How private equity firms source off-market acquisitions

Short answer

PE firms and roll-ups source off-market deals by reaching business owners directly, most small and mid-sized owners aren't listed for sale and aren't findable through brokers or LinkedIn. Proprietary deal flow comes from contacting owners respectfully and booking conversations with those open to a sale. Wavis does this across consolidating industries like trucking, HVAC, veterinary and dental.

The deal-sourcing problem

Brokered deals are competitive and expensive. The best roll-up returns come from proprietary, off-market conversations with owners, but those owners are exactly the people who don't respond to email and aren't on LinkedIn.

Industries consolidating now

Trucking and small carriers, HVAC, plumbing and electrical, veterinary practices, dental, auto repair (multi-shop operators) and more. In each, ownership is fragmented and the decision-maker is the owner-operator.

A repeatable origination motion

(1) Define the target, industry, size, geography; (2) reach owners directly; (3) book conversations only with those open to a discussion. This turns a hard search problem into a steady flow of owner meetings.

How Wavis helps

Wavis reaches owners directly and books off-market conversations onto your deal team's calendar, proprietary flow you can't get from a broker list.

Frequently asked questions

How do PE firms find companies to buy?+

Increasingly through proprietary, off-market outreach to owners rather than brokered processes. Wavis books owner conversations directly for acquirers.

How do you find off-market acquisition targets?+

By contacting owners directly in your target industry and geography and booking meetings with those open to a sale, owners who don't appear in listings.

Which industries are best for roll-ups?+

Fragmented, owner-operated industries such as trucking, the trades (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), veterinary and dental.

Related industries

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