Presentation Transcript

1. Which Hat Am I Wearing?

   The quandary of the internal ESOP trustee Ben F. Wells Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP 801 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20004 (202) 372-9119 255 E 5th St, Suite 1900 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 977-8108 Megan Koontz Director of Human Resources Quick Solutions 440 Polaris Parkway Suite 500 Westerville OH 43082 Phone: (614) 896-2004 Fax: (614) 846-4457 E-mail: mkoontz@quicksolutions.com
2. quan·da·rynoun \kwän-d(ə-)rē\ pluralquan·da·ries a state of perplexity or doubt
3. Internal trustees often fill many roles: Employee Director Officer Committee member Plan administrator Trustee
4. When making decisions, its important to know which “hat” you are wearing
5. Why is this? Each role has different: Duties Responsibilities Legal standards Liability
6. How is an ESOP “governed”? (Insert diagram)
7. Who runs a corporation? Shareholders elect Directors, who choose Officers, who hire Employees
8. Who runs an ESOP? Key: look at plan documents Plan Trust Board actions Key players Trustee Board Administrative committee
9. Company (Directors) Establishes the ESOP Adopts amendments Chooses trustee and plan administrator Makes contributions Terminates plan
10. Trustee Legal owner of ESOP shares Elects directors Votes shares Determines value Buys and sells shares Makes distributions
11. Plan Administrator Tracks account balances Determines vesting Manages allocations Instructs trustee
12. Legal Standards Directors Governed by state corporation law Protected by “business judgment rule” Must act In good faith In the interests of the corporation With ordinary care
13. Legal Standards (Directors) Burden is on plaintiffs to show a breach of duties “Clear and convincing evidence” standard Primary duty is to shareholders…BUT
14. Legal Standards (Directors) Directors of an Ohio corporation may consider: The interests of the corporation’s employees, suppliers, creditors, and customers; The economy of the state and nation; Community and societal considerations; The long-term as well as short-term interests of the corporation and its shareholders, including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the corporation.
15. Legal Standards (Trustees and Plan Administrator) ERISA fiduciary duties Prudence Exclusive purpose Follow plan documents Follow ERISA Highest duties applicable under the law
16. Duties (Trustees) Common duties of trustees include: Voting shares Determining value of company stock Electing Board of Directors Determining plan investments Paying reasonable plan expenses Review and monitor performance of the Board Purchase and sale of shares Other trust administrative duties
17. Duties (Board) Common Board duties include: Selection of officers Establishment of ESOP ESOP amendments ESOP termination Determining ESOP contribution Selecting and monitoring trustee and plan administrator Review and negotiation of significant corporate transactions Determining officer compensation
18. Duties (Plan Administrator) Common duties include: Determining eligibility and vesting Determining allocations of employer contributions and trust earnings Tracking ESOP account balances Complying with ERISA reporting and disclosure obligations Instructing trustee (if specified in plan documents) Voting shares Other matters
19. Which hat am I wearing? When looking at a decision Examine the decision to be made Determine who is responsible Think about what duties are owed, and to whom Apply appropriate standard of care Document process and decision Seek outside advice when necessary