Dear Reader:
As president of Menke & Associates. Inc., I believe there is significant
untapped growth potential in most privately held companies.
Whether you want to sell some or all of your stock in the company in the
next five years or whether you plan to remain active for the long term, Menke
& Associates, Inc. proposes to work with you to develop a program which
should help you achieve your growth potential and multiply the total value
of your investment in the company.
Our experience with more than 1,500 companies nationwide since 1974 proves
to us that only on-site, hands-on owners consistently tap the energy, unlock
the ingenuity, and muster the commitment necessary to make a business successful.
After all, who cares whether the business succeeds or fails? Only owners
really care.
Over 10,000 privately owned businesses like yours have applied this truth
- which some call the secret weapon of Capitalism - to develop their most
valuable resource: the ownership energy potential of each employee:
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At Springfield Remanufacturing Corp. in Missouri, sales grew by more than
30% per year and the value of the stock increased from $1.00 per share to
$18.30 per share during the eight years following implementation of an Employee
Stock Ownership Plan and the related employee training program.
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After implementation of an ESOP at Reflexite Corp. in Connecticut, sales
doubled and doubled again between 1986 and 1991. The work force tripled,
and profits rose almost sixfold.
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At Will-Burt Company in Ohio, employee annual turnover decreased from 35%
to 5%, manufacturing efficiency increased from 65% to 95%, and daily absenteeism
decreased from 8% to 2.3% as a result of increased employee ownership and
training.
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80% of ESOP companies surveyed saw the Plan as "a good decision that has
helped the company." 13% were neutral. Only 4% were negative.
By selling a little stock to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the original
shareholders of these companies have greatly multiplied the value of the
stock they kept.
A University of Michigan study found that companies with significant employee
ownership are 1.5 times more profitable than comparable firms with no employee
ownership. Generally, 1.5 times more profits means a 50% increase in the
value of your stock. And this differential compounds from year to year. Original
shareholders thus own a smaller piece of a much bigger pie.
By establishing an ESOP, you can create a tax-deductible, in-house market
to give you liquidity for your own stock when and if you choose to sell some
shares. Under certain conditions, you can even sell tax free.
Does employee ownership lead to a loss of control? No. Regardless of how
much stock the ESOP acquires, you can still control all of the stock. This
is because stock owned by the Plan is held in trust. Employees are beneficiaries
of the economic value of the trust's investments, but you can retain the
voting rights and control.
Properly designed, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan provides a way to tie
a portion of each employee's long-term compensation to the risk of the business.
An ESOP combines the financial interests of the employees with those of the
original shareholders so that teamwork and a long-range investment perspective
towards the business are in everyone's self-interest. We think employee ownership
is the most efficient incentive program because its success is a direct function
of the employee's own efforts.
In order to qualify for an ESOP, your company should be a profitable, taxpaying
corporation with at least 15 full-time employees. If you meet these criteria,
especially if you already maintain a profit sharing plan or a 401(k) plan,
you should definitely consider establishing an ESOP.
Menke & Associates, Inc. is the largest and most active firm in the country
in the design and installation of ESOPs. Our staff is available to answer
any questions you may have regarding the feasibility of an ESOP in your
particular situation. This analysis is provided free of charge.
If you are interested in obtaining more information or a free feasibility
analysis, please complete the ESOP Feasibility Questionnaire and return it
to us at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours,
MENKE &ASSOCIATES, INC.
John D. Menke
President
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