SF Exit: it is a rule?

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March 13, 2021

by a searcher from Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

It is a rule to always exit a company that's bought by a SF? Are there any cases where the SF keeps the company running and the searcher just moves to other ventures? I wonder because there are some sellers that are worried that the company will continue to exist under the new management, not only to be sold again in a few years.

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Reply by an admin
from Stanford University in Honolulu, HI, USA
Hi, ^redacted‌: From what I have seen the answer to the question is "no". For those who have investors. there is generally some form of an "exit event" as 2 years of searching plus 5 years of operations is a long time to have invested capital committed. Also, the company and the searcher's life can look very different 5 to 7 years later as well. Here are some references:
^redacted‌: Exit or Recap: https://www.searchfunder.com/post/exit-or-recapitalization

^redacted‌: Stubborn Persistence: Reflections 6 Years into my CEO Journey https://www.searchfunder.com/post/stubborn-persistence-reflections-6-years-into-my-ceo-journey#

^redacted‌: On the Nature of Long-term Holds: Why Entrepreneurs Should Embrace this Strategy https://yale.app.box.com/s/8lb7yqca5tmfcjbjhhuw5xft7i1ddttj. and What's Next? Search Fund Entrepreneurs Reflect on Life After Exit https://som.yale.edu/case/2017/whats-next-search-fund-entrepreneurs-reflect-on-life-after-exit
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Reply by a searcher
in Manville, Lincoln, RI 02838, USA
You'd want to talk about this with your investors beforehand.

Are you seeking companies that they'd like to hold onto for the long haul? If so, then there ought to be no issue. So long as they also understand that you will personally want to exit at some point as well. Have everything laid out on the table.

As Karen mentioned, however, majority of investors will want to have an exit event.

It's all about communication and knowing before any hard commitments are made how everything stands. You don't want to suddenly change things on everyone. Since then you're no longer upholding your end of the deal.

Best of luck!
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