scalable commercial model, operational maturity, a proven land-and-expand motion and AI capability with EBITDA proof. It draws on the EY 2026 Global PE Exit Readiness Study, KPMG's 2026 dealmaker survey, SaaS Capital and Software Equity Group valuation data, and sets out the three questions every exit IM must answer under buyer diligence. Written by James Lawson of River Consultancy Group for founders, CEOs and PE operating partners planning a SaaS exit.

Many European SaaS businesses call themselves AI-powered, but few can show the EBITDA impact of their AI investment or explain why their capability is defensible. This post explains why AI due diligence and technology stack diligence will become a standard exit risk for PE-backed software companies, what buyers such as strategic acquirers and growth equity firms are already asking, and what a genuine AI readiness assessment covers: data infrastructure, operating processes, change management and the commercial model. It draws on Grant Thornton, Mayer Brown, Gartner, McKinsey and MIT NANDA research, sets out five AI use cases tied to net revenue retention and cost lines, and explains how the EU AI Act timeline and AI governance affect deal readiness. Written for founders, PE operating partners and growth leaders preparing for exit.