Navigating Strategic Exits: M&A, ESOPs, Private Equity & IPOs

The panel explores strategic pathways for business ownership transition, covering options like ESOPs, private equity, strategic sales, and IPOs. It emphasizes the importance of aligning personal and company priorities when considering a transition, including honestly assessing timelines and goals. The discussion highlights that selling to a third party can bring needed expertise and capital, while ESOPs offer liquidity and legacy preservation. Valuations are based on market conditions, industry specifics, and company-specific factors, with the panel dispelling the myth that strategics always pay more than private equity. The panel also underscores the need for robust compliance programs and transparent operations to facilitate successful M&A transactions.