I would like to share and thank elEconomista newspaper for the article published today in Spain, which has helped us to raise awareness of the advantages of the Search Fund model.

There is no doubt that the Search Fund model is not only very interesting for the Searchers and their investors, but also for sellers who are looking for a generational replacement. Through the Search Fund model, the new manager and principal shareholder will devote 100% of his or her time to continuing the founder's legacy and drive the company into a new phase of growth, with the advice and support of investors such as Arada Capital Partners.
Below is a translation of the article from the newspaper elEconomista:

https://www.eleconomista.es/empresas-finanzas/noticias/###-###-#### /04/22/Nace-el-fondo-de-busqueda-Arcadio-Investments-para-facilitar-el-relevo-generacional-de-las-pymes.html

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The ‘search fund’ Arcadio Investments facilitates the generational replacement of SMEs.

The search fund ecosystem continues to grow in Spain with an increasing acceptance of this entrepreneurial model through the acquisition of a single company. Arcadio Investments was created with the purpose of facilitating the generational handover to a businessman who wants to preserve his legacy and essence of his company. To this end, the new firm led by entrepreneur ^Searchfunder member‌ is actively seeking a unique partnership with the founder of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to actively manage it and grow the business over the long term.

Under this investment proposal, Arcadio Investments looks for companies in sectors with growth prospects, sustainable returns, low exposure to external factors (regulation and economic cycle), with a niche or high added value product/ service and a stable and diversified client portfolio. Specifically, Arcadio Investments focuses on businesses between 5 and 20 million euros with a track record of growth and stable revenues.

The search fund takes an active role in the company in which it invests. “We join the management team full time and travel to their headquarters to manage the day-to-day operations. Unlike traditional private equity, we dedicate 100% of our time, energy and capital to the continued success and growth of the one company acquired” explains Vera.

Investment Base

Arcadio Investments is backed by more than 20 partners, institutional and individual investors, both national and international, with an outstanding experience as businessmen, investors, and entrepreneurs. As partners in the project, they will assist the searcher in the investment decision-making, through Arcadio’s investment committee, and subsequently in they will support the Jacobo in the operational management of the company, through the board of directors.

Among the investors that have supported Arcadio Investments, Arada Capital Partners has supported Jacobo Vera since the very beginning. Arada Capital Partners invests in search funds globally. Combining the traditional private equity model with aspects of entrepreneurship, Arada Capital invests through an innovative collaborative model of “entrepreneurial acquisitions”, capable of generating superior returns for investors and entrepreneurs.

Arada Capital Partners, based in Madrid, invest and advises search funds and similar vehicles. Through the “search funds” it takes minority but relevant stakes in small and medium-sized companies. In addition to investing, Arada Capital Partners also actively supports search funds in the search for their companies, in the subsequent acquisition and value creation process – once acquired – and in the final exit (final divestment).

Growing ecosystem

^Searchfunder member‌, international investor in the ecosystem and advisor at Arada Capital Partners, explains that Spain is one of the main players in the search fund ecosystem thanks to the multiple factors driving the proliferation of this type of investment vehicle. “The typical target of search funds are SMEs with an ebitda between 1 and 3 million euros. Companies with a track record of profitability and growth, which, due to succession issues or other reasons, their owners want to sell. This type of operation is viewed favorably by banks when it comes to financing the acquisition and their new strategic plan, as they are proven and solvent businesses with a good financial structure”, he explains. In his opinion, after the baby-boomer generation, a simple demographic reasoning makes it obvious that the opportunities for companies/SMEs to be acquired are very high. “Although there are many search funds in Spain, competition is still limited and much lower than in segments of the market where acquisitions are larger”, he concludes.

Arada’s latest investments also include Signatus Capital, the search fund led by Spanish entrepreneur Enrique Sales. Last December Enrique’ acquired IESMAT, the Spanish leader in applied technology solutions. With the operation, the industrial engineer has assumed the functions of CEO of the group and acquired a significant stake in the company together with other private investors, with the aim of promoting a new phase of growth.