An ESOP is a flexible, tax-efficient exit strategy that allows owners of privatelyheld businesses to extract liquidity by selling some or all of their stock in the
company. This session will provide education on ESOPs and how they can
benefit business owners while helping to structure and implement a broader
succession plan. We will discuss how an ESOP can work as an alternative to a
traditional M&A transaction to help owners achieve a wide variety of goals,
such as maintaining control of the company; passing the company on to their
children or family; keeping key management and employees involved in
company operations; and more. We will also discuss the importance of hiring
special counsel for ESOP transactions to ensure compliance with ERISA law.
Learning Objectives
- Understand what an ESOP is and how it works
- Understand the pros & cons of ESOPs to a selling shareholder, compared to
other exit strategies - Understand how an ESOP can be part of a larger succession plan
Event Details
Who Should Attend?
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CPAs/Accountants
Owners participating in the State of Owner Readiness research continue to indicate that you are the No. 1 "Most Trusted Advisor." You are a natural fit to lead the exit planning team and deepen your relationship (and retention) of next generation owners.
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Attorneys
You have close relationships with clients, and can benefit from being the first advisor to introduce the idea of exit planning.
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Mergers & Acquisition Advisors
Proper exit planning causes less deals to fall through at the last minute. Connect with CEPAs to build your healthy deal flow network.
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Financial Advisors
One of the critical ‘legs of the stool’ is personal financing planning. An owner must have a strong financial plan & contingency plan post-transition to enable them to thrive in the next act of the lives personally and financially. Exit planning brings this future mindset into the present. Exit is now.
EXIT PLANNING IS GOOD BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Exit Planning Institute, provides Financial Advisors, Accountants, Consultants, and other advisors of business owners with the critical education to differentiate themselves and add value to their existing client relationships through a credential, conference, courses, and content. Download the CEPA brochure for more information.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Keith has over 21 years of experience in the financial services industry, with
an extensive background in corporate finance. As the founding partner of The
Capital ESOP Group at UBS, Keith heads the team’s private wealth practice, in
which he works to determine client needs and match them with the proper
resources of UBS, a leading global bank. Keith focuses on solutions
encompassing asset allocation, wealth and liability management, and tax and
estate planning in order to create tailored financial plans for his clients. Prior
to joining UBS in 2009, Keith was a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, where
he was an integral member of the team handling all of the firm’s ESOP
transactions. Keith’s process entails a disciplined approach to help small- to
middle-market business owners with sell-side advisory solutions and post-sale
financial planning to include holistic wealth management and tax and estate
planning strategies. Keith is an author and nationally recognized leader on
ESOPs and Internal Revenue Code §1042 rollovers.
Bill Merten is a Partner at Krieg DeVault in the Employee Benefits and
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) Practices. Mr. Merten
focuses his practice on business succession planning and executive
compensation.
Mr. Merten advises corporations, shareholders, directors, and various
professionals regarding the use of ESOPs and ESOP related strategies
in a wide variety of transactions including, management buyouts,
ownership succession transactions, private equity transactions, going private transactions, ESOP company sales, and mergers and acquisitions.