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Search Fund vs Private Equity
Understanding the fundamental differences between search funds and traditional private equity approaches.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Search Fund
Investment Size
€2M - €10M per acquisition
Leadership
Entrepreneur becomes CEO and leads operations
Focus
Single business acquisition and growth
Timeline
5-7 years operating period
Strategy
Operational excellence and organic growth
Traditional Private Equity
Investment Size
€50M+ per acquisition
Leadership
External management team or existing leadership
Focus
Portfolio of multiple businesses
Timeline
3-5 years investment period
Strategy
Financial engineering and scale efficiencies
Why Choose a Search Fund?
For Business Owners
- Dedicated CEO committed to long-term success
- Preservation of company culture and values
- Personal relationship with the new owner
- Faster decision-making process
For Investors
- Higher returns (15-25% IRR typically)
- Entrepreneur skin in the game
- Access to smaller, high-quality deals
- Direct involvement and transparency
Interested in the Search Fund Model?
Whether you're a business owner considering succession or an investor exploring opportunities, we'd love to discuss how search funds might fit your needs.