The path to the deal
From the market universe to the qualified conversation.
Each step narrows the field to the companies that truly fit. What counts is the qualified first contact, not the long list.
Why proprietary
Off-market beats auction.
The best transactions arise before a company is officially up for sale. That is exactly where we come in.
Auction process
- Many bidders compete for the same, already marketed company.
- Competition drives the price and creates time pressure.
- The target is known to everyone, discretion is barely possible.
- You react to what intermediaries bring to the market.
Proprietary with SourcingClub
- Exclusive access to companies before a process exists.
- Less competition for the target, more control over the price.
- Discreet approach that preserves confidentiality towards the market.
- A robust relationship with the owner from the very start.
Four services
What we deliver.
How we work
From scope to the qualified conversation.
Scope
We sharpen your investment focus into a binding search profile.
Market Development
We build the relevant market field and pre-qualify matching companies.
Direct Approach
We approach owners discreetly and assess readiness and fit.
Qualification
Only robust opportunities with genuine interest move further.
Handover
We hand over qualified conversations with profile, key figures and context.
Buy & Build
Find the missing puzzle piece before anyone else does.
Every portfolio is a puzzle. Existing platforms define which acquisition strategically fits: sector, region, size class, market position. We identify exactly the company that completes the platform, and approach the owner before it enters a process.
100+
Transactions guided
Sell- & buy-side in the DACH middle market
€1-100M
Enterprise value
Skilled trades to upper middle market
DACH
Network
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
“To understand every client's portfolio so deeply that you identify exactly the company that completes the strategy, before it ends up in an auction process.”
Behind the services
Nick Herbig, founder of SourcingClub.
Over 100 M&A processes guided on both sides of the transaction, from skilled-trades businesses to the upper middle market. Today, systematic deal sourcing for PE funds in the DACH middle market, personally owned rather than anonymously processed.
More about Nick HerbigFrequently asked questions about deal origination
What is buy-side deal origination?
Buy-side deal origination is the systematic identification and discreet approach of acquisition targets for a buyer, before they enter a sale process. Instead of waiting for auctions and intermediaries, the market is searched deliberately for companies that fit the investment thesis, and the first contact with the owner is established. The result is proprietary, off-market deal flow with less competition.
What does a deal-origination mandate cost?
A mandate combines an ongoing retainer for the continuous search with a success-based component upon transaction. The specific structure depends on scope, sector breadth and the desired market coverage, and is defined transparently in the initial conversation. We discuss concrete figures individually for your focus.
How does proprietary sourcing differ from an auction process?
In an auction process, many bidders compete for the same, already marketed company, which drives prices and creates time pressure. Proprietary sourcing reaches owners directly and discreetly, often before a sale process exists. This lowers competition, creates access to off-market targets and enables a robust relationship with the owner.
Who does SourcingClub work for?
We work for Private Equity, family offices and corporates that want to acquire deliberately in the DACH middle market, both for platform investments and for add-ons within a buy-and-build strategy. The prerequisite is a clear investment focus, for which we source exclusively.
Tell me about your investment focus.
A first conversation is confidential and non-binding. We tell you honestly whether and how we can source for your focus.