Acquiring other companies can be a good strategy for any company. Acquisitions can open new markets, create more efficient operations, or provide a more diversified customer base. This issue brief discusses acquisitions by companies partially or wholly owned by an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). S corporation ESOP companies especially have good reasons to consider acquiring businesses to find a good use for cash. But most acquisitions do not live up to expectations. This issue brief provides a general framework to evaluate acquisitions, specific ways to limit their risk, alternative transaction structures of special use for ESOP companies, and some best practices in making acquisitions turn out well, especially when one ESOP company acquires another.