What are direct secondaries in private equity?

In the context of private equity, direct secondaries refer specifically to transactions involving the purchase of minority interests in a single company, typically from existing investors looking to liquidate their positions. This concept allows new and existing investors to acquire interests in private companies without engaging in a new round of financing or buying into an entire fund.

Acquiring a minority stake provides investors with exposure to the company's growth potential while not necessarily taking on the level of influence or control associated with a majority interest. This is a vital aspect of the market because it contributes to providing liquidity options for investors and offers opportunities for valuing and participating in well-established companies that may be otherwise unavailable through traditional fundraising methods.