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EFES NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2012
Employee
ownership in European countries in 2011
The most recent numbers show that employee ownership was
continuously progressing across Europe since the financial
crisis. This is the main conclusion of the new "Economic
Survey of Employee Ownership in European Countries in 2011".
The conclusion was the same in 2010, this is thus a confirmation.
In 2011, 9.9 million employee owners held 232 billion Euro
in their companies' shares compared to 9.5 million holding
197 billion Euro one year before. The number of employee
owners increased more in Spain, Sweden, Denmark and France,
while it was decreasing in Italy, Greece and Portugal as
well as in Germany, Belgium and Ireland.
The survey brings exhaustive information. It is based on
the census of the 2.505 largest European companies employing
32.8 million people in 2011. More
information
Public
hearing in the European Parliament on March 22
The European Economic and Social Committee recently launched
a call on the European institutions and governments for
a renewed initiative supported by the EU budget through
a dedicated budget heading. Such a budget should help to
set up and finance a European Center for Employee Ownership
in each European country, to deliver information, training
and advice to employees, enterprises and the public at large.
The public hearing in the Parliament on March 22 will be
the opportunity for a budget proposal.
Program
of the hearing Budget
proposal
With the support of
Press
review
A selection of 38 remarkable articles in 7 countries
in February 2012: France, India, Italy, South Africa, Spain,
UK, USA.
France:
Air France-KLM going to relaunch its employee share ownership
– It's the right moment when share prices are so low – Maybe
going to 20% of the companys' shares. Final decision for
the rescuing plan as a workers cooperative for Helio-Corbeil.
Syndex will be a new workers coop. New employee share plans
for Spie and for Axa.
India:
Sustainability of employee buyouts of companies in the plantation
sector cannot be taken for granted.
Italy:
Many questions about employee share ownership in Italy:
Why is this country so belated in this field? New share
plan for Italian employees in French Group Auchan.
South
Africa: Around the world there are many versions of
employee ownership. However, the models that really drive
enhanced business performance are those that engage employees
as real owners.
Spain:
Employee-owned "sociedades laborales" in
the Basque Country in 2011.
UK:
British Government appoints adviser on employee ownership,
to investigate how to increase the number of employee-owned
businesses. Questions about Loch Fyne Oysters, this employee-owned
company being sold to Scottish Seafood Investments. Staff
at the firm voted unanimously in favour of the deal. The
move marks the end of nine years of employee ownership at
Loch Fyne, which was considered as an employee ownership
champion in the UK.
USA:
New legislation in Iowa: The Iowa Economic Development Authority
wants the state to offer incentives to Iowa owners for selling
part or all of a company to an ESOP, or employee stock ownership
plan. Strange contrast: President Obama's corporate tax
reform proposal would be particularly harmful to S ESOPs
which Congress authorized in 1998.
The full press review is available
on:
http://www.efesonline.org/PRESS
REVIEW/2012/February.htm
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A
political roadmap for employee ownership in Europe
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