The path to the deal
From the market universe to the first conversation.
Each step narrows the field to the companies that really fit. What counts is the qualified first contact, not the long list.
Why proprietary
Off-market beats auction.
The best transactions happen before a company is officially for sale. That is where I start.
Auction process
- Many bidders compete for the same company, which is already being marketed.
- Competition drives up the price and creates time pressure.
- Everyone knows the target, so discretion is hardly possible.
- You react to whatever 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.
- A discreet approach that keeps the deal confidential from the market.
- A solid relationship with the owner from the start.
Five services
What I deliver.
How I work
From scope to the first conversation.
Scope
I sharpen your investment focus into a binding search profile.
Market build-out
I build the relevant market field and pre-qualify suitable companies.
Direct approach
I approach the owners discreetly and check readiness and fit.
Qualification
Only solid opportunities with genuine interest move on.
Handover
I hand over qualified conversations with profile, key figures and context.
Buy & Build
Find the missing piece before someone else does.
Every portfolio is a puzzle. Existing platforms define which add-on makes strategic sense: sector, region, size class, market position. I identify exactly the company that completes the platform and approach the owner before it goes into a process.
100+
Transactions supported
Sell-side & buy-side in the DACH Mittelstand
€1-100M
Enterprise value
From trade businesses to the upper Mittelstand
DACH
Network
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
“Understand each client's portfolio so deeply that you identify exactly the company that completes the strategy, before it lands in an auction process.”
Behind the services
Nick Herbig, founder of SourcingClub.
More than 100 M&A processes supported on both sides of the transaction, from trade businesses to the upper Mittelstand. Today systematic deal sourcing for PE funds in the DACH Mittelstand, run personally rather than handled anonymously.
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 for companies that fit the investment thesis, and the first contact with the owner is made. The result is proprietary, off-market deal flow with less competition.
What does a deal origination mandate cost?
Ongoing fees or milestones, plus a success fee at closing. I set the structure together with you, based on the search field. It depends on scope, sector breadth and the market coverage you want, and is set out transparently in the first conversation. I discuss specific figures individually for your focus.
How does proprietary sourcing differ from an auction process?
In an auction process, many bidders compete for the same company, which is already being marketed. That drives up prices and creates time pressure. Proprietary sourcing reaches owners directly and discreetly, often before a sale process exists. This lowers competition, opens access to off-market targets and allows a solid relationship with the owner.
Who does SourcingClub work for?
I work for private equity firms, family offices and corporates that want to make targeted acquisitions in the DACH Mittelstand, both for platform investments and for add-ons as part of a buy-and-build strategy. The prerequisite is a clear investment focus, for which I source exclusively.
Tell me about your investment focus.
A first conversation is confidential and non-binding. I will tell you honestly whether and how I can source for your focus.