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Capital Raising for Independent and Fund

CAPITAL RAISING FOR

INDEPENDENT SPONSORS

THE INDEPENDENT SPONSOR MODEL

The Entrepreneurs of Private Equity

WHAT IS A FUNDLESS OR INDEPENDENT SPONSOR

Fundless or Independent Sponsors are individuals or groups that seek to acquire, grow and exit one or more businesses for a profit, much like conventionally funded private equity firms.  Unlike their traditional private equity counterparts, however, they don't have a dedicated pool of committed capital at their disposal and are usually required to raise debt and equity capital on a deal by deal basis.

The most successful fundless or independent sponsors combine the rigor, sophistication and approach of traditional private equity investors, focusing on proprietary deal sourcing, transaction execution, portfolio company monitoring and often invest invest personal funds along-side other investors.​

THE INDEPENDENT SPONSOR MODEL

The Independent Sponsor Model represents the evolution of the traditional private equity model, whereby talented private equity sponsors aim to identify, acquire, grow and exit a business for a profit, while avoiding some of the traditional private equity pitfalls and barriers to entry.

Appeal for Operating Executives and Private Equity Professionals

 

Many talented operating executives and private equity professionals have gravitated towards becoming  independent sponsors because it represents an opportunity to utilize their skill sets with a higher degree of autonomy than acting as an employee, while offering the ability to create an enormous amount of personal wealth, if successful.

For the private equity professional working as an employee of a fund, with either limited upside potential or an unclear view about the path to partnership, the fundless sponsor model presents an opportunity to be rewarded for the value you're creating, without navigating the long and sometimes bureaucratic climb to partnership or setting up a new fund.

Independent Sponsor Fees and Compensation​

Like traditional private equity firms, independent sponsors are compensated through a combination of fees and profit sharing.​  In most cases, the independent sponsor is typically compensated through:

  • deal fee or transaction fee paid at closing: in many cases, there is an expectation that a portion of this fee will be reinvested into the transaction alongside other investors

  • Ongoing compensation based on the role of the sponsor: generally, executives stepping into a day-to-day operating role will receive a healthy salary and benefits, while the active board-level advisor will usually receive a management fee 

  • Upside participation: upside participation can be structured through a carried interest or promoted interest vehicle, common equity vested at inception or common equity vested based on timing or performance hurdles; in a successful independent sponsor transaction, the upside participation should represent the largest component of the independent sponsor's economic package

For more information on fundless sponsor fees or compensation, please visit our guide, Understanding Independent Sponsor Economics.

Investor Appeal

Investors that embrace the independent sponsor model as a source of deal flow, are attracted to the concept of seeing proprietary or non-auctioned deal flow and individually selecting the target companies (vs. investing in a blind fund), while negotiating independent sponsor economics based on the relative value of the sponsor and investment opportunity.

Learning More​

As the independent sponsor model has evolved and become more mainstream, it should be no surprise that many talented individuals with professional investing and operating backgrounds have started venturing out to form independent sponsor groups.  ​

To discuss the path to becoming an independent sponsor or direct investing with independent sponsors, please contact Access Capital Partners:

KEY ELEMENTS OF

THE  INDEPENDENT SPONSOR MODEL

DEAL SOURCING
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VALUE PROPOSITION TO BUSINESS OWNERS
VALUE CREATION STRATEGY AND EXECUTION
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DEAL MAKING AND NEGOTIATION
VALUE PROPOSITION TO CAPITAL PROVIDERS
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PORTFOLIO COMPANY MANAGEMENT
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CAPITAL RAISING
DILIGENCE AND ISSUE MANAGEMENT
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CAPITAL AND DEAL STRUCTURING

ACCELERATING SUCCESS AS AN

INDEPENDENT SPONSOR

In addition to structuring and capital raising for independent sponsors' acquisitions and recapitalizations, we regularly advise both new and long-time independent sponsors on non-capital related matters to better position them for success: 

  • Refining their independent sponsor model and value proposition

  • What types of businesses are best suited  for independent sponsor transactions

  • Providing guidance on deal structures that help maximize the sponsors economics

  • Managing seller or advisor expectations

  • Provide guidance on deal sourcing strategies that maximize transaction viability

  • Making introductions to law firms and accounting firms that are experienced in the independent sponsor space

SELECTING THE RIGHT CAPITAL PROVIDERS

Fit Matters.

INDEPENDENT SPONSOR RESOURCES

Looking for something else?  We're happy to be a resource.  Please send us an email.

Capital Raising for Independent and Fund

CAPITAL RAISING FOR

INDEPENDENT SPONSORS

ABOUT

Access Capital Partners is a middle market investment bank focused exclusively on raising debt and equity capital for independent sponsors, executives and family offices. 

 

Through years of raising capital in all types of situations and environments, ACP has developed a nuanced approach to consistently and efficiently secure the capital to support independent sponsors' acquisitions and recapitalizations. 

 

ACP prides itself on a being a trusted partner and resource in the independent sponsor community.

$8.0B

In total transaction experience

100+

Completed transactions

35+

Years of middle market experience

1000+

Relationships with capital providers

Save Time.  Get Better Economics.  Find the Right Partner.

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