Selling shares · Pigment

How to sell your Pigment shares

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

Pigment is a private France-based business software company. Business-planning and forecasting software for finance and operations teams. If you hold vested shares or options in Pigment 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 Pigment and to France.

Independent guide. PrivateTechShares is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Pigment. This is general educational information for people who already hold Pigment shares or options. Always check your own share/option agreements and take professional advice. We do not recommend or endorse any transaction: whether to buy or sell, and on what terms, is entirely the individual decision and responsibility of the buyer and seller, based on their own due diligence.

Can you sell Pigment 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 Pigment shares if they're vested and transferable, and once you've cleared Pigment's transfer rules. There's no public market for a private company, so a sale is a private, negotiated transfer.

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 Pigment shares

There are a few realistic buyers: Pigment itself (if it runs a buyback or tender), existing investors or shareholders (often via a right of first refusal), the investor in Pigment's next funding round, and — when those don't apply — a private individual investor who wants exposure to Pigment. The hard part for a holder is understanding what you actually own, what it might be worth and how a private transfer works. That's what our guides and toolkit are for.

What to expect on price

A private, minority, all-cash secondary usually happens at a discount to Pigment's last headline valuation — because the buyer takes an illiquid stake with no guaranteed exit, and because you likely hold common shares, worth less than investors' preferred shares. See what discount is fair for a realistic range.

Thinking about selling your Pigment shares?

Exercising, holding or selling equity is usually a one-way decision. Doing it well takes a real assessment — what you hold, what it's realistically worth, the transfer rules that apply, and the tax. The equity toolkit is exactly that homework in one place: the free tools give you the numbers; the toolkit turns them into a decision you can stand behind.

Get the equity toolkit →

Questions people ask

Can I sell my Pigment shares before an exit?

Often yes. If you hold vested, transferable shares in Pigment you can sell them to a private buyer in a secondary before an IPO or acquisition, subject to Pigment'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. Pigment is a private company, so there is no public market; a sale is a private, negotiated transfer.

How much are my Pigment shares worth?

There is no live price for a private company like Pigment. A rough estimate starts from the price per share at its most recent funding round, adjusted for your share class and a discount for a private, minority, illiquid stake. Use our free valuation estimator as a starting point.

Who buys Pigment shares?

Typically Pigment itself (via a buyback or tender), existing investors or shareholders (often via a right of first refusal), the investor in an upcoming round, or a private individual investor seeking exposure to Pigment.