Prioritizing client education to empower decision makers throughout their transaction

You’ve heard about Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and know they offer a succession strategy for your company that provides you with liquidity and gives your employees a foundation for the future. What’s the next step for exploring this option?

A minority transaction offers you as a business owner a solution for reducing debt while maintaining control. This helps if your company is facing cash flow issues and drowning in debt. Principal and interest payments that used to be easily covered by annual cash flows are becoming more difficult to service. You can cut costs in other areas of the business, but your debt obligations are unavoidable. A minority equity sale can solve the cash flow problem without having to sell the entire business.

The decision to sell your business is an emotional one — after all, you built it; this is your “baby.” Add in crucial factors such as the state of the economy, your health, and your financial well-being, and you face a challenging decision. You weathered the Great Recession, and now you’re in the midst of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic; is this the right time to sell? The good news is that the right advisors can make this decision much easier.

“An ESOP trustee is going to fire me!”

“An ESOP trustee will vote me off the board!”

“An ESOP trustee is planning to take over my company!"

Dramatic misconceptions of ESOP trustees and their role are common during the process of structuring an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The truth is, it takes an experienced group of professionals to close an ESOP transaction the right way, and an ESOP trustee is a vital member of that team. Choosing a qualified ESOP trustee must begin with trust, and trust begins with understanding. With that in mind, please review the information below to learn more about ESOP trustees—and about why (and how) your company should choose wisely.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused chaos throughout the US economy and has threatened the future of many businesses. Owners, CEOs, and executive teams are scrambling to navigate this unprecedented period of uncertainty. As businesses begin to reopen, companies must implement survival strategies to weather a potentially lengthy recovery and potential effects from recurrences of the pandemic.

You’ve probably heard the term 'EBITDA' but might not know exactly what it means.  What is it? What is it used for? And How do you calculate it? You’ll be able to answer these questions by the end of this video.

Watch time: Less than 8 minutes

Industry jargon used by M&A professionals may not be familiar to everyone. PCE compiled this glossary of terms to introduce this language to business owners contemplating a transaction. We hope that these brief definitions provide context to understanding the process of selling a business.

What are add-backs? Why do they matter? And, how can they add value to my business? You will be able to answer these questions by the end of this video.

Watch time: 10 minutes

While ESOP companies are often better able to withstand economic recessions, they have the same exposure to financial crises that any other company has, and may have added complexities when dealing with specific circumstances. Whether you are a newly formed ESOP or a mature ESOP will determine what additional topics to address.

Selling a company is sometimes the only option for businesses facing insolvency. But a financially distressed business is challenging to sell due to the highly time-sensitive situation. Preparing for the sale and having the right team of advisors are key to an efficient process. It is essential to understand and anticipate the due diligence likely to be requested by potential acquirers.