Our expertise allows us to effectively evaluate all ESOP ownership structures
With decades of ESOP consulting experience, we can help you navigate the complexities of operating your business and mastering the challenges of your ESOP ownership structure.
Beyond Sustainability
We believe it is critical to understand your entire financial situation to achieve your goals and optimize your ownership model. That is why we work with our clients to look at the big picture and consider the impact of all debt and equity capital claims on the enterprise, as well as a company’s ability to grow and meet its strategic objectives. The most successful ESOP-owned companies go beyond sustaining the status quo – they seek continued evolution and growth, to ensure both a thriving company and ESOP.
Our complex financial analyses integrate a company’s ownership and compensation programs, including the ESOP, direct and/or synthetic equity ownership, and bonus plans, considering their effects on future value and their influence on overall capital structure. We understand that these programs need to work together in support of the strategic plan. Our goal is to help companies establish ownership and compensation philosophies and programs that – combined with effective capital allocation strategies – will help them thrive and grow and meet their objectives over the long term.
Uniquely, we have all this expertise under one roof! Why does this matter? Having the relevant expertise and resources in-house allows us to consult holistically with a deep understanding of all elements of sustainability, not just one component. This allows us to derive the most creative, thoughtful solutions in the financial advisory market.
The scope of our sustainability study begins with investigation and leads to ideas and implementation through a three-phase approach:
- Phase 1 – Comprehensive Assessment
- Phase 2 – Alternatives Evaluation
- Phase 3 – Implementation
We Know Repurchase Obligation
Leveraging our deep legacy knowledge of ESOP repurchase obligation software, we have developed the most robust, versatile, and sophisticated ESOP repurchase obligation analysis in the industry.
Our comprehensive, flexible repurchase forecasting tools can handle nearly any unique plan features or strategy. Our team, which includes some of the most nationally recognized experts on repurchase obligation, is well-versed in repurchase planning, allowing us to tackle the most complex ESOP situations.
As part of our broader consultative approach, we take the time to dig into the intricacies of your ESOP’s operations and understand your unique challenges, working closely with management teams to develop reasonable and thoughtful assumptions. Along the way, we strive to deepen our clients’ knowledge and understanding of key ESOP provisions and strategies and the impact certain assumptions and decisions have on near- and long-term outcomes and your company’s objectives.
Ready to Elevate your ESOP Ownership?
Let Chartwell be your trusted partner for all your ESOP ownership needs. Our independent, solutions-based advice helps you achieve long-term success. Contact one of our leading professionals today:
- Chris Staloch – Managing Director (Minneapolis, MN)
- Ryan Graham – Managing Director (Minneapolis, MN)
- Tina Langlois – Managing Director (Philadelphia, PA)
- Ashleigh Newlin – Managing Director (Philadelphia, PA)
- Matt Keene – Managing Director (Raleigh, NC)
Select Experience
Testimonials
Client Spotlight
—JOHN OKUBO, CEO,
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS & ALUMINUM
“With very substantive issues involving inequitable ESOP wealth accumulation across our company’s workforce, stock value of 4.5x qualified compensation, and significant near-term ESOP repurchase obligations attributable to a bulge in imminent retirements, management has been an on-going, and to-date unsolvable dilemma. Working with Chartwell, our company has been provided with a sustainability study that – for the first time - identifies structural plan changes that I’m confident will set the company on a path to optimize its funding of repurchase obligations and also optimize the balance of ESOP benefits accruing to all of our plan stakeholders.”
—RANDI BORTH,
TREASURER,
AVI SYSTEMS, INC.
“As is often the case with a mature ESOP, we had a notable amount of ownership concentration in our plan that challenged us with having to figure out how to balance the needs of the ESOP with the capital we needed to execute our corporate strategic plan. We engaged Chartwell to analyze virtually every viable repurchase obligation situation we could think of. With their input and guidance, we developed a solid strategy that has allowed us to proactively work through what potentially could have been a very difficult situation for the company. It is fair to say our board is pleased with the results and has high regard for the team we have worked with at Chartwell."
—JEFF PLACEK, CFO, MCCOWNGORDON CONSTRUCTION
“McCownGordon found the Chartwell team very easy to work with during our sustainability study, especially given the wide variety of scenarios we investigated. We appreciate how thorough the team is and find their recommendations very valuable in making decisions concerning cashflow projections and share price volatility.”
—MIKE MALLARO, CEO,
VGM GROUP, INC.
“Our company has had the pleasure of working with Chartwell since we launched our ESOP over a decade ago. A project in 2020 we sought and received the Chartwell team’s help on was a major ESOP restructuring that resulted in us optimizing the impact of our ESOP for decades to come while providing early diversification and managing repurchase obligation. The project was a big win for VGM and its employee-owners and it would not have been successful without the work Chartwell did for us and with us. We have tremendous respect for the people of Chartwell and their approach to client service – and highly recommend them.”
From the Experts
“I really enjoy working with and educating companies of all stages on the ins-and-outs of managing their ESOPs. To know we have helped a company understand all the available options and have recommended a solution that will best help them meet their unique objectives is truly rewarding.”
Tina Langlois, Managing Director
“My career has been devoted to helping ESOP-owned companies sustain their businesses and manage through their unique challenges. It has been an absolute pleasure working with companies across all industries and tailoring custom solutions to help them meet their goals.”
Ryan Graham, Managing Director
“Having first worked with Chartwell as a client, I experienced firsthand the value of thoughtful guidance through complex ESOP decisions. Now, I enjoy being on the other side of the table – helping management teams navigate the ownership considerations I once faced. It’s rewarding to bring that perspective to each engagement.”
Amanda Strickler, Vice President