Home The Modern Handshake Deal™
Technology Finds the Counterparties. Relationships Close the Transaction.
The Modern Handshake Deal™ is the process behind every secondary transaction at Sell Side Securities, whichever side of the trade you’re on.
Why a Handshake Still Matters
For generations, deals were built on trust: two parties who understood each other and shook hands on a shared view of the future. Technology has made private markets faster and wider, but it hasn’t replaced that understanding.
Traditional advisory firms bring relationships but can lean on conventional approaches. Automated platforms bring reach and efficiency but strip away the human context that helps a buyer understand what they’re buying. The Modern Handshake Deal™ combines the two: technology to find and organize counterparties, and people to tell the story and close the transaction.
Read the full story in The Modern Handshake Deal™: Blending Relationships and Technology.
Three Parts
- Technology Finds counterparties and organizes information
- Storytelling Gives buyers the context behind the numbers
- Relationships Carry a transaction through approvals to closing
- Confidentiality Information shared only as needed
The Steps, on Both Sides of the Trade
Choose your side. Each track runs from your goals to closing.
When You’re Selling
01
Understand Your Goals
How much to sell, your timing, and the transfer rules in your company’s documents.
02
Tell the Story
Present the position with the context a serious buyer needs.
03
Find the Buyer
Confidential outreach to qualified buyers in our network.
04
Agree the Terms
Negotiate price and terms, and work through company approvals.
05
Close the Transaction
Documentation, settlement and the transfer of the shares.
When You’re Buying
01
Define What You’re Seeking
The companies, position size and timing you have in mind.
02
Confirm Eligibility
Verify accredited investor status. We work only with accredited investors, with a preference for qualified purchasers.
03
Find the Position
Confidential outreach to holders in our network.
04
Agree the Terms
Negotiate price and terms, and work through company approvals.
05
Close the Transaction
Documentation, settlement and the transfer of the shares.
What Confidential Means Here
Discreet Outreach
We approach qualified counterparties, not the open market.
Need-To-Know Sharing
Information about your position is shared only as needed with qualified counterparties.
No Surprises
Company approval steps are explained before they happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a secondary transaction take?
It depends on buyer interest and the company’s transfer process, including any right of first refusal. We’ll give you a realistic view once we’ve reviewed your position.
Is the process the same for buyers and sellers?
The structure is the same. Sellers start with the transfer rules for their shares; buyers start with what they’re seeking and eligibility.
Start a Confidential Conversation
Tell us about the position you hold or the one you’re looking for. We’ll reply by email to discuss whether a transaction is possible. Fit runs both ways, and there’s no obligation.