ESOP Advisory

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Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Advisory

Empire Valuation Consultants, a national leader in ESOP advisory services, is a proud 100% employee-owned company. The structure of employee ownership ensures our firm’s independence and preserves our culture for the future. This is a natural progression for our firm as we have a long and successful track record working with many of the country’s leading ESOP attorneys and trustees, providing them with accurate and defensible valuation conclusions that meet all applicable ERISA, IRS and Department of Labor regulations. Across hundreds of these successful ESOP engagements, we have worked to support either the buy-side or sell-side participants in negotiating a fair and equitable transaction.

buy-side financial advisory

• Provide financial advisory services for ESOP trustees in the purchase of shares by an ESOP
• Prepare adequate consideration, solvency and fairness opinions in purchase, sale, merger and plan termination transactions
• Prepare annual update valuations for plan administrative purposes
• Provide peer review services of ESOP annual update valuation reports to assist trustees with their due diligence
• Provide ESOP valuation expert witness services to support ESOP litigation cases and/or DOL actions

sell-side financial Advisory

• Provide initial education on potential ESOP structures to meet the client’s goals and objectives
• Provide preliminary valuations and feasibility studies that aid in the selection of an optimal ESOP transaction structure
• Assist in the design of key executive incentive plans, such as stock appreciation rights, phantom stock and warrants
• Assist business owners in obtaining transaction financing
• Quarterback the transaction and assist the sellers in negotiating a successful and sustainable ESOP

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Client Testimonials

“Empire brought a level of professionalism that elevated the entire transaction process. The work was incredibly thorough; their ability to navigate the more complex modeling scenarios to meet our unique leadership goals was impressive. That technical expertise helped keep the process steady and well supported.”

“The Empire team approached the process with a high degree of precision and expertise. Their work set the tone for the entire transaction. They approached the valuation and negotiation with a level of knowledge and discipline that gave me confidence in the final outcome.”

“Throughout a transaction process filled with moving pieces, Empire was excellent to work with. Their valuation and ESOP feasibility analyses were technically strong and dependable, and their expertise was essential as we evaluated and transitioned ownership to employees.”

Jade Palermo

Managing Director

Ivy Wan-Beltejar, ASA, CFA

Director

Adam Reeder, CPA, ABV, MBA

Manager

Key Contacts

Articles

The Tax Benefit of An ESOP

As the tax deadline has just passed, it is a good time to reinforce our understanding of the primary tax benefits of employee stock ownership plans, for Empire (the plan sponsor or Company), the Empire ESOP trust, as well as for the employee owners.

Selling Private Company Stock Without Paying Taxes It Is Possible!

A valuable opportunity afforded to sellers of privately held company stock to an Employee Stock Ownership
Plan (“ESOP”) is the ability to defer the capital gains tax on the sale of their company stock.

ESOPs: A Business Succession Planning Tool Worth Considering

An ESOP is a powerful business succession plan. It provides a means for a business owner to transfer ownership of a company to his or her employees while still retaining some control and value in the business.

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Regional

NCEO

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Certified Employee Owned

A national leader in ESOP Advisory And 100% Employee Owned

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