Effective Corporate Governance in ESOP Companies

Hillary joined Prairie Capital Advisors in 2011 and is a shareholder in the firm. She provides strategic insights to assist business owners and boards of directors to address long-term ownership transaction goals. Hillary has been highly involved in the structuring and valuation related to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) on behalf of ESOP Trustees as well as business owners. Hillary provides financial advisory services to clients ranging from small family-owned businesses to large multi-national conglomerates. She specializes in the valuation of businesses and business interests for purposes of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), ESOPs, gift, and estate planning, and strategic planning. Hillary is also instrumental in developing Prairie,s trust-side ESOP practice.

Darrell Smith advises middle-market companies on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), corporate valuation, financial opinions, and other investment banking advisory services. Darrell is responsible for providing project management services, corporate valuations, and transaction analyses in support of capital structuring engagements including the following: ESOP implementation, leveraged recapitalizations, management buyouts (MBO), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), fairness opinions, and other corporate finance-related topics.