Category: Employee Ownership Trends
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CEO Peer Network Working Session
Most ESOP CEOs are closer to their first acquisition than they think. They just do not know where to start, and many do not have a peer group that has been through it. On June 8, Mike Brady, CEO and Co-founder of 40 Million Owners, will be leading an NCEO CEO Peer Network session designed…
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The Rise of Buyer-Led M&A: Why ESOPs Are Built to Win It
If you run a profitable, well-established business, your email inbox probably tells you something. Mixed in among the customer notes, vendor messages, and internal updates is a steady stream of unsolicited outreach from people you have never met, all making some version of the same pitch: they represent serious capital, they are interested in acquiring…
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Thank You and Happy New Year
As 2025 comes to a close, we want to pause and say thank you to our collaborators who rolled up their sleeves with us, to our clients who trusted us with work that truly matters, and to our friends and family members who supported the late nights, the big ideas, and the belief that business…
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ESOPs as Vehicles for Growth, The Acquisition Opportunity in 2026
For decades, ESOPs have been framed primarily as a succession solution, a thoughtful and values-aligned exit for retiring founders. That narrative is no longer complete. As we move into 2026, employee-owned companies are increasingly being recognized not just as responsible stewards of legacy businesses, but as engines for growth, disciplined capital allocators, and credible, competitive…
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Employee Ownership Comes to Fast Company
Sometimes the big solutions are the ones we overlook because they seem almost too obvious. Fast Company featured a piece by Mike Brady of 40 Million Owners that asks a simple question: if employee ownership keeps building wealth, strengthening companies, and creating stability, why aren’t we scaling it everywhere? The article underscores what many of…
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Expanding Employee Ownership Through Acquisitions
The podcast episode explores the story behind the creation of 40 Million Owners and highlights how the firm expands the capabilities of ESOPs by giving them the strategic and operational support needed to pursue M&A with confidence and clarity.
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Acquisitions Take Center Stage at Employee Owned 2025
The Employee Owned 2025 conference made one thing abundantly clear: acquisitions have moved from a niche strategic option to a core topic for ESOP leaders. With seven dedicated sessions exploring various aspects of ESOP acquisitions, the conference reflected a fundamental shift in how employee-owned companies view growth and sustainability. From Peripheral to Essential Acquisitions are…
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How Smart ESOPs Link Repurchase Planning with Acquisition-Driven Growth
An ESOP repurchase obligation forecast is a long-term projection of the cash required to meet the plan’s distribution commitments in accordance with its policy on timing, form, and method. At its best, it serves as a framework for sustaining the company’s financial health and long-term viability. Too often, however, repurchase obligation studies can be treated…
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October is Employee Ownership Month
Let’s celebrate! At 40 Million Owners, we believe one of the best ways to grow employee ownership is by empowering existing ESOPs to think bigger, by becoming more acquisitive, scaling their impact, and showing what is possible when ownership is shared. Employee ownership is not just an exit strategy. It is a growth strategy. When…