Selling shares · Pennylane

How to sell your Pennylane shares

Hold vested shares or options in Pennylane (fintech, France)? Here's how a private secondary sale works, the rules that apply in France, who buys, and what to expect.

Pennylane is a private fintech company headquartered in France. If you hold vested shares or options in Pennylane and want to turn part of that into cash before an IPO or acquisition, this is a plain-English guide to how a private secondary sale actually works — and what's specific to Pennylane and to France.

Independent guide. PrivateTechShares is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Pennylane. This is general educational information for people who already hold Pennylane shares or options. Always check your own share/option agreements and take professional advice.

Can you sell Pennylane shares before an exit?

Often, yes. Selling existing shares you own in a private company to a private buyer, before the company is sold or lists, is called a secondary sale. It's possible for Pennylane shares if they're vested and transferable, and once you've cleared Pennylane's transfer rules. There's no public market for a private company, so a sale is a private, negotiated transfer — not a click of a button.

What you probably hold

First, pin down what you actually have. In France, startup equity is usually held as BSPCE or other instruments, which you exercise into shares in the SAS. You can generally only sell shares, so if you hold options you typically exercise them (pay the strike price to convert them into shares) before you can sell. Check your grant documents for your vested amount, strike price and any deadlines.

The rules that apply in France

How a sale works, and how it's taxed, depends on the rules in France — transfer formalities, any right of first refusal, and the tax on a gain. We've written a dedicated plain-English guide: selling startup shares in France. Read it alongside this page.

Who buys Pennylane shares

There are four realistic buyers, roughly in order: Pennylane itself (if it runs a buyback or tender), existing investors or shareholders (often via a right of first refusal), the investor in Pennylane's next funding round, and — when those don't apply — a private individual investor who wants exposure to Pennylane. Recognisable names like Pennylane tend to attract private-investor interest; the hard part is finding that buyer discreetly, which is the gap we fill.

What to expect on price

A private, minority, all-cash secondary usually happens at a discount to Pennylane's last headline valuation — because the buyer takes an illiquid stake with no guaranteed exit, and because you likely hold common shares, which are worth less than investors' preferred shares. That's normal, not a trick. See what discount is fair for a realistic range.

Thinking about selling your Pennylane shares?

You can list them privately — you stay anonymous until an investor signs an NDA, and you only pay a fee if a deal actually closes. We focus on exactly these small European secondaries (€10k–€750k).

List your shares →

Hold options and weighing whether to exercise first? The exercise & tax calculators (US) and the valuation estimator can help you put a number on it.

Questions people ask

Can I sell my Pennylane shares before an exit?

Often yes. If you hold vested, transferable shares in Pennylane you can sell them to a private buyer in a secondary before an IPO or acquisition, subject to Pennylane's transfer rules — typically a right of first refusal and board or company approval. If you hold options rather than shares, you generally exercise them into shares first. Pennylane is a private company, so there is no public market; a sale is a private, negotiated transfer.

How much are my Pennylane shares worth?

There is no live price for a private company like Pennylane. A rough estimate starts from the price per share at its most recent funding round, adjusted for your share class (common shares are usually worth less than the preferred shares investors hold) and a discount for selling a private, minority, illiquid stake. Use our free valuation estimator as a starting point, and remember it is only an estimate.

Who buys Pennylane shares?

Four types of buyer: Pennylane itself (via a buyback or tender, if it runs one), existing investors or shareholders (often via a right of first refusal), the investor in an upcoming funding round, or a private individual investor seeking exposure to Pennylane. Well-known names often attract private-investor interest, which is where an introductions-only marketplace helps.