Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan (LESOP)
Candlefocus EditorBefore a company can implement a LESOP, it must first acquire a loan. Typically, companies use collateral, such as their real estate, inventory and accounts receivable, to secure the loan. Once the loan has been acquired, the company can use it to purchase shares for the ESOP. The company will then create a trust fund and deposit the shares into it. These shares can then be allocated to the employees in the form of stock options or restricted stock.
LESOPs have many advantages for employees. Employees benefit from the appreciation of the stock, receive dividends, and also have voting rights. These benefits can be particularly attractive to people looking to build retirement savings. Additionally, since the stock must be held in the trust until the loan is repaid, the company and the employees share the same incentives to succeed, as the success of one can benefit the other.
However, LESOPs are not without risk. The most significant risk is the possibility that the company may default on the loan, resulting in the loss of the stock held in the trust. To mitigate this risk, employers should be sure to review all the legal and financial documents carefully to ensure that they have the necessary expertise to exit the loan successfully.
In conclusion, LESOPs are an attractive way for a company to fund an ESOP without expending large amounts of cash up-front. They also benefit employees by providing them with a source of retirement savings and voting rights. However, before a company implements a LESOP, they must carefully review all legal and financial documents to make sure they are able to exit the loan without any risk of defaulting.