News and Insights
ESOP Benefits- ESOP Case Studies
ESOP Design
ESOP Feasibility
ESOP Information
ESOP Legal
ESOP Tax Rules
ESOP Transactions
Resources
Welcome to our ESOP Knowledge Center! Here you will find information on employee stock ownership plans as well as news about SES ESOP Strategies.
A method of ownership transition, ESOPs are a form of employee participation in corporate ownership, offering a number of benefits to selling owners, companies and employees. All or part of a company can be employee-owned through an ESOP. Our ESOP Knowledge Center features an entire section on the benefits of an ESOP and information on why an ESOP might be the perfect ownership transition method for your company.
Additionally, you will find information about ESOP guidelines, including guidelines for setting up ESOPs, plan documents, transactions and fiduciaries. The IRS and the U.S. Department of Labor have issued guidance regarding ESOPs, and it’s imperative that companies looking to establish employee ownership receive advice and guidance to ensure they are following this guidance. Our ESOP Knowledge Center also provides a section on ESOP design.
Specific information on ESOP Plan Rules – the rules that essentially define what it means to be an ESOP – are also found in the Knowledge Center. Employee stock ownership plans must be designated in the plan document as ESOPs and comply with IRS and U.S. Department of Labor rules governing ESOPs. These ESOP Plan Rules are established under both the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, commonly known as ERISA, and under IRS Code section 404(a)(3). For more information on ESOP Plan Rules, please visit the page in our ESOP Knowledge Center on the topic.
Additional Resources: ESOP Industry Websites
SES ESOP Strategies is pleased to support our national and local ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) trade associations as sponsors, board and committee members, speakers and chapter officers. If you would like to further research ESOPs, we encourage you to visit these helpful industry websites:
The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) is a private, nonprofit membership and research organization that serves as the leading source of accurate, unbiased information on ESOPs, equity compensation plans such as stock options, and ownership culture.
The ESOP Association represents the interests of all corporations that sponsor ESOPs, providing advocacy and educational services on behalf of its members. We are also members of the following local chapters: Pennsylvania/Delaware, Southwest, New York/New Jersey, New England, New South and Ohio/Kentucky.
The Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership (PaCEO) promotes better understanding of the values of employee ownership among business leaders, public officials, employees, members of the media, students, teachers, nonprofit leaders, consumers, and other persons and organizations in Pennsylvania. SES ESOP Strategies is a Founding Member of this organization.
Vermont Employee Ownership Center (VEOC) is a statewide nonprofit whose mission is to promote and foster employee ownership in order to broaden capital ownership, deepen employee participation, retain jobs, increase living standards for working families and stabilize communities.
Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) is a nonprofit outreach center of Kent State University. It supports the development of business across Ohio and around the world by its efforts that are proven to save jobs, create wealth and grow the economy.