Employee Ownership Blog

The Certified Equity Professional Institute (CEPI) at Santa Clara University offers a certificate for professionals in equity compensation.

In an interesting variation on employee stock purchase plans, loan funded share plans (LFSPs) in Australia allow an employer to make an interest-free loan to employees to buy shares. The shares are held in trust by the employer until the loan is repaid.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed sweeping changes for ERISA fiduciaries two years ago, including rules that would make ESOP appraisers plan fiduciaries.

In White v. Marshall & Ilsley Corp., No. 11-2660 (7th Cir. Apr. 19, 2013), the Eleventh Circuit upheld the Moench presumption of prudence for investments in employer stock for Marshall & Ilsley's 401(k) plan.

The NCEO has started a new Web site at esopinfo.org, A Visual Guide to Employee Ownership.

The NCEO's annual conference in Seattle last month hosted about 1,065 attendees, another new record and the fourth consecutive record year that attendance has increased. Next year we will be in Atlanta for the first time. The meeting is set for April 8-10.

The Corporate Directors' Exchange is a 1.5-day executive development program from the Beyster Institute at UC San Diego that examines the role of the board of directors at ESOP companies.

In his April 17, 2013, study, Macroeconomic Impact of S ESOPs on the U.S.

Baker & McKenzie, in partnership with the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals and the Global Equity Organization, have developed an app for Apple and Android devices to answer questions about different types of equity compensation in countries around the world.

In April, Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act (S. 742).

The PSCA 56th annual survey on employer-sponsored defined contribution (DC) plans closes on May 3. The survey focuses heavily on investment options and participation rates. People who complete the survey questionnaire receive a free copy of the results.

The 2013 Employee Ownership Conference took place in Seattle last week, and a record-breaking 1,058 people participated.