To the point
The mandate in four sentences.
- 01
A binding search scope defines what counts as a target and what does not.
- 02
You receive continuously pre-qualified targets, not a one-off list.
- 03
I offer a company to only one house at a time. Exclusivity for a whole search field is agreed per mandate.
- 04
You only step in at the qualified intro call.
When it fits
When a dedicated search mandate pays off.
Clear thesis, too little deal flow
You have a defined investment thesis, but too little proprietary access to suitable companies.
Cover a sector systematically
You want to cover a target sector completely rather than reacting opportunistically to individual deals.
No ongoing sourcing in-house
Your team has no capacity to source continuously alongside its origination work.
Be there before the intermediaries
You want to reach targets before they are brought to market by advisors.
Exclusivity within your focus
You want to know that a company is not offered to another house in parallel.
What you get
The mandate, five components.
Defined search scope
A binding search profile with target sectors, a size corridor, geographic focus and exclusion criteria. In black and white: what counts as a target and what does not, as the basis of the entire mandate.
Continuously qualified targets
A continuous stream of pre-qualified companies rather than a one-off list. Every target is checked against your scope, including the ownership situation and an assessment of transaction readiness.
Guided intro calls
I approach the owners discreetly and personally and lead the intro call. You only step in once there is genuine interest and a robust fit on the other side.
Exclusivity for your focus
I offer a company to only one house at a time. Exclusivity for a whole search field is agreed per mandate.
Full transparency over the pipeline
At any time you can see which companies have been screened, approached and qualified, with a clear status per contact. No black-box sourcing, just progress you can follow.
Selective
One focus, exclusive to you.
Within your scope I work on one focus: yours. An identified target does not go in parallel to an investor with the same thesis. This selectivity is the difference between shared deal flow and an edge that belongs to you.
Fit check
Does a search mandate fit your setup?
Fits if
- You have a clear, well-defined investment focus.
- You want continuous rather than sporadic deal flow.
- Exclusivity within your focus matters to you.
- You want to reach the owners early and discreetly.
Rather not if
- You only need a one-off market overview. Then longlist and market mapping is enough.
- Your focus is not yet sharpened. That is exactly where I start with you.
Process
From scope to a running pipeline.
- 01
Define the scope
Together we sharpen your search profile into a binding scope that decides which company is a target.
- 02
Open up the market
I build the relevant market field and pre-qualify the suitable companies against your scope.
- 03
Approach the owners
I contact the owners discreetly, in your name or mine, and check readiness and fit.
- 04
Hand over the conversation
I hand over qualified opportunities with a profile, key figures and context for your intro call.
- 05
Keep the pipeline running
The scope runs continuously, so new qualified targets keep coming through for as long as the mandate is active.
At the core
What matters.
100+
Transactions supported
Both sides, DACH middle market
1 house
Per company at a time
Search-field exclusivity per mandate
DACH
Reach
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Fee
Ongoing fees or milestones, plus a success fee at closing. I set the structure together with you, based on the search field.
Frequently asked questions about the search mandate
How do I commission a buy-side search mandate?
It starts with a confidential intro call in which we go through your investment focus and I check whether I can source meaningfully for that focus. If it fits, we define the search scope together and agree the fee structure. Once the mandate is signed, the search starts and you receive qualified targets on an ongoing basis. The first step is the contact form.
What exactly do I get with the search mandate?
You get the complete buy-side search as a service: a defined search scope, continuously pre-qualified targets and guided intro calls with the owners. You only step in where there is genuine interest and a robust fit, instead of maintaining lists and making cold approaches yourself. Within your focus I work exclusively for you.
What distinguishes the search mandate from longlist and market mapping?
Longlist and market mapping deliver the market map of a sector on a one-off basis. The search mandate is the ongoing search beyond that: it stays active, approaches the owners and delivers qualified conversations continuously, not just a list. Often the longlist is the first building block, and the mandate then carries the work forward.
How exclusive is exclusive?
Within your defined search scope I work exclusively for you. An identified target that falls within your focus is not passed in parallel to an investor pursuing the same thesis. Outside your focus, meaning other sectors or size classes, I am free. That is why I define the boundaries of the scope clearly from the start.
What does a search mandate cost?
Ongoing fees or milestones, plus a success fee at closing. I set the structure together with you, based on the search field. The amount depends on the scope, the number of target sectors and the desired market coverage, and is discussed transparently in the intro call before anything starts. I set concrete figures individually for your focus.
Who searches for you
Nick Herbig, personally accountable.
Over 100 M&A processes supported on both sides of the transaction, from skilled-trade businesses to the upper middle market. Your search mandate is not handled by an anonymous team. I lead it personally, from the scope to the intro call.
More about Nick HerbigTell me about your investment focus.
A first conversation is confidential and non-binding. We go through your focus, define the search scope, and I tell you honestly whether and how I can run a search mandate for you.