Andra Partners
Andra Partners is a Franklin, Tennessee-based buy-side M&A origination firm founded in 2011 that uses a proprietary 6-step targeted search process to identify proprietary acquisition targets for private equity firms and corporate clients in the U.S. middle market.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersFranklin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Andra Partners does
Andra Partners, LLC is a thematic buy-side mergers and acquisitions origination firm founded in 2011 by William G. Freels III and headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. The firm identifies proprietary acquisition targets on behalf of private equity firms and corporate strategic acquirers operating in the U.S. middle market and lower middle market, with client fund sizes ranging from $100M to over $20B. Its core methodology is a proprietary 6-step targeted search process that combines thematic research with structured engagement protocols to surface companies not actively for sale and facilitate confidential three-way introductions between targets and acquirers.
The firm delivers three principal services: Thematic Targeted Search (thesis-driven identification of proprietary acquisition candidates for client-defined platform and add-on initiatives), Opportunistic Search (matching identified companies with alternative acquirers when better fits exist outside the original mandate), and Executed Targeted Searches (facilitating introductions across industry verticals). Supporting research is performed by a team that uses paid subscription databases and public-domain sources, distinguishing the firm's capabilities from competitors relying on simple NAICS/SIC code filters. The firm explicitly does not charge sellers; all fees are paid by PE and corporate clients.
Andra Partners generates revenue through M&A origination fees and success-based advisory compensation under multi-year engagements. The firm operates without a traditional distribution channel model, relying instead on direct enterprise relationships cultivated over 15 years. Since founding, the firm has delivered over $5B in change-of-control investment opportunities and supported over $1.5B in closed client transactions. The team of approximately 15 professionals is led by the founder and includes 11 Directors with 20-35+ years of M&A experience, alongside four Research Analysts. Andra has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 four times (2020, 2021, 2023, 2025) and holds BBB A+ accreditation.
Andra Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Andra Partners
- Legal name
- Andra Partners, LLC
- Website
- https://andrapartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Andra Partners is a Franklin, Tennessee-based buy-side M&A origination firm founded in 2011 that uses a proprietary 6-step targeted search process to identify proprietary acquisition targets for private equity firms and corporate clients in the U.S. middle market.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Andra Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- M&A Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory (FSAEAIAD), M&A / Corporate Finance Finders (Deal Origination) (FSAEAMAD), Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)
Keywords
Where Andra Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Franklin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Andra Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- M&A Origination Services: Buy-side M&A origination fees paid by private equity and corporate clients. The firm charges clients for identifying and engaging proprietary acquisition targets through thematic targeted searches. All fees are paid directly by clients (private equity and corporate buyers), with no cost to sellers.
- Success-based Advisory: Transaction advisory services supporting clients through the M&A transaction lifecycle, including deal sourcing, execution support, and relationship facilitation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom engagement based on client scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Andra Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Andra Partners is a thematic buy-side M&A origination firm that executes proprietary 6-step targeted searches to identify and engage pure proprietary acquisition opportunities for private equity firms and corporate clients. The firm supports both platform and add-on acquisition initiatives across nearly all industry verticals in the middle market and lower middle market, leveraging deep thematic research and facilitating confidential three-way introductions between target company ownership and aligned acquirers. All fees are paid by the PE and corporate buyer clients, with no cost to sellers.
Product overview
Andra Partners is a thematic buy-side Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Originations firm that operates as a single unified service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is a proprietary 6-step targeted search process that identifies proprietary acquisition and investment opportunities for private equity and corporate clients. Key services include Thematic Targeted Search (thesis-driven acquisition target identification), Opportunistic Search (matching companies with appropriate acquirers outside initial mandates), and Executed Targeted Searches (facilitating introductions across industry verticals). The firm focuses exclusively on the middle market and lower middle market segments, supporting clients with investment funds ranging from $100M to over $20B.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Thematic Targeted Search A proprietary 6-step targeted search process that identifies and engages pure proprietary acquisition and investment targets on behalf of private equity and corporate clients. It leverages deep thematic research to find growth companies aligned with client investment theses and is equally effective for both platform and add-on targeted search initiatives across nearly all industry verticals.
