In this podcast, we look at the fundamentals of ESOPs, their benefits, drawbacks, and when and where they are a good fit for a business owner who is seeking a transition of ownership.  

While 2022 was a challenging year for many index funds and most everyone's 401(k), private market buyouts and ESOP transactions remained relatively robust, in terms of both valuation and transaction volume. In this month's episode, Chris and Chase sit down to unpack how, even amid rising interest rates and the prospect of a recession, business owners were still able to leverage ESOPs to achieve their succession goals, and what dynamics lay ahead for owners weighing a sale in 2023.

As overall M&A activity in the U.S and around the world cools off, new ESOP formations continue to show high levels of activity, even amid turbulent macro conditions. In this month's edition of What's Next, Chris and Chase share their insights on how the market for ESOP transactions can be so resilient, and what the industry at large is focused on heading into year-end.

In the era of virtual workspaces and unprecedented personal mobility, finding and landing senior talent seems more difficult than ever. At the same time, retaining and motivating the leaders you already have might be even more vital.  Join us for a lively discussion with Chris Craig, VP of Executive Search with McDermott + Bull, a worldwide leader in executive search and interim leadership placements. Chris takes us through today's talent acquisition landscape, how companies are exploring and leveraging interim executives to meet their immediate goals, and what other perks and incentives are helping businesses keep their leadership teams on board and on track.

Late in April, a large contingent from the ESOP community gathered in Seattle to reconvene at the National Center for Employee Ownership's first in-person National Conference since Spring 2019. In this month's episode, Chris and Chase sit down to go over the major themes discussed among ESOP company leaders and advisors at the conference, and how recent economic and market trends are impacting the environment for new and existing ESOP companies in 2022.

In this episode of What's Next, Chase and Chris are talking about five of the major themes impacting business valuation and transactions in the global economy today, including interest rates, inflation impacts, and a few other major topics that are front of mind for everybody right now. Take a listen and let us know what you think at acuityadvisors.com/contact.

This month, we're joined by our very first guest on the podcast, Mike Flesch of Alerus Financial. In his role with Alerus, Mike serves as the independent and institutional trustee for a number of employee-owned companies, and he stopped by the studio (office) to talk with Chris Kramer about what an ESOP trustee does, how to select a trustee if you're planning to implement an ESOP, and some of the ways leadership teams and trustees can work together to help their companies maximize the benefits of an ESOP.

In the early days of the pandemic, deal making in the middle-market came to a sudden and startling halt. Since then, overall M&A activity has reached a frenzied pace across virtually all industries and market segments, and shows virtually no signs of slowing down. In this month's episode, Chris and Chase talk through the dynamics driving the surge in transactions, and how both buyers and sellers are navigating the lingering impacts of the pandemic.

Unlike 401(k)s or other common retirement plans, implementing an employee stock ownership plan generally requires a formal purchase and sale of shares, with preparation, negotiation and diligence - much like a traditional M&A transaction. But in several ways, the ESOP implementation process can be faster, less intrusive and more cost-effective than a third-party sale. Tune in to our latest episode to learn more about how we help business owners sell stock to their employees.

In Episode 4 of What's Next Hosted by Acuity Advisors, Chris Kramer and Chase Hoover talk about what to do if you are approached out of the blue by a serious buyer offering to acquire your business. They'll talk about how to respond initially, why it's important to get a good team in your corner quickly, and how you can maximize the value of that offer without having to bring in any other bidders.