Family Office Exit Activity and Deal Volume
Family office exits refer to the sale or public listing of assets controlled by single-family offices (SFOs) and multi-family offices (MFOs). In 2024, total global private equity deal value reached an estimated $1.3 trillion, with exits from family-backed firms accounting for a significant share of secondary buyouts and IPOs. According to data from PitchBook and Preqin, the number of family office exits accelerated in 2023 and continued into 2024, driven by aging founders and generational wealth transfer needs.
The average holding period for family office private equity investments has shortened from 7 to 5 years over the past decade, pushing more exits through SPACs, direct listings, and secondary sales. In 2024, over 400 family-backed companies went public or were sold in secondary transactions, with technology and healthcare sectors representing the largest share of gains. These exits often generate liquidity events that fund new investments or philanthropic vehicles.
Wealth Transfer and Generational Planning
The largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history is underway, with an estimated $84 trillion expected to shift from baby boomers to heirs between 2024 and 2045. Family offices are central to this process, structuring exits, trusts, and charitable vehicles to minimize tax exposure and preserve capital. The SEC has increased scrutiny over family office registration, with many multi-family offices now registering as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act.
Families are increasingly using family offices to exit non-core assets and concentrate portfolios in public equities, private credit, and real assets. According to the UBS Global Family Office Report, over 60% of family offices plan to increase allocations to alternatives over the next 3 years, while also preparing for liquidity events tied to generational transitions. This trend is reshaping how exits are timed and structured.
Key Sectors and Notable Transactions
Technology, healthcare, and financial services remain the top sectors for family office exits and secondary buyouts. In 2024, several high-profile family-backed firms completed major sales, including stakes in fintech platforms and healthcare services companies. Tesla and SpaceX, while not family offices themselves, are frequently cited as examples of founder-led exits and liquidity events that influence family office strategies in the tech and aerospace sectors.
Real estate and private credit are also growing exit categories for family offices. According to Preqin, private credit assets under management surpassed $2 trillion in 2024, with family offices as a key source of capital. Many family offices are now exiting direct lending positions and real estate holdings to capture gains, while redeploying proceeds into newer vintages of private equity and venture capital funds.