Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

London Business School (LBS) is a leading institution in the realm of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), offering an exclusive glimpse into this innovative approach to business ownership.

At LBS, we offer an exceptional ETA elective, led by industry expert and LBS alumnus Simon Webster, with the support of experienced guest speakers in the field. Simon achieved historic success by raising the first search fund outside of North America and was only the fifth person to undertake this journey worldwide. In 1995, he acquired RSL and assumed the role of Chief Executive, propelling the company's growth from £3.5 million to an astounding £30 million. Simon's visionary leadership also delivered top quartile returns for his investors, solidifying RSL's position as an industry leader.

Our elective program equips you with the knowledge and skills essential for starting a journey in the world of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition and is available through the MBA, EMBA and Sloan programmes. The course is part of the MBA programme’s Entrepreneurial Management Concentration and is aimed at those who want to learn more about becoming a CEO by acquiring a company straight from business school. It informs participants about the current pathways of ETA and the key steps in the process.

Case Studies in ETA

We invite you to explore the compelling case studies that provide valuable insights into the world of ETA.

Nova Ventures: Searching for gems in the UK

By Luisa Alemany, Florin Vasvari

Preview case here.

Insearch Ltd: Searching for a company to buy

By Simon Webster

Preview case here.