What is a search fund?

9 April 2024

As a founder, selling a business is difficult and a succession plan is usually the biggest challenge of all. This is why search funds exist.

You’ve probably never heard the term “search fund” before, but that is about to change. Sibusiso Mbonambi is the Managing Partner of South Africa’s first traditional search fund, backed by local and international SME investors.

What makes this unique?

Instead of just a board seat and a quarterly meeting, the Searcher looks to acquire and operate the business, installing himself/herself as the new CEO, driving daily operations, and executing the new growth plan alongside the existing management team. This gives the seller a full exit from the business, rather than just a sale of shares.

In understanding Sibusiso’s detailed requirements for an acquisition, there is so much here for founders to learn about how professional investors view the world.

In this webinar, he took us through the characteristics of his perfect acquisition, ranging from the nature of the industry to the financials and the depth of talent in the organisation.

Connect with Sibusiso here

bizval startup

Requirements

Less than 3 years old

Pre or post revenue

Business plan and forecasts available

Benefits

Bespoke valuation methodologies

Developed in conjunction with leading universities

Key valuation drivers unpacked

Scenario sensitivity analysis

Tech-and-touch approach

Personalized consideration and evaluation of results

Less than 10 day turn-around time

Access to bizval webinars and education sessions

bizval enterprise

Requirements

Business that provides services to other business owners

Benefits

3 valuation methodologies (DCF, EM and NAV)

Secure and confidential

Access to bizval webinars and education sessions

Priority support

Scenario sensitivity analysis

Personalized engagement and follow up

All the usual benefits with customized pricing for high-volume users

bizval exit

Requirements

Single or multiple business entity

Deep understanding of your business

Clear intention to sell or raise investment – now or in the future

Benefits

Proprietary bizval exit process and bizval exit scorecard

Includes a free concierge valuation

Less than 2 weeks from start to finish

Pesonalized engagement and follow up

Priority support

Customized deal readiness report

Heat map and recommendations to maximize valuation and ensure best chance of success

Secure and confidential

Access to bizval webinars and education sessions

Access to experienced professionals who know how to navigate the often scary world of deal making

Access to exclusive introductions to qualified investors

bizval concierge

Requirements

Single business entity

Basic business knowledge

2 years financial statements and/or management accounts

Benefits

Includes bizval exit scorecard

3 valuation methodologies (DCF, EM and NAV)

Secure and confidential

Access to bizval webinars and education sessions

Priority support

Scenario sensitivity analysis

Personalized evaluation of results

Less than 5 day turn-around time, once all information received

Quick and easy to use – Does not require detailed technical or accounting knowledge

bizval live

Requirements

Single business entity

Knowledge of key business and financial information

Benefits

Includes bizval exit scorecard

3 valuation methodologies (DCF, EM and NAV)

Secure and confidential

Access to bizval webinars and education sessions

Includes complimentary 15 min consultation

Unlimited access to Scenarios

Standard support

Access to valuation scenarios add-on

Instant valuation result

Unique bizval algorithm

Quick and easy to use – Does not require detailed technical or accounting knowledge