Stake transactions
Sell a Company Stake Confidentially
Shareholders may sell part or all of their holdings to secure liquidity, welcome a strategic partner, raise growth capital, rebalance ownership, or complete an orderly exit. B2B Mergers helps structure the opportunity for discovery while protecting sensitive information.
Transaction options
Structures shareholders commonly consider
Minority stake sale
Bring in capital or a partner while retaining control of the company.
Majority or controlling stake sale
Transfer control while remaining involved in an agreed capacity.
Founder or shareholder secondary sale
Provide liquidity to existing shareholders without new primary capital.
Primary capital plus secondary sale
Combine fresh investment into the company with partial shareholder liquidity.
Strategic investor induction
Add a shareholder that contributes market access, capability or supply-chain strength.
Complete shareholder exit
Plan an orderly full exit for one or more shareholders.
Equity transactions require careful review
Stake sales in 2026
Why partial sales are the fastest growing deal type
Promoters increasingly prefer selling shares in stages. A stake sale releases cash, brings in a capable partner and sets a valuation benchmark, without giving up the business entirely.
Liquidity without losing control
Selling 10 to 49 percent lets a founder take money off the table while continuing to run and grow the company.
A valuation benchmark for later
A priced round or stake sale establishes a reference point that makes the next round or a full exit easier to negotiate.
Capability, not just capital
The right shareholder contributes distribution, procurement strength, technology or governance discipline alongside the cheque.
Settling family and legacy holdings
Secondary sales allow inactive shareholders or family branches to exit cleanly without disturbing operations.
Primary plus secondary combinations
Fresh capital into the company can be combined with partial shareholder liquidity in a single, well-documented transaction.
Pathway to a full exit
Many majority sales begin as a minority investment with agreed rights to increase the holding later.
Terms that matter
Commercial terms to settle before signing a share sale
In stake transactions the shareholder agreement often matters more than the headline price.
- Valuation basis, pre-money and post-money position.
- Board composition, reserved matters and voting thresholds.
- Information rights and reporting frequency.
- Anti-dilution, pre-emption and rights of first refusal.
- Tag-along and drag-along rights on a future sale.
- Promoter lock-in, non-compete and non-solicit undertakings.
- Exit mechanism, timeline and buy-back or put-call arrangements.
- Warranties, indemnities and escrow or holdback amounts.
- Regulatory approvals, including foreign investment rules where applicable.
- Tax treatment of the transfer for each selling shareholder.
Stake sale FAQ
Selling company shares: frequently asked questions
What percentage should I sell?+
It depends on how much capital you need and how much control you intend to keep. Below 26 percent usually preserves full operational freedom, while a sale above 50 percent transfers control and is priced accordingly.
How is a minority stake valued?+
Usually from the enterprise value of the whole company, adjusted for net debt, then discounted for lack of control and limited marketability. Strategic buyers sometimes pay a premium for rights that a purely financial investor would not.
Can I sell shares in a private limited company freely?+
Transfers are subject to the articles of association, any existing shareholder agreement, pre-emption rights and, for cross-border transfers, applicable foreign investment and pricing rules. Legal review is essential before you commit.
What is the difference between primary and secondary?+
Primary means new shares are issued and the money goes into the company. Secondary means existing shares change hands and the money goes to the selling shareholder.