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Panel Proposals

Effective Governance

Selling Your ESOP Company: Managing Acquisition Inquiries and Surviving the Acquisition Process in an ESOP Company

Thursday, April 17, 2025
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM MST
Location: 150
CE: 1
CE Type: CLE, CPE, SHRM
Education Level: Intermediate
This session will focus on the importance of ESOP companies being prepared for acquisition inquiries even if they are not for sale. It will include discussion of proper governance practices that are crucial in the event a bona fide offer is received, and the company and trustee choose to proceed with discussions with the potential buyer. It will also discuss the key players in selling an ESOP company and their roles and responsibilities. Finally, the presentation will discuss potential pitfalls that might make the acquisition process more difficult or derail it altogether.
NCEO Publication: Responding to Acquisition Offers in ESOP Companies
NCEO Document: Responding to Acquisition Offers Samples

Learning Objectives:

  1. The attendees will be able to DEFINE the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors, company management, and the ESOP trustee leading up to and during the acquisition process.
  2. The attendees will be able to LIST and DESCRIBE the major steps in the process of acquiring an ESOP company and the key parts of each step that are unique to ESOP acquisitions.
  3. The attendees will be able to DESCRIBE pitfalls in the acquisition process, such as poor or ill-timed communication, poor preparation prior to and during the acquisition process, and due diligence hiccups arising from subpar corporate recordkeeping.