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The ESOP Association

ESOP Association Resources

May. 16
Employee Equity Investment Act Would Expand Employee Ownership by Increasing Critical Access to Capital for ESOPs
Washington, D.C. – The ESOP Association today praised the introduction of the bipartisan Employee Equity Investment Act (EEIA) in the House and Senate.
The legislation aims to grow employee ownership in the U.S. by helping to dramatically improve the way new ESOPs are financed by providing much-needed access to capital, which has long been an impediment to new ESOP formation.
May. 10
Anyone involved with the ESOP community for any length of time has been confronted, and confounded, by the difficulties posed by the U.S. Department of Labor.  The DOL’s enforcement division – the Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) – was tasked under ERISA with serving as the protector of employee beneficiaries of qualified retirement plans.  
May. 03
DOL Commits to Provide Long-Sought Regulatory Clarity with Stakeholder Input on the Valuation of Company Shares to be Bought by an ESOP
In a major victory for ESOPs, the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this month committed to move forward with a public notice and comment rulemaking on a key regulation the employee ownership community has sought since ESOPs were first created in 1974. The regulation will clearly define Adequate Consideration under Section 408(e) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), something The ESOP Association has long fought for.
May. 01
One of the key things needed for effective advocacy is a considered and well-thought-out agenda.  Over the past year, The ESOP Association’s Public Policy Council (PPC), first constituted in 2021, has been engaged in an organization-wide effort to identify and expand on our agenda.  Input from TEA members was solicited online, via town halls at TEA conferences, at chapter events, and through TEA’s Public Policy Council.  We are pleased to now release the results of this process.   
Aug. 31
In this month's issue: TEA Launches legal challenges in defense of ESOPs, commentary on regulatory overreach by TEA President & CEO Jim Bonham, new advocacy resources to help you engage this Employee Ownership Month, and much more.
Aug. 16
As part of President Biden’s legislative agenda, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 becomes law. Among the policies enacted, a new excise tax is imposed on stock repurchases – with bipartisan support, ESOPs were specifically excluded from this tax, protecting the ESOP structure that relies on stock repurchases and creating a new incentive to form ESOPs. ESOPs become eligible transactions under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) loan program.
Aug. 12
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2022
 
The ESOP Association Statement on Final Passage of Inflation Reduction Act
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act (HR 5376).  It will now advance to President Biden and is expected to be signed into law in the next ten days.
 
Aug. 08
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2022
 
The ESOP Association Hails Senate Passage of Critical Provisions in Reconciliation Bill
The Senate-passed reconciliation bill in Congress, titled the Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376), includes language promoted by The ESOP Association to protect employee stock ownership plans from new excise taxes on stock repurchases.  This provision potentially paves the way for a tremendous financial incentive to form employee stock ownership plans.  
 
Employee Ownership Month, Employee Ownership Foundation, ESOP Association, ESOP Blog, Resource, Employee Resources
Aug. 26
Let us help you spread the word on employee ownership this October.  
Recently, we were talking to one of our members about her ESOP company’s preparations for Employee Ownership Month (EOM). She shared some of her concerns: 

She was not sure how much bandwidth her fellow employee owners would have for EOM activities, especially since many have school age children who will be home while attending classes remotely this fall.