Aspen Ridge
Grow Your Legacy
Aspen Ridge Trust acquires enduring U.S. service-oriented businesses. Unlike private equity, we are not managing to a fund timeline or a quick resale. Our first priority is retention by keeping the people and culture that made the business work. We partner with the owner to ensure a thoughtful transition and protect the team, culture, and reputation that they worked hard to build, and grow from that foundation, on terms that honor their legacy.
Identify
Small Medium Businesses $500,00-$3,000,000 in EBITDA;
>15 years in Operation
Acquire
Full Equity Buyout;
Deal Structure Priotizing Owner Legacy and Aligning with Company's Future Growth Plan
Operate
Long-term Oriented Approach to
Increasing Operational Efficiency and Financial Discipline;
Prioritizing Fulfilling Seller's Wishes Post Transaction
grow
Expanding Market and Product;
Long-term Holding of the Company as the Primary Objective
Our Process
Introduction
The owner will learn about us and our objectives, and we will gain an understanding of the company's fundamentals and the owner's goals.
IOI
If there is a potential fit, we will send an indication of interest (IOI) letter outlining the proposed price range and deal structure based on our initial assessment of the company.
Due Diligence
LOI
Closing
If the IOI is deemed acceptable, we will work with the seller to understand the industry, customers, and day-to-day operations in depth through historical financial performance and site visits.
Based on the research, we will update our understanding of the company, build on the IOI letter, and draft a Letter of Intent (LOI) until a mutually agreeable deal structure.
We conduct post-LOI due diligence until all closing requirements are met and an Asset or Stock Purchase Agreement is executed.
About Us
Aspen Ridge is a long-term oriented owner-operator focused on acquiring established U.S. service businesses from retiring owners. We seek to acquire one company at a time and remain involved on a day-to-day basis, ensuring continuity for customers and stability for employees.
We are a family business, not a private equity firm. We do not buy to flip, and we do not run the business to meet a fund exit schedule. We lead with employee retention and cultural continuity, and we work with the owner to protect their reputation, care for their team, and build responsibly from the platform they spent years creating.
Michelle Cheng, CFA, MBA
Founder, Managing Partner
Before establishing Aspen Ridge, Michelle spent a decade in capital markets, where she led and facilitated IPOs for 20+ companies on the NYSE and NASDAQ. She then served as the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman at a $50B AUM alternatives manager. She was responsible for a $100M+ book of client revenue, and under her leadership, the book grew by double digits over 4.5 years, contributing to the firm's profit. She brings expertise in strategy, sales, research, and community building.
In her previous roles, she was known for establishing client trust, empowering team members, and leading with empathy. Her compassionate work style balances analytical and rational thinking with emotional intelligence. Through Aspen Ridge's acquisitions, Michelle plans to assume day-to-day management of the business and build a culture that continues to invest in employees' professional development and personal growth.
Michelle holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School and a BA degree in Mathematics and Economics from Wellesley College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She resides in Westchester County, NY. She holds a 400-meter track record, loves roller coaster rides (and pretty much everything outdoors), plays (jazz) piano, is always down for a cup of matcha and some s'mores (with real campfire).
