A few years ago, a local business owner faced a pivotal moment. He was trying to sell his company to a private equity firm, but the offers fell short of his expectations. Seeking guidance, he turned to his commercial banking partners.
The commercial lending team at Orlando-headquartered FAIRWINDS Credit Union suggested an alternative: selling to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). They connected the owner with a local boutique investment banking firm to help close the deal.