Secondary Transactions in Searchfunds/Independent Sponsor vehicles

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May 11, 2025

by a searcher from Northumbria University - Newcastle Business School in London, UK

I've recently spoken with several clients of my consulting business, all actively seeking secondary investment opportunities in deployed Searchfunds (i.e., already invested, not raising) or Independent Sponsor vehicles. For those unfamiliar with secondary transactions, these investments offer distinct advantages: • For buyers, they can begin generating distributions as early as day one, accelerating cash flow within a private investment program and mitigating the J-curve effects of private investing. • For sellers, secondary market transactions provide liquidity, enabling early exits, portfolio rebalancing, and risk mitigation. Additionally, sellers may secure attractive pricing and meet strategic or regulatory needs, making these transactions a flexible and advantageous option. Are there any Searchfund or Independent Sponsor operators/investors looking for an exit? If so, let’s connect! Increased interest from buyers eager to explore secondary opportunities can often lead to highly attractive valuations.
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Reply by a professional
in London, UK
Hi Alex, this is so interesting to hear (I am coming from the world of VC secondaries). At what stage are your clients looking to invest? 1 year in? 5 years in? 1 year before the exit to PE / strategics?
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Reply by a searcher
from Rice University in Houston, TX, USA
Alex, I’m not familiar with the term secondary transactions. Are you talking about targeting partial exits or liquidity events for existing “search acquired” businesses/ investors?
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