eoaLive! October 2026

BREAKOUT 1C | Beyond the Transition: Financing Your EO Business

Transitioning to employee ownership is only the beginning of the financial journey. From repaying deferred consideration and managing debt, to balancing founder expectations with long-term business sustainability, financing an employee owned business (EOB) can present unique challenges and opportunities.   An adviser, investor and employee owned business will share their lived experience of refinancing post-transition, for a practical and honest discussion about funding life after employee ownership.  The session will explore how lenders and advisers assess EOBs, what refinancing options are available, and how leaders can improve financial literacy across the business to support informed decision-making and long-term resilience.

Hear real-world case studies, discover common pitfalls, and bring your questions for the dedicated Q&A session.

Who Should Attend

  • Leaders of employee owned businesses navigating growth, debt, or refinancing
  • Founders exploring transition and repayment structures
  • Explorers wanting to understand the financial realities of employee ownership

What You’ll Learn

  • How EOBs can approach debt, deferred consideration, and refinancing post-transition
  • What lenders and investors look for when assessing employee owned businesses
  • The risks and opportunities involved in balancing founder repayment with business sustainability
When
08/10/2026 13:30 - 14:30
GMT Daylight Time

Speakers

Expr1
Martin Cooper

Martin Cooper

RSM

SPEAKER

Martin is a Partner at RSM UK and is national head of the firm’s Employer Solutions business. He is one of the UK’s most experienced employee ownership advisors, having led on more than 50 EOT transactions over the past decade, including several of the UK’s largest EOT transactions as well as working with a wide range of smaller and mid-size businesses in the EO sector. Martin is passionate about delivering employee ownership in a way that provides positive outcomes for all stakeholders, including shareholders, employees and management teams, while creating a strong platform for long-term success as an employee-owned business. RSM UK is a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting solutions to the middle market, with around 6,000 partners and staff based in 29 locations across the UK. RSM UK is part of RSM Global, the world’s sixth largest professional services network with 65,000 professionals across 120 countries.