Why this search matters
Sponsor-to-sponsor add-on flow — where a PE-owned platform buys a business that was itself PE-owned — is a specific and recurring slice of M&A. It's not the same as a secondary buyout at the platform level (one sponsor selling a platform to another sponsor); this is add-on flow at the portfolio-company level, where the buying platform is itself PE-backed.
Use this search for:
Sell-side BD on PE-owned add-on candidates. When you're shopping a small or mid-market PE-owned business, the natural buyer universe is other PE-backed platforms that have already shown they buy from sponsors — they understand the process, they're set up for it, and they're not allergic to the sponsor-to-sponsor transaction structure.
Sourcing for your own PE-backed platform. If your sponsor owns a platform doing roll-ups, this list shows the competitive set — other PE-backed platforms shopping in the same lane.
Competitive intel. Tracks which competitors are leaning into the sponsor-to-sponsor add-on channel vs. founder-direct or carve-out sourcing.
Recruiters. Identify leadership ready for their next PE-backed opportunity.
Step 1
Navigate to the Company Search page.
Step 2
Expand the search menu by selecting More Options.
Step 3
Under Ownership Status, select PE Backed (Current). This restricts the universe to companies currently owned by a PE firm.
Step 4
In the M&A Activity section, select From PE under w/ Buy-Side M&A. This narrows to platforms that have completed at least one acquisition where the seller was a PE firm.
Step 5
Select Search. Results show every currently PE-backed company that has acquired at least one business from another PE firm.
Additional filters to try
Add a Sector filter to focus on sponsor-to-sponsor activity in your industry (e.g., software, healthcare, machinery).
Add a Country or State filter to narrow geographically.
Sort by Buy M&A Count to surface the platforms most active in this channel — these are your highest-conviction prospects.
Combine with an Investor (Owner) filter to see only platforms owned by a specific sponsor — useful when scoping competitive sets within a single firm's portfolio.
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 active PE-backed platforms with add-on velocity over the last 6–24 months (the closest toolkit cousin to this search) — see Roll-Up Tracker. Same universe shape, sharper time lens.
For one specific platform's full buyer mix (who they've bought from and sold to across history) — see Trading Partners.
For likely divestiture candidates from this universe (inherited add-ons that don't fit the new owner) — see Shed.
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