Beyond the Close – What New ESOPs Need to Prepare for in Their First 90 Days, 6 Months, and One Year

The ESOP transaction may be complete, but the real work of building a successful employee-owned company is just beginning. Many new ESOPs face unexpected challenges in the first year of employee ownership—from establishing fiduciary responsibilities and meeting lender expectations to communicating effectively with employee-owners to managing the first valuation cycle.


This webinar draws on real-world experience with middle-market ESOP companies to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare. We'll walk through the essential operational, governance, and cultural shifts that occur in the first year, sharing practical insights about the complexities and demands you'll face as you transition to employee ownership. Whether you're in the planning stages or recently closed, you'll leave with a clearer roadmap for navigating the post-transaction landscape with confidence.

Learning objectives:

• Understand First 90-Day Priorities – Identify the immediate fiduciary, operational, lender, and communication responsibilities that new ESOP companies must address to establish a solid foundation, including meeting initial bank covenant requirements.
• Navigate Critical 6-Month Milestones. Learn how governance structures, trustee relationships, and employee engagement evolve as your ESOP matures, and what that means for day-to-day management. 
• Prepare for the First-Year Cycle – Gain insight into the annual valuation process (and potentially a first-time financial statement audit process), ongoing compliance requirements, and cultural changes that shape long-term ESOP success."