Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) are a fast-growing structuring model for the sale of a company to its employees. Sellers can ensure that the legacy and culture of their business can be preserved through an internal sale, while there are also generous tax advantages for both the selling shareholders and the employees themselves. This article highlights the key features and benefits of an EOT.
What is an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)?
An EOT is a particular type of employee benefit trust which enables a company to become owned by its employees. The driver behind the introduction of EOTs in 2014 was to encourage businesses to facilitate wider employee ownership (similar to the classic John Lewis model under which employees hold a share in the company).
EOTs can be set up by existing owners of a company or be used as part of an exit or succession planning strategy. As well as the attractive tax features, the sale of a company to an EOT also has many other practical benefits.
How does a sale of a company to an EOT work?
The sale of the company (Target) usually comprises three key stages:
Establish the EOT: A qualifying EOT will be established with a corporate trustee (Trustee Company).
Sale of shares in Target: under a share purchase agreement, the Target’s shareholders (Shareholders) sell their shares in the Target to the Trustee Company under a share purchase agreement. This process requires an external valuation of the Target’s shares to be agreed with HMRC and this valuation informs the purchase price. The purchase price is not all paid in full on completion, but at least part of it is left outstanding as a debt owed by the Trustee Company to the Shareholders (see diagram below).
Gradual payment of purchase price: as the Target generates trading profits each year, contributions out of these profits are paid to the EOT. The Trustees use these profits to pay back the outstanding purchase price to the selling shareholders.
Diagram:
What are the advantages of a sale to an EOT?
Tax
The sale of a controlling interest in the company is entirely free from capital gains tax
Bonuses paid to an employee of a company owned by an EOT are exempt from income tax (but not national insurance) up to £3,600 per employee per year
The sale of shares to the EOT will not give rise to any inheritance tax issues provided that the legislation is followed
Other
For exiting shareholders, this is generally a friendlier and cheaper alternative to a trade sale, MBO or liquidation
No need for earn-outs which may not become payable in the future
Employees who are well acquainted with the business are locked in for the future – this stimulates engagement and commitment in the long term
No personal investment is required from the employees
Enables preservation of the business, its culture and values, and provides comfort that the legacy of the owners will endure
Directors and management team of the target business can remain in place and focus on running the company as opposed to spending time and resources on more protracted sale negotiations (for example to a trade buyer or under an MBO)
Are there strings attached?
Yes. The legislative conditions to be satisfied in order for a sale to an EOT to qualify for the desired tax advantages are quite stringent. The key conditions are as follows:
The target company must be carrying on a trade (or alternatively be the principal company of a trading group)
The trustees of the EOT may only apply the trust property (the shares in the target company) for the benefit of all eligible employees on the same terms. This applies, for example, to payment of bonuses, although bonus amounts can be varied by reference to factors such as salary and length of service
The trustees must at all times hold a controlling interest in the target company
There are restrictions on the number of persons who remain shareholders after the sale to the EOT and who are also employees or directors of the target company
The EOT is a fast-growing and attractive business model. Research by the Employee Ownership Association has found that as at January 2021, sales to an EOT were comprising one in 20 private company transactions. This trend has increased in the recent past, it is thought due to the increase in business owners wanting to exit since the Covid 19 pandemic, and the long-mooted possibility of a rise in capital gains tax which, although the current UK Government appears to oppose it, cannot be ruled out in the future.
It is also possible for businesses run as limited liability partnerships and groups to put in place employee ownership structures using an EOT. Businesses at the start of their journey can also be established with an EOT in place, where there is a desire on the part of the owners to secure maximum commitment and engagement and pursue a common path.
It is also possible to combine an EOT structure with a management incentive for key individuals after the sale; such as an EMI share option plan for the key employees running the company.
We would be happy to speak to you if you would like to explore this possibility further.
