An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) can be a very tax efficient way for company owners to achieve liquidity for their stock and put in place a succession plan for the business. ESOPs have been in existence since 1974 and to date more than 10,000 companies have adopted an ESOP. Selling a company to an ESOP enables the shareholders to transition ownership to the company’s employees while achieving potentially significant tax benefits to both the company and the selling shareholders. However, an ESOP transaction can be more complex than a sale to a strategic buyer or a private equity firm, so thorough planning with an experienced ESOP transaction team is critically important. Our services in ESOP transactions include:
