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Building on the momentum of the past two years, Gerald Edelman is thrilled to announce the return of the ETA Awards for a third consecutive year.
The ETA Awards spotlight both emerging and established searchers and CEOs who have executed outstanding acquisitions, addressed succession challenges in SMEs, unlocked value for sellers, driven business growth, and delivered strong returns for investors.
Over the past few years, the number and reach of SFs have grown significantly. According to IESE Business School’s 2024 study, of the 320 international SFs tracked, 121 were either actively searching for an acquisition or fundraising for one. Of the remaining 199, 146 had completed acquisitions by the end of 2023. The study reported a median purchase price of $11.7M for acquisitions outside North America, with average target revenues of $7.8M and an EBITDA margin of 24%, reflecting a broader global footprint and increasing sector diversification heading into 2025.
Last year’s awards were a resounding success, bringing together 150 entrepreneurs from across the ETA community.
This year, two new award categories will be introduced: “Serial Acquirer of the Year” and “Intern of the Year”. For the first time ever, submissions will also be open to international entrants.
The judging panel for 2025 will return, featuring:
- Bramley Johnson, Founding Partner at Victoriam Equity and active SF investor
- Alex Glasner, former ETA Award winner and the searcher behind the 2021 acquisition of Workpays
- Lisa Conmy, Partner at JMW and trusted adviser to entrepreneurs across the UK
Carl Lundberg, CEO of Gerald Edelman, Founder and Host of The Found & Funded Podcast, and Founder of the ETA Awards, will once again host the event. Returning sponsors include Marriott Harrison, BizCrunch, JMW, and Shawbrook, with more sponsors and partners to be announced soon. Search Funds News will again serve as a media partner.
“It’s a really exciting time for the SF and wider ETA community, so I’m thrilled to be hosting the ETA Awards for the third consecutive year,” said Carl. “The success of the past two years is a testament to the fantastic community of searchers we have in the UK. I’m looking forward to expanding the reach of the awards to the international ETA community, building on the momentum and celebrating even more outstanding achievements through this year’s event.”
The ETA Awards will return to Landing Forty-Two, in the heart of the City, on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.
