Put an Employee Stock Ownership Plan to Work for You!

Join us for our Introduction to ESOPs Seminars scheduled to be held in Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud and Grand Rapids later this year . 

Attend one of our groundbreaking seminars and learn the latest about how ESOPs can help you:

• Save on taxes
• Improve company performance
• Facilitate business succession planning

Who Should Attend?

Owners or employees of companies interested in exploring an ESOP as a business succession planning tool, as well as attorneys, accountants, bankers and financial consultants who work with privately-held companies.

Seminar Faculty

To be announced.

Seminar Program


9:00 a.m. WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

9:15 a.m. WHAT IS AN ESOP?

• The history of ESOPs and a review of basic terms.
• How does an ESOP work?
• What are the most common uses for an ESOP?
• What are the benefits of an ESOP to the company, its owners and employees?
• Examples of both leveraged and non-leveraged ESOP structures.

10:15 a.m. BREAK

10:30 a.m. WILL AN ESOP WORK FOR YOU?

• How does a company establish an ESOP?
• What conceptual and technical issues need to be addressed?
• What questions need to be answered in order to determine if an ESOP is a feasible ownership vehicle for your company?

11:20 a.m. FINANCING AN ESOP

• How does a company finance an ESOP transaction?
• What are the general credit requirements, information needs and collateral considerations required by most banks when lending to ESOP companies?
• What factors determine whether to use bank debt or seller financing?

12:15 p.m. LUNCH WITH OUR EXPERTS

• An opportunity to visit with our seminar experts over lunch and ask questions to help you determine whether an ESOP makes sense for your company.

1:00 p.m. VALUING YOUR COMPANY

• An overview of business valuation concepts, terms and methods.
• Why ESOP sponsor stock valuations need to be established at various stages of the planning, establishment and ongoing administration of an ESOP.
• Issues and considerations unique to valuations for ESOP purposes.

1:45 p.m. CREATING AN OWNERSHIP CULTURE

• First-hand experience from the President of Windings, Inc., an ESOP company located in New Ulm.

2:45 p.m. QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS

3:00 p.m. ADJOURN