New Data on ESOP Plans, Participants, and Assets

The NCEO's most recent estimates for the number of ESOP and ESOP-like plans suggest there were 10,800 ESOP companies at the end of 2007, which is slightly lower than our earlier estimate for 2007 (11,000 companies). In that year, ESOP companies had nearly 13 million participants in their plans and over $900 billion in assets. The change reflects the increased number of companies whose completed DOL Form 5500 data is now available.

Estimates after 2007 are based on extrapolation from limited data, but we expect that the number of ESOPs declined in 2009 as many potential ESOPs were postponed until the economic climate improved, and more companies went out of business (ESOP and non-ESOP alike). These numbers are only guesses, however, and should not be taken as more than that. For details on the data, go to our Statistical Profile of Employee Ownership.