Why this search matters
Fresh PE exits are a high-value slice of M&A:
Sell-side advisory BD — when a PE-backed company exits to a strategic, the new corporate owner is now in market for post-close services and (eventually) future M&A. Banks track this list for relationship-building.
Sourcing post-PE targets — companies fresh out of PE ownership are often professionalized, audited, and well-positioned for the next sponsor's interest. Strong inputs for buy-side mandates.
Vendor and service-provider BD — companies in ownership transitions need integration consultants, IT separation specialists, insurance brokers, accounting firms, and HR advisors. Tracking fresh exits surfaces the highest-intent prospect list.
Recruiting — newly exited companies often have leadership turnover and post-close hiring.
Step 1
Open the Company Search page.
Step 2
Click More Options to expand the full filter set.
Step 3
With the search menu expanded - locate the 'Ownership Status' block in the left column and select the PE Backed (Former) checkbox. Select Search.
Note: The PE Backed (Former) checkbox returns every company that has ever been PE-owned — including those currently on their second or third sponsor. It is not an "exited PE entirely" filter. To see the current ownership of any result, click into the company; the previous PE owners appear in the right column of the profile.
Step 4
Change the Sort dropdown from its default ("Acquisition Count — High to Low") to "Was Acquired — Most Recent Date First." This re-orders the result set by the date of the most recent ownership change.
Additional filters to try
Add a Sector filter to focus on PE exits in your industry.
Add a Country, State, or City filter to narrow geographically.
Export or Save Records to a List
Click Download at the top of the results to export the first 250 records as a CSV. You can also select individual records and add to a curated list.
Going further
For one PE firm's full exit history (every realized investment, with patterns) — see Trading Partners. The Exits column maps where the firm's portfolio companies went.
For one specific exited company's full ownership topology (every era, every transition, every advisor) — see Ownership Graph.
For PE platforms currently in build mode that may be near-future exits — see Roll-Up Tracker and watch the Cooling tag on long-held platforms.
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