Companies strive to create value for their stakeholders, a pursuit that occupies countless hours in boardrooms and executive suites around the world. Only a select number of companies, however, get it right.

Middle East companies can improve their chances of finding the correct approach by applying the best practices of the top-tier private equity (PE) firms. These international players have lessons to teach because they regularly create economic value and build efficient, high-growth businesses. Leading PE firms in the Middle East, that have the correct value creation approach for their portfolio companies and sustain it over time, have been generously rewarded. Owners, boards and executives of public and private companies can learn from PE firms’ seven critical imperatives that Booz & Company has identified. They can adapt them to their own business models to create additional and lasting value.