U.S. House Small Business Committee Holds Hearing on ESOPs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During a Congressional Hearing held today by the U.S. House Small Business Committee, ESOP Association member Daniel Goldstein, President and CEO of Cedar Rapids based Folience, gave testimony and answered questions regarding the Challenges and Benefits of Employee-owned Small Businesses. Goldstein, a member of TEA's Board of Governors and testifying on behalf of The Association, emphasized the need for the U.S. Department of Labor to provide regulatory guidance to improve the climate for ESOPs with the looming retirement of 2.5 million baby boomer business owners.

"The chilling effect resulting from an absence of clear and actionable regulatory guidance from the Department of Labor is immeasurable," said Goldstein. "Average employees pay the price when business owners turn away from forming ESOPs because DOL hasn't done its job. Fear of making a misstep because DOL has not given guidance costs average employees wealth and job security."

"It has been over 45 years since Congress enacted ERISA, and DOL has yet to finish their rulemaking on proper ESOP administration. Our nation faces the potential loss of literally millions of profitable businesses as record numbers of business owners approach retirement—and employee ownership and ESOPs are the perfect way to keep these businesses in operation," said James Bonham, ESOP Association President and CEO. "Yet, these retiring business owners fear a mis-step that could come back to haunt them years later in the form of a DOL inquiry. That puts a big wart on an otherwise very attractive option."

This looming wave of retirements—known as the Silver Tsunami—means businesses that have no succession plan or qualified buyer face the possibility of being forced to shutter operations or sell to competitors who most often break the business apart.

Goldstein's testimony showed that ESOPs can present a qualified, willing, buyer when others might not exist—while providing tremendous benefits to employees and the community. But first, federal agencies must be required to follow Congress' instructions and make it easier for founders to form and operate ESOP companies.

To that end, Goldstein specifically asked the Small Business Committee and others in Congress to:

• Task the Department of Labor with issuing regulations on adequate consideration and other issues vital to forming and growing ESOPs. The ESOP community has waited 45 years for the agency to issue such regulations.
• Task the Small Business Administration with carrying out the mandates of the Main Street Employee Ownership Act—such as streamlining the ESOP loan process and working to promote employee ownership. One quick fix: The SBA should be required to add ESOP loans to the agency's Preferred Lending Program. This decentralized program speeds lending decisions and clearly was the intent of the authorizing legislation, the Main Street in Employee Ownership Act.

"Our company has seen businesses that had no succession plan in place and essentially had to sell," said Goldstein. "When those companies are sold to an ESOP, the employees go from possibly losing their jobs to becoming owners. It is a life-changing shift for many people—one that all employees should be able to enjoy," said Goldstein.

Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)—who introduced the Main Street Employee Ownership Act two years ago—concluded the hearing by stating: "Despite our work in the 115^th Congress to address some of the obstacles to employee ownership, it is clear we still have more work to do and progress to achieve. And I heard you loud and clear on the Department of Labor—we'll be dealing with that issue."

Goldstein's written testimony and video of the hearing can be found online.

The ESOP Association

The ESOP Association: The ESOP Association is America's largest employer-sponsored advocacy and education association focused on employee stock ownership plans. Founded in 1978, the Association seeks to enhance federal laws governing ESOPs, provide members with expert information, and fund research via the Employee Ownership Foundation. Over 13,000 people participate annually in more than 160 ESOP Association events nationwide.

The ESOP Association is a national non-profit organization with 18 state and regional Chapters. Its members include ESOP companies and their employees, companies considering an ESOP, and service providers that assist in setting up and maintaining ESOPs.

About Folience                  

Folience was started in 1884 and for more than 130 years has operated primarily as a family-owned print and broadcast media company. The company launched its ESOP in 1986 and became 100% employee owned in 2012. Today, the company has 570 employee owners who work and own shares in Folience's suite of businesses in the media and vehicle manufacturing businesses.

Daniel Goldstein

Daniel Goldstein is CEO/President of Folience (www.folience.com). He joined the company in April 2016 and has 20 years of executive leadership experience on five continents. He serves on The ESOP Association Board of Governors and the Employee Ownership Foundation's Board of Trustees.

SOURCE The ESOP Association

Related Links

http://www.esopassociation.org