Entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) offers aspiring entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to acquire and grow an existing business rather than starting a business from scratch. For investors, the ETA model offers a chance to support such entrepreneurs in the search phase with the opportunity for attractive investment terms at the target acquisition stage. As the current generation of small-business owners look to retirement, millions of such businesses are expected to be sold, representing significant opportunity for both entrepreneurs and investors.
Armstrong Teasdale’s experienced lawyers understand the unique challenges, risks, and opportunities involved in ETA. We have significant experience providing support to prospective and current ETA business owners and investors on all aspects of the process, from search fund formation and capital raises to structuring and effecting acquisitions. Our extensive business knowledge means we advise clients throughout the entire business life cycle, including with respect to bolt-on acquisitions and other ways to grow the initial purchase, recapitalizations, and decisions on how to exit or sell the business.
In addition, Armstrong Teasdale’s deep bench of lawyers means we can offer first-time CEOs legal guidance on every aspect of business management and operational considerations, including employment, banking and financial services, benefits, tax, intellectual property, real estate, regulatory and other issues.
What our clients say
“We pride ourselves in providing an exceptional deal experience to every business owner we transact with. In EtA, that experience needs a high degree of handholding and bespoke solutions that not every buyer is willing to accommodate. AT has been instrumental as we develop those capabilities to stand out as preferred buyers in a very competitive market. We couldn’t be happier with their partnership.”
Juan Ruiz, Batten Hall Partners / Scientific Safety Alliance
“My approach to business growth is rooted in partnership versus acquisition – we acquire a majority stake and keep a mutual balance of trust and work between the partners. I look for that same trust and partnership in legal counsel and have built on that foundation with Armstrong Teasdale since my time at Harvard. AT has helped me advance three separate platforms over five years. The team works seamlessly to address a wide range of needs from debt finance and acquisition to contract review and real estate.”
Jake Sloane, ZBS Partners
“[Our AT lawyers] have been critical partners for Alliance Animal Health over the past 7 years. Over that time, we have completed over 150 acquisitions together and they have supported us with general counsel in other areas of our business. They are our most-trusted advisors and we would not be where we are today without them.”
Matt Sussman, Alliance Animal Health
“[Our AT lawyer] is a best-in-class legal mind, an exceptional, high-integrity human being, and has been an invaluable partner to our organization in both legal execution and value creation for our investors.”
Chris Kempner, Red Barn Equity Partners LLC
“The AT team understands this end of the market well having advised many successful entrepreneurs from founding to exit. The team brings differentiated, sophisticated, and scalable legal services to highly acquisitive businesses.”
Spencer Kushner, Otter Learning
“[Our AT team] has completed three deals for us and is working on four more. We’re thrilled with Armstrong Teasdale for our healthcare rollup.”
Joe Sciamanna, GVO Partners
