The One-Stop ESOP Blog

When it comes to running a family owned business, succession planning is an often overlooked yet essential consideration. In fact, many family companies don’t last beyond a single generation. For those that do, succession planning is a must.

But the subject of ownership transition can be thorny in a family firm, and the issue can become even more complex when some children prefer to remain involved in the business while others pursue their own interests.

For many business owners evaluating exit strategy options, timing is a critical consideration.

The decision to sell to an ESOP and establish employee ownership is much more than a financial determination. An owner who chooses to set up an ESOP demonstrates a commitment to continuity, employee goodwill, and the ongoing success of the business.

Nevertheless, ESOP timing and timelines matter. A departing owner often wants to be able to predict a transition path, and employees appreciate a degree of predictability in any ownership transition scenario.

A key step in the process of establishing and structuring an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) company is identifying, vetting, and selecting a qualified ESOP trustee. 

An integral part of the ESOP Corporate Governance process, the ESOP trustee holds an essential role as the legal shareholder of the shares held by the ESOP trust. 

This shareholder position is a fiduciary role that involves numerous, critical responsibilities.

So, what are an ESOP trustee’s fiduciary responsibilities? What about other ESOP-related trustee duties?

Here, we’ll walk through the fundamental duties and responsibilities of an ESOP trustee:

1. Satisfy ERISA fiduciary responsibilities
2. Engage the independent ESOP appraiser
3. Establish the annual ESOP stock price
4. Vote ESOP shares to select the board of directors
5. Manage assets of the ESOP trust
6. Ensure plan documents are followed
7. Thoroughly document decision-making processes

It’s hard to overstate the importance of choosing a qualified ESOP trustee, given the need for due diligence in every decision related to ESOP transactions. ESOP trustee responsibilities, when properly executed, ensure regulatory compliance and a healthier ESOP company. 

The IRS has announced the 2021 pension plan limits, which includes the following: 

An ESOP is a Business Transition Tool

ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  An ESOP is qualified retirement plan that can be used as a business transition tool and as an employee ownership instrument. 

An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a business transition tool that establishes an ESOP trust to be an ongoing perpetual owner of the company.

What is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)?

ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that can be used as a business transition tool and as an employee ownership vehicle:

An ESOP is a Business Transition Tool

ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that can be used as a business transition tool and as an employee ownership vehicle.

An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a business transition tool that establishes an ESOP trust to be an ongoing perpetual owner of the company.

We’re in the heart of the holiday season and this time of year often inspires us to be more giving. We give to our favorite causes, through our time, talent and treasure. We make a greater effort to spread wealth to others. This could be in the form of a warm jacket, a hot meal, a financial donation or sharing with a friend how we have been positively impacted by employee ownership (ESOP). Generosity comes in many forms.

I have spent a lot of time talking about the top benefits of implementing an ESOP for a company, the business owner(s), management and key employees, all employees, and the local community.  These benefits include the tax and cash flow benefits and the many competitive benefits of building an ESOP ownership culture.

I talk to a lot of business owners and management that are considering implementing an ESOP and their #1 concern is control. 

On one hand business owners appreciate the control premium that an ESOP can pay for a change in control. 

On the other hand, they are very concerned about the unknown about what a change in control means and doesn’t mean. 

Fast forward a few years and many business owners will tell you that moving to a more formal board with some outside board members was one of the top benefits of implementing an ESOP. 

It is important to understand the corporate governance and ESOP stakeholders, what is an ERISA fiduciary, and the relationship between the ESOP Trustee, Board of Directors, and the ESOP Committee. 

What is Corporate Governance?

Corporate governance is how corporations manage the business affairs of the company to achieve their corporate and shareholder objectives.  

Who are the Corporate Governance Stakeholders?

• Shareholders– The shareholders are the owners of the company. The primary responsibility of shareholders is to elect the Board of Directors. 
• Board of Directors– The Board of Directors are responsible for corporate governance and delegate authority to officers/management. The Board represents the Shareholders, is the highest level of management in a company, and is responsible for governing the company. The Board has a corporate fiduciary obligation under state law to the Shareholders. Advising the CEO and succession planning are other key responsibilities.
• Officers/Management– The officers/management are appointed by the Board to carry out the strategic direction of the company and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company.  Management hires the employees for day-to-day operations and to carry out the operational plan.

Who are the ESOP Stakeholders?

• ESOP Plan Sponsor– The employer that establishes and maintains the ESOP.
• ESOP Plan Administrator– The individual(s) with authority and discretion over the management of the plan. Unless another individual or entity (e.g. ESOP Administrative Committee) is specifically assigned, the Plan Sponsor is the legal Plan Administrator and decisions are made by the Board of Directors. The Administrator(s) is an ERISA fiduciary.
• ESOP Administrative Committee– The ESOP Administrative Committee is usually appointed by the Board of Directors and serves as the Plan Administrator.
• ESOP Trustee- The ESOP assets, which primarily consist of the stock of the company, are held in a trust and managed by the ESOP Trustee. The ESOP Trustee is the individual(s) with authority and discretion over the plan assets. For most purposes the ESOP Trustee acts as the legal Shareholder of the ESOP.  The ESOP Trustee is an ERISA fiduciary and has a fiduciary duty to act in the sole interest of ESOP Participants, maximizing the long-term value of the assets of the trust (the stock of the company). The ESOP Trustee will often vote according to the direction of the ESOP Administrative Committee. In addition to ERISA, the ESOP Trustee is governed by the Internal Revenue Code, the plan document, and trust document.  

• ESOP Participants– The ESOP Participants are beneficial owners of the company and generally have limited legal authority.  In most cases the ESOP participants as Shareholders are represented by the ESOP Trustee.  The plan document specifies the voting rules. Unless provided by the plan document, the ESOP Trustee is not required to pass-through decisions such as voting for the Board of Directors, buying or selling stock, and exercising voting rights. In limited cases, such as a significant corporate event (e.g. liquidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets, recapitalization, merger), the ESOP Participants may have the right to have pass-through voting rights on all issues, including the election of the Board.

What is an ERISA Plan Fiduciary?

A plan fiduciary is a person that exercises discretionary authority or control over the management of the plan or plan assets. ERISA defines the four primary duties of an ERISA fiduciary: 

• The Exclusive Benefit Rule – An ERISA fiduciary must act solely in the interest of the plan's participants and beneficiaries while defraying reasonable plan expenses.
• The Prudent Person Standard – An ERISA fiduciary must act with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances that a prudent man acting in a similar capacity...
• Diversification – An ERISA fiduciary must diversify the investments of the plan unless it is clearly prudent not to, knowing that by definition an ESOP is "Designed To Invest Primarily In Qualifying Employer Securities".  You should also be aware of the ESOP diversification rules.
• Follow the Plan Documents – A fiduciary must act in accordance with the plan documents.

What is the Relationship between the ESOP Trustee, Board of Directors, and the ESOP Committee?

• The ESOP Trustee is selected by the Board of Directors. 
• The ESOP Trustee generally votes the ESOP shares for the election of the Board of Directors. The ESOP Trustee will often vote according to the direction of the ESOP Administrative Committee.
• The ESOP Administrative Committee is usually selected by the Board of Directors and generally consists of members of management. 
• This "circular" selection process often leaves the same people in charge of the company and the ESOP.