Rethinking the Exit: Why Selling to an ESOP-Owned Buyer Might Be the Best Deal You Haven’t Considered

At 40 Million Owners, we’ve built our advisory platform around a simple but powerful idea: employee-owned companies should be active, strategic acquirers. When an ESOP acquires a privately held business, it doesn’t just drive growth—it expands the circle of ownership to workers who might never otherwise have access to equity. That’s why we’re so pleased to see the National Center for Employee Ownership hosting a timely and important event: “Acquisitions Evolution: An Alternative Path to Employee Ownership” featuring Daniel Goldstein.

Daniel is a seasoned ESOP operator and longtime advocate for employee ownership. In this webinar, he’ll offer a compelling look at how business owners can exit their companies through a sale to an ESOP-owned acquirer—a path that can offer competitive financial returns while preserving the values and culture they spent years building.

This event could not be more timely. We are in the midst of a generational wave of business transitions. Thousands of founders are preparing to sell, and many are weighing private equity and strategic buyers as their only options. But there is a growing alternative.

ESOP-owned buyers bring more than capital—they bring cultural alignment, long-term thinking, and a track record of honoring the legacy of the companies they acquire.

We encourage business owners and advisors to attend this webinar not just to learn about the tax advantages or financial mechanics of selling to an ESOP buyer, but to understand what this path represents. It is a chance to ensure continuity for employees, to protect the DNA of a company, and to support a transition that rewards the people who helped build the business in the first place.

We applaud NCEO for continuing to elevate these conversations. The more owners learn about the benefits of selling to an employee-owned company, the more opportunity there is to grow the movement and build a more inclusive economy.

Community Conversations: Acquisitions Evolution: An Alternative Path to Employee Ownership