Answers to questions about
our model and business transfers

What companies do you take over?

Profitable SMEs with 10 to 100 employees, in France and Belgium, generating between €1m and €50m in revenue. We look first at the recurrence of the business, the quality of the team in place and the company's ability to operate without its current owner. The sector matters less than the strength of the model.

Do I have to sell 100% of my company?

No. Some owners sell everything and move on, others keep a minority stake and stay on the board during the transition. We adapt to what you want to do with your wealth and your time.

How long does a transaction take?

Allow three to six months between the first conversation and signing, depending on the complexity of your shareholding and the availability of financial information. You receive our initial eligibility answer within 48 hours.

What happens to my company after the sale?

It stays independent. We do not merge, relocate or resell to a competitor. Management is taken over by a buyer identified with you — an employee, a family member or an external manager — and ownership is gradually transferred to the teams.

How is my valuation determined?

Based on the multiples actually observed in your sector, applied to your adjusted EBITDA over the last three financial years, then adjusted according to six criteria: profitability, revenue recurrence, dependence on the owner, customer concentration, sector and region, and team quality. You can get an initial range in three minutes with our online estimator.

Do my conversations with you remain confidential?

Yes, without exception. Your information is never shared with intermediaries, third-party acquirers or databases. Neither your employees, your customers nor your competitors are contacted without your written consent.

Do I need a large personal contribution?

No. We provide most of the equity and the acquisition debt. A personal contribution is usually requested — it signals commitment — but it is calibrated during qualification, based on your situation, and never corresponds to the price of the company.

I am an employee of the company, can I take it over?

Yes, and it is the scenario we prefer. You know the business, the teams and the customers: all you lack is the capital. We buy the company, you take over its management at closing and you gradually build up your stake, financed by the company's earnings.

What support do you offer after the takeover?

A board of directors that sets the course without taking operations away from you, management and reporting tools, access to the experts of the Purple Network, and for family takeovers, executive coaching provided by For Talents.

In practice, how do employees become shareholders?

In stages. The incoming CEO takes a stake first, then key managers, then a wider circle of employees. The purchase of shares is financed by the company's earnings, not by employees' savings. Ultimately, the teams hold the majority of the capital.

Are there layoffs after a takeover?

It is neither our model nor our interest. We take over profitable companies whose value rests on the teams in place: letting them go would destroy what we are buying. No synergies or headcount reductions are planned in our transactions.

My children want to take over but cannot finance it, what can I do?

This is the most common obstacle in family transfers, and it is precisely what we finance. We buy out the shares of co-heirs and outgoing partners; your child becomes the majority shareholder at closing, with no personal loan or guarantee on their assets, and buys back our stake over seven to ten years.

How do I submit a deal to you?

Through the submission form on the site or directly by email. A one-page teaser is enough to get started: sector, location, revenue, EBITDA and context of the sale. You get a reasoned answer within 48 hours.

Do you keep the relationship with my client?

No. You remain the owner's point of contact and manage the relationship through to closing. We act as an investor, not as a competitor to your mandate, and your fees are honored on the agreed terms.

What is the Purple Network?

The network of experts and partners mobilized around our transactions: lawyers, tax advisers, bankers, sector experts and operating executives. It is open to the companies we support as well as to the intermediaries who work with us.

How can I invest with PurpleShares?

We open certain transactions to private and institutional co-investors, on a case-by-case basis or through our dedicated vehicles. Write to us to receive the documentation and talk with the team.

Are you currently raising financing?

We raise continuously to finance our acquisitions, in both equity and debt. Ticket sizes, horizons and terms vary by vehicle: the simplest way is to contact us to find out which transactions are currently open.