The most purpose-built Spanish marketplace for a search fund acquirer, with deal sizes and buyer profiles that directly match the search fund model and a platform explicitly designed for M&A rather than general business listings.
Deale is a Barcelona-founded digital M&A platform launched in 2021 by Gerard García, a former M&A advisor at Arcano Partners. It connects SMEs seeking buyers or investors with acquirers and advisors through a structured, NDA-protected process targeting companies with revenues between €3 million and €40 million. The platform has facilitated over 100 closed transactions totalling more than €400 million, with average deal values between €4 million and €8 million and individual transactions ranging from €300,000 to €35 million. Search funds are explicitly listed among the buyer profiles on the platform alongside private equity funds, family offices and industrial buyers.
Why searchers use it
Deale operates specifically in the SME M&A segment that search funds target, distinguishing it from general classified sites where the majority of listings are micro-businesses and fonds de comercio with no relevance for a searcher. Companies listed on Deale are presented with standardised financial information drawn from the Registro Mercantil, allowing a searcher to qualify opportunities before any contact is made. The NDA-protected process means sellers can list with confidentiality preserved, which attracts more serious listings from owners who are genuinely considering a sale but are not ready to go public. The platform currently closes between three and five transactions per month, signalling active deal flow rather than a static listing database.
Core capabilities relevant to search funds
- Verified listings: Over 6,000 companies for sale with standardised financial data including revenue and EBITDA, drawn from Registro Mercantil and seller submissions
- AI matching: Weekly personalised recommendations based on buyer acquisition thesis and behaviour on the platform, available on paid plans
- NDA-protected process: Anonymised profiles until NDA is signed, with confidentiality preserved throughout for both sides
- Buyer profile: Register acquisition criteria to be discoverable by sellers and advisors on the platform
- Advisor network: Over 2,000 M&A advisors and brokers active on the platform, generating sell-side deal flow alongside direct seller listings
- Deal support: Structured transaction process with Deal Managers guiding both sides, targeting closure in under 100 days
Honest limitations
Deale’s paid plans represent a meaningful cost for a searcher. The Free tier allows browsing but limits expressions of interest to 10, which is not sufficient for a structured search campaign. Full platform access including AI recommendations and complete company information requires a paid subscription, which user accounts indicate costs approximately €500 per month at entry level and around €1,200 per month for a dedicated account manager. A success fee of 1% on the transaction value is charged on deal close, offset against subscription fees paid. A searcher should factor this total cost into their budget before committing. The platform is entirely in Spanish.
Getting started
Register a free account to browse listings and assess deal quality before committing to a paid subscription. A deal manager call is available before subscribing.
Pricing
- Free tier: unlimited marketplace browsing, maximum 10 expressions of interest
- Paid plans from approximately €500 per month, with higher tiers unlocking AI recommendations, full company information and dedicated account manager support
- Discounts of 10% for semester and 20% for annual billing
- Success fee of 1% on transaction value at close, offset against subscription fees paid
