Common exit routes
In venture capital and private equity, common exit routes include an initial public offering (IPO), a trade sale to a strategic buyer, a sale to another private equity investor (secondary sale or secondary buyout), and, in unsuccessful cases, a write-off of the investment. The choice of exit route depends on market conditions, the maturity of the company, and the objectives of the investor. International Finance Corporation publications similarly describe exits through IPOs, trade sales, sales to other investors, and management buyouts as standard mechanisms for realizing returns on private investments. ==References==