Employee Ownership Blog

In its biannual research report The Total View, describing the retirement plan practices of its clients, Principal Financial Group reports that ESOP companies have higher-than-average contribution rates to defined contribution plans, with an average rate of 11.9% of compensation.

The NCEO is pleased to be a supporter of a November 10 meeting sponsored by Equity Administration Solutions, Inc., on equity awards in pre-IPO companies.

On October 20, the IRS released its revised dollar limitations affecting a variety of pension and retirement plans. Some limits are revised upward to reflect a cost-of-living adjustment.

The Global Equity Organization, or GEO, is an international nonprofit membership organization that supports companies in creating, managing, and administrating quality stock plan programs.

The Financial Accounting Foundation, the parent organization of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), plans to encourage modification of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for private companies.

The European Commission is looking into stock purchase plans that offer incentives for employees to set aside monthly deferrals to invest in the shares of their employers.

The next IRS phone forum on employee plans, "Determination Letter Issues Regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans," will take place on October 28 (11:00 AM Pacific, noon Mountain, 1:00 PM Central, 2:00 PM Eastern).

Long-time ESOP company AGM Container Controls has a 13-point policy to prevent layoffs.

A 100% employee-owned company that provides long-term care, Miller's Health Systems operates 32 rehabilitation centers, 11 assisted living facilities, and other services.

Acknowledging the feedback it had received from Congress and ESOP companies, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it would not adopt a proposed regulation that would have made appraisers of ESOP shares plan fiduciaries. Instead, the DOL will re-propose the rule after additional input.

McLarens Young International (MYI), an employee-owned loss adjusting firm with a global reach, announced two acquisitions in September.

Veteran documentary filmmakers Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young are working on a film highlighting employee ownership.