COVID-19 Impact on ESOPs and the Value of their Underlying Stock

Economies and businesses of all sizes – all over the world – are reeling from the sudden impact of COVID-19. Regarding publicly traded stocks in the U.S., we are witnessing unprecedented market volatility in the stock markets. As the economy has come to a screeching halt, the value of public stocks have plummeted. The root cause of this market volatility, COVID–19, is impacting the high majority of businesses – public or privately held, including the stock of ESOP companies¹. While the uncertainty of the current economic conditions is easily observed in the public stock market, the value of privately held stock – in this case the stock of ESOP companies – is not so easily ascertained.

As of this writing, business appraisers – along with the Trustees of ESOPs – are working diligently to determine the value of the sponsor stock held by the ESOP as of December 31, 2019 (calendar year end valuation date is the update valuation date in almost all ESOP Plan (the “Plan”) documents. The conundrum is that distributions based on these values will not have gone out to eligible participants as of the date that we tie the bow on our valuation reports (generally in the March through July time period). Due to the extreme change in market conditions, should an interim valuation be prepared as of a current date, for purposes of determining ESOP participant distributions and diversifications? What is the perspective of both the ESOP Plan Administrator² (“Plan Administrator”), and the business appraiser, who conduct the valuations?

Plan Administrator’s Perspective³

In order to appreciate how a Plan Administrator would navigate this tight rope act, it is useful to understand the legal standards to which the Plan Administrator is held. ERISA⁴ requires fiduciaries to discharge their duties in accordance with the documents and other instruments governing a Plan (unless they are inconsistent with ERISA). This requires the Plan Administrator to carefully read and understand the Plan Document. The Plan Document typically is either 1) silent on whether or not an interim valuation should be considered in light of compelling circumstances (i.e., requires judgment) or 2) may explicitly state that interim valuations are permissible, yet not required (again, requires judgment). After a review of the Plan document, and analysis of all significant factors (described below), it will require judgment of the Plan Administrator as to whether or not the current circumstances warrant an updated valuation.

Bottom Line – After a review of the Plan document, it will be the judgment of the Plan Administrator as to whether or not the current circumstances warrant an updated valuation.

Appraiser’s Perspective

As long as the underlying economy, industry and company risk factors, and financial outlook do not change significantly, it is generally believed that a business valuation remains reasonably indicative of value for an extended period, up to a year. However, that assumes a general normalcy in general operating conditions. Various references to authoritative sources cite that a valuation of a certain date, must take into account the facts available at that valuation date.

Context is thus critical

If assumptions underlying any of the methodologies employed to determine value change significantly, then a valuation opinion as of a prior date may not be suitable for a current use. Some of the key factors that the COVID-19 virus is creating that uncertainty around include: future revenue orders, supplier risks, customer risks and overall market risk factors and market multiples of public guideline companies. To the extent that COVID-19 would materially impact the valuation, then Rev. Ruling 59-60 would suggest that the valuation needs to be updated.

Should an ESOP Company Cease Doing the Valuation Update as of December 31, 2019?

If the Plan calls for a valuation to be performed as of calendar year-end, then a December 31, 2019 valuation must be completed. These valuations cannot take into account the current economic downturn because it was not reasonably foreseeable as of December 31, 2019.

Should an Update be Conducted for an ESOP Mid-Year?

A sample of some items that the Plan Administrator might consider in making this decision are⁵:

1. Plan Documents – Does the Plan document permit interim valuations? If so, should an update be contemplated?
2. Plan Amendments – If the Plan does not provide for interim valuations, the Plan may need to be amended to allow for an additional interim valuation dates (aside from the required annual valuation date).
3. Review of relevant court cases on cases where the issue was amending an ESOP Plan (to allow for interim valuations) that explicitly do not allow for interim valuations (versus being silent on this matter).
4. Payments to Which Participants? – The Plan must be operated in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries. This means all of the participants. Making payouts to some participants at higher values, can be seen as robbing the future value for the remaining participants.
5. Financial Viability of the Company – Is there a sustainability issue with the sponsoring company if the 2020 distributions (based on the 2019 stock price) does not take the COVID-19 into account?
6. Extraordinary Conditions – As a matter of process, is there a threshold in place, stating what extraordinary conditions that should exist for when the Plan Administrator will consider an interim valuation?
7. Timing – Where is the line in the sand drawn for the appropriate date of an interim valuation? Clearly, COVID-19 is an evolving situation and the economic and business environment is likely to continue to change. It is not practical to do multiple interim updates.

If the decision is made to conduct an interim valuation, then the interim valuation (say as of March 31, 2020) must take into account all facts known or knowable as of the interim valuation date, which certainly would include the impact of COVID-19.

If you have any questions, please contact Patrice Radogna, Co-Leader of Marcum’s National ESOP practice and Director, Advisory Services, at 617.807.5219 or email Patrice.

Coronavirus Resource Center

Have more questions about the impact of the coronavirus on your business? Visit Marcum’s Coronavirus Resource Center for up-to-date information.

Footnote

1. ESOP companies are privately held companies that have an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) for purposes of contributing shares of its corporate stock as a retirement benefit to employees.
2. ESOP Plan Administrator is a legal position occupied by the person or entity designated by the board of directors (usually as defined in the ESOP Plan document) as the primary party responsible for the reporting of benefits to IRS and ESOP participants.
3. For illustration purposes, we are discussing the viewpoint from the Plan Administrator (as the person that would exercise the discretion to determine an interim valuation). The Plan document for your ESOP Plan should be read and analyzed to determine the appropriate person for requiring an interim valuation.
4. ERISA is the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that provides legislation regarding employee benefit plans.
5. This is not a legal opinion and this is not a complete and comprehensive list. These are items that may be considered in the decision to perform a mid-year valuation update.