From Europe to the US: A Cross-Border Exit
Great brands don’t always need more growth. Sometimes they need the right connection.
Two EU-based founders had built a strong supplement company with a solid foundation. The brand was credible, the product was proven, and the business had real potential. They had already tried to exit once before with another firm, but the process didn’t deliver. The interest wasn’t strong enough, the buyer reach wasn’t wide enough, and the result was simple, they weren’t going to get the exit they deserved.
That’s when Van Driel Capital took over.
The Challenge: A Strong Brand, Limited Buyer Reach
The business wasn’t the problem. The buyer universe was.
When we reviewed their previous exit attempt, it was clear the buyer pool was too narrow. Not enough volume, not enough quality, and not enough international reach. For a brand like this, that is a serious limitation. You can have a great company, but if you’re only speaking to a small local network, you’re leaving options and leverage on the table.
For this brand, it was obvious the right buyer might not be close by.
Strategic Intervention: Expanding the Buyer Universe
We rebuilt the process around what matters most in cross-border exits, reaching the right buyers globally, positioning the opportunity clearly, and running a structured process that creates momentum.
We reviewed the buyer landscape, activated our international network, and brought serious groups into the conversation quickly. Within a short time, multiple offers were on the table. The dynamic changed from “hope” to “choice”.
And then the right fit emerged.
A US buying group showed strong intent early. They understood the category, saw the long-term potential, and were prepared to move forward. But cross-border deals bring added complexity, more stakeholders, more legal and fiscal layers, and more room for friction if the process isn’t managed tightly.
Competitive Offers and Cross-Border Negotiations
The US buyer didn’t treat this as a remote, spreadsheet deal. They flew in twice, visited the business, met the founders, and built real trust. The relationship mattered, but the negotiation still required precision.
Cross-border exits demand alignment across jurisdictions, different deal cultures, and different expectations. There were tough negotiation points, moments where pace needed to be protected, and details that had to be handled carefully to keep the deal moving without losing leverage.
We managed the process end to end, facilitated the right introductions, kept communication clean, and ensured negotiations stayed controlled. In the end, we closed the deal on very strong terms, and the founders secured the exit for 7+ figures.
Exit and Celebrations
After closing, we celebrated the right way, with a dinner in the heart of Amsterdam. For the founders, it wasn’t just a transaction. It marked the end of one chapter and the start of the next.
The Next Chapter: New Investments in Pet Food
With the exit secured, the founders moved forward with clarity and capital. They reinvested into their next venture, a new company in the pet food space, carrying the confidence and experience that comes from closing a serious deal properly.
Key Takeaway: Network Is Leverage in Cross-Border Exits
Cross-border exits are rarely difficult because the brand is different. They’re difficult because execution must be sharper, and the buyer reach must be wider.
A strong international network is not an extra. It creates options. It creates leverage. And in many cases, it creates the difference between one local offer and multiple serious offers from around the world.
At Van Driel Capital, our international buyer network is one of our core edges. It allows us to connect founders with serious acquirers globally and run a process that results in strong terms and clear outcomes.
Contact Van Driel Capital to have an open conversation about how an exit could look like for your brand.
