Understand the unique benefits of an Employee Ownership Trust for the seller of the business and their employees.
In the appropriate circumstances, an Employee Ownership Trust is the most tax-efficient way to sell your controlling share in a business. The transaction is entirely tax-free for the seller, with no Capital Gains Tax. There are also potential Inheritance Tax benefits.
When selling your controlling stake to an EOT, you are guaranteed the full market value for your shares. This market value is based on independent assessment.
Unlike a trade sale, you also gain certainty of exit in a clearly defined time frame, meaning the whims of trade buyers cannot impact or delay the sale.
You can also exit the business with assurances that your employees are being well looked after and that you will be leaving behind a satisfying legacy.
For exiting shareholders who do not wish to depart fully and immediately, succession can be implemented over a period so you may retain a level of involvement and ensure a smooth transition.
One of the most significant benefits for employees of a company owned by an Employee Ownership Trust is that they can receive tax-free annual bonuses of up to £3,600.
Furthermore, employees of an EOT-owned business will be able to have a meaningful say in how the business is run and operated.
Once the previous shareholders have been fully remunerated for their shares, all employees will collectively participate in the economic benefits that shareholders would normally accrue.
Therefore, Employees are directly rewarded for their hard work and contribution to helping the business succeed.
As well as benefitting the exiting shareholders and the business’s employees, an Employee Ownership Trust also presents several benefits for the organisation.
Studies have shown employee-owned businesses to be highly resilient, profitable, and sustainable. The incentives presented to employees improve motivation and performance, while employment standards tend to be higher.
Because they directly benefit from the business’s success, employees are more committed to long-term business goals with a more entrepreneurial mindset.
We have a separate guide that goes into more detail about the pros and cons of an EOT, both from an employer and employee perspective.
The Employee Ownership Association releases annual reports on the 50 biggest employee-owned companies in the UK, including John Lewis, the Arup Group, Richer Sounds and many more.
The top 50 employee-owned companies in the UK generated over £20bn combined sales last year and employ over 150,000 staff. These companies saw an average increase of 4.6% in sales, year-on-year, alongside a 25.5% yearly growth in operating profit. They also reported an overall productivity boost of 4.6%.
The Shorts team specialises in helping businesses transition to employee ownership through Employee Ownership Trusts. We recently helped T Allen Engineering Services complete a sale to an EOT, and they noted some clear and tangible benefits following the sale.
Beyond the clear tax benefits, the Managing Director of T Allen cited the legacy aspects of an EOT sale as highly beneficial, along with the reassurance and security he was able to offer his employees after his departure.
A trade sale can drastically change how a business operates under new ownership – by selling to an EOT; he was able to exit with confidence that his company would not be “carved up”.
You can learn more about our work with T Allen Engineering Services in our detailed case study.
The Corporate Finance team at Shorts sit at the cutting edge of EOT planning and delivery and can help you navigate every stage.
Our services include complete project management, tax and HMRC assistance, working closely with your solicitors to prepare all legal documents, communicating the EOT process to employees, and much more. Please speak to our team today to get started, or download our free EOT guide.
Shorts is proud to be a member of the Employee Ownership Association.
Pros and Cons of an EOT
Contact Us
Business Valuation Calculator