November 18, 2025
We are pleased to announce that search funds, also known as ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition) trajectories, are a new and important pillar of our investment strategy. This expansion aligns directly with our long-standing focus on the European lower mid-market, where we have built a strong position. The Search Fund model aligns closely with our way of investing: staying close to the entrepreneur, thinking pragmatically, and helping companies with succession and continuity challenges to ensure sustainable growth. For Directors and Major Shareholders, this model offers a strong opportunity to leave their company in good hands through a Management Buy-In. The company retains its character, while a new entrepreneur with full personal commitment continues and further develops it.
Our presence in the European lower mid-market is firmly established. Through a broad network of fund managers in Western Europe, we know the dynamics of this market inside out: sectors, valuations, deal structuring and buy-and-build strategies. Drawing on this experience, we can offer searchers immediate added value, both substantively and strategically. The ETA approach also fits seamlessly with our role as a committed, entrepreneurial investor who provides targeted and results-oriented support.
We are now committed to a group of driven searchers who each search for strong companies in the lower mid-market within their own criteria. We look forward to supporting them throughout their entire journey, from identifying and acquiring suitable companies to realising value creation after the acquisition.
To demonstrate our commitment to this new group of searchers, we have added search funds as a new investment category on our portfolio page. All search funds to which we are committed are displayed here.
We also welcome contact with other parties within the Search Fund ecosystem. Feel free to send us a message via the contact form on our website or email Quint directly at quint@schouteninvestments.nl.
