Offered through Institutional Sales & Trading
The alignment of William Blair’s research, sales, and trading capabilities with our private trading business, together with our expertise in executing transactions in hundreds of venture-backed companies, offers immediate synergies and brings greater private market access to our qualified clients.
Looking to facilitate a transaction in privately held securities?
Are you a buyer interested in adding to an existing position or build a new position?
Are you a seller looking for liquidity?
William Blair’s Private Shares Trading Team facilitates transactions in privately held securities, with a focus on shares of venture-backed companies. The team represents both buyers and sellers, handling pricing negotiations between parties and issuer approval for ownership transfer. The team works diligently to provide secondary liquidity for venture-backed companies and to help asset managers build positions in these tightly held companies outside the traditional fundraising environment.
Case One
A sophisticated high-net-worth client reached out to her William Blair advisor seeking an opportunity to make a growth equity investment within a diversified portfolio, via a private business in the aerospace sector. The objective of the investment is long-term capital appreciation potential, understanding the investment and business-related risks. The Private Shares Trading team worked closely with the investor to source the desired equity stake on the secondary market and facilitate the purchase with the seller.
Case Two
A private company executive has a large portion of their net worth invested in a single private business. While there is a medium-term expectation of liquidity opportunity–for example, through a public offering–the current scenario contains limited options for liquidity or enhancing portfolio diversification. Seeking additional options through secondary markets, the executive is able to sell a fractional portion of ownership at what is deemed fair and mutually agreed upon price and terms, at the same time maintaining a substantial equity investment in the company.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact your William Blair Wealth Advisor or PWM@williamblair.com.
Information contained on the internet is not subject to William Blair & Company's control or review, and may not be accurate.
For disclosure information, please visit www.williamblair.com/disclosures