- Opportunistic Search A specialized research protocol that identifies appropriate prospective acquirers when a company identified through targeted search is better suited for a different firm, or when a company independently seeks confidential introduction to potential acquirers outside of an initial mandate.
- Executed Targeted Searches A framework for identifying thematically aligned acquisition candidates selected by clients from research, then discreetly engaging with candidate leadership to introduce them to private equity and corporate clients through live three-way introductions across industry verticals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1.5B in closed transactions with clients since founding in 2011
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Andra Partners
Customer profileNamed customers60 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Andra Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Andra Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Andra Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sources Global Research: Specialist buy-side M&A research and origination firm serving private equity clients with thematic sourcing mandates. Closest direct analog to Andra Partners' 6-step targeted search process and PE-focused origination model.
- Grata: AI-enabled deal sourcing and origination platform targeting middle-market PE and corporate buyers with proprietary company discovery. Comparable to Andra in serving thesis-driven, off-market sourcing for PE clients.
- PrivSource: Buy-side M&A origination firm focused exclusively on PE clients, providing proprietary deal flow in the lower middle market. Highly comparable business model to Andra's lifecycle partnership approach.
- SourceScrub: Market mapping and PE deal sourcing platform (merged with Grata in 2023) used by PE firms to identify proprietary acquisition targets. Direct competitor in the PE-origination workflow.
- Axial: Middle-market M&A network and origination platform connecting PE buyers with sell-side advisors and business owners. Comparable to Andra in serving thesis-driven lower middle-market transactions.
Broad incumbents
- Pitchbook: Premier PE/VC market intelligence and deal database used by sponsors for deal sourcing, comparable market intelligence, and benchmarking. A broader incumbent whose data infrastructure competes for mind-share in origination workflows.
- Mergermarket (Acuris): Global M&A intelligence and deal origination platform owned by Acuris/IHS Markit. Competes with Andra's thematic research by providing broad deal intelligence to PE and corporate acquirers.
- S&P Capital IQ Pro: Enterprise-grade financial data, screening, and M&A intelligence platform used by PE and corporate development teams for target sourcing. Broad incumbent whose screening capabilities overlap Andra's research workflow.
- Houlihan Lokey: Global investment bank with a strong middle-market M&A advisory practice serving PE and corporate clients on buy-side and sell-side mandates. A broader incumbent competing for the same PE origination wallet.
- Raymond James (Investment Banking): Diversified middle-market investment bank with active M&A advisory practice serving PE sponsors on buy-side and sell-side mandates. Comparable as a broader incumbent targeting overlapping PE clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Andra Partners social profiles
Digital presenceAndra Partners compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Andra Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Andra Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Andra Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Andra Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Andra Partners
What does Andra Partners do?
Andra Partners is a thematic buy-side M&A origination firm that executes proprietary 6-step targeted searches to identify and engage pure proprietary acquisition opportunities for private equity firms and corporate clients. The firm supports both platform and add-on acquisition initiatives across nearly all industry verticals in the middle market and lower middle market, leveraging deep thematic research and facilitating confidential three-way introductions between target company ownership and aligned acquirers. All fees are paid by the PE and corporate buyer clients, with no cost to sellers.
Is Andra Partners a public or private company?
Andra Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Andra Partners founded?
Andra Partners was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Andra Partners based?
Andra Partners is headquartered in Franklin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Andra Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. M&A Origination Services are the primary driver. The others are success-based Advisory.
Who are Andra Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sources Global Research, Grata, PrivSource, SourceScrub and Axial. Broad incumbents are Pitchbook, Mergermarket (Acuris), S&P Capital IQ Pro, Houlihan Lokey and Raymond James (Investment Banking).
Does Andra Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Andra Partners.
What industry is Andra Partners in?
Andra Partners's product category is M&A Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAB, Buy-Side M&A Advisory, with a secondary code of FSAEAIAD, Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory. Its NAICS code is 5231 and its SIC code is 8742.