Considering a Business Exit—but Told an ESOP Is Too Complex or Too Expensive?

Many business owners with strong corporate and community cultures, mission-driven models, or sustainable business practices are interested in exploring Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) as an exit option, but are often told that ESOPs and employee ownership are too complex, too expensive, or not an optimal exit compared to private equity or strategic buyers. This session is designed to separate myth from reality.

Join us for a candid, practical conversation with business owners and ESOP professionals who have successfully executed employee ownership transitions. They have real-world ESOP seller experience with deep financial and technical experience. They address ESOPs through the lens of liquidity, control, valuation, preserving culture, and aligning ownership with long-term stakeholder value.

WHAT THIS SESSION WILL COVER

• What an ESOP really is—and how it compares to traditional exit options
• When ESOPs make sense (and when they don’t) based on company size, EBITDA, and industry
• How owners can achieve liquidity, diversification, and tax efficiency through ESOPs
• The true costs, timing and complexity of ESOP transactions
• How control, governance, and leadership succession are handled post-transaction
• How ESOPs affect valuation, leverage, and future exit optionality
• Benefits to employees—and how ownership culture can drive performance
• Common misconceptions that cause owners to dismiss ESOPs prematurely

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Business owners considering an exit in the next 1–5 years
• Founders seeking liquidity without selling to private equity
• Owners interested in employee ownership but unsure whether ESOPs are viable
• Business owners with a strong corporate culture who want to preserve their values beyond the exit
• Owners of sustainable, mission-driven, b-corp, or community-oriented businesses exploring aligned exit options and succession strategies
• Founders who have built a strong corporate culture and want to preserve it beyond their ownership

WHY ATTEND

It is a practical, experience-based conversation designed to help business owners determine whether employee ownership could be a viable, values-aligned exit strategy— and how to evaluate it with clarity and confidence.

PANELISTS:

• Stacey Smith, Senior Vice President, Head of Programs, Project Equity
• Corey Rosen, National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)
• Gina Schaefer, Founder & Former CEO, A Few Cool Hardware Stores
• Melissa Palmer, Former CFO / Butler / Till

RVSP via email to receive the link to the Zoom meeting: Laura.Russell-Jones@MorganStanley.com