Family offices, search funds, ESOPs, and strategic acquirers all play in the lower-middle-market. Some are a better fit than PE.
PE gets the attention, but they are not always the right buyer. Family offices hold longer and require less aggressive growth. Search funds want operating roles. ESOPs solve the legacy question. Strategic acquirers pay for synergy.
This piece maps which buyer type fits which seller profile, and how syndication broadens the pool of buyers that take you seriously.
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