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EFES NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2025
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First
Franco-British Employee Ownership Trust
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Employee
ownership has made remarkable progress in SMEs in the
UK. At present, of every 100 business transfers, eight
go to employees.
These employees generally become 100% owners of their
company (average size: 72 employees).
The
trust scheme is what makes this possible. In the UK,
it is known as an "Employee Ownership Trust"
(EOT).
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Many
European countries already have trust-type legislation.
In France it's the "fiducie" (and in Belgium
the "fondation privée"), in the Netherlands
a "stichting", in Germany or Austria a "Stiftung",
in Sweden a "stiftelse"…
Now, we have the first Franco-British employee ownership
trust !
They are Xavier Schouller and Nathalie Soma, two French
nationals living not far from London. They set up their
company in 2002. It's Peak Retreats "The French
Alps Ski Specialist". Their specialty: ski holidays
in the French Alps.
They now have over twenty employees and it's time for
a smooth handover.
On 29 August, they set up their employee ownership trust
with the help of Baxendale, the leading employee ownership
consultancy. There are already over 150 companies offering
specialist advice of this kind in the UK, up from around
four in 2014, when the Employee Ownership Trust model
was launched. This growth alone speaks volumes about
the success of the scheme.
The next step will be the transfer of the company’s
shares into the trust, for the benefit of all employees.
We will be kept in the loop. Full information is available
here
for the trust and here
for the company.
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Press
review
A
selection of 38 remarkable articles in 8 countries in July-August
2025: Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia,
UK, USA.
Belgium: New step for Easi, end of journey for Automation
& Robotics.
Denmark: New tax facility for transferring businesses
to employees.
France: Dream of cooperatives for business transfers
to employees. In Great Britain, the largest toy store chain
is taken over by an employee ownership trust.
Italy: The founders of British toy store chain The
Entertainer are set to transfer their ownership to an Employee
Ownership Trust (EOT) next month to secure the future of the
business.
Netherlands: New step for employee share ownership
at Brink.
Slovenia: On the way to the coopESOP.
UK: How is an EOT sale funded? This is a very common
question founders ask. Unlike a trade sale or a management
buyout, it’s not always clear where the money comes from to
pay you in an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) sale.
How employee ownership trusts work. Understanding the dynamics
of an employee-owned company.
Thanks to the Employee Ownership Trust formula, two new SMEs
are transferred to their employees every day now. This time,
among others, the cases of: SEO Works digital agency, RPM
creative agency, Texel insurance broker, bluQube accountancy
software, Clone Media, Tioga electronics manufacturer, Cheetham
Hill Construction, David Spear commercial vehicles, The Entertainer
toy store chain, Buttress Architects, Lucy & Yak clothing,
HRI Munro Architecture.
USA: New business transfers through ESOPs or EOTs.
Fifty years after 1974, Michigan launches $500.000 pilot program
to help businesses become employee-owned.
The full press review is available
on:
https://www.efesonline.org/PRESS
REVIEW/2025/August.htm
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A
political roadmap for employee ownership in Europe
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EFES needs more members. Download the EFES membership form
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