Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan : Acadian Companies

Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Acadian Companies became an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 1993. The company's owners chose to shift away from a regular 401(k) to ESOP because of their desire to diversify holdings and share the success of the company with the employees. Because of this plan, we all work to align our actions and attitudes with the principles of ownership as opposed to those of only an employee of a company. What is an ESOP?

An ESOP is an employee benefit plan in which employees of a company own stock in that company. An ESOP is unique among qualified employee benefit plans in that it is required by law to invest primarily in the securities of the sponsoring employer, and its ability to borrow money. As a result, "leveraged ESOPs" may be used as a technique of corporate finance.

Since becoming an ESOP company, Acadian instills pride, wealth building, and trust in employees. All ESOP companies are dependent on the employee-owners to survive and grow. Ownership is not just about running things; real ownership is building value for all.

Visit the National ESOP Association

See the awards our ESOP has won

2011 ESOP Employee of the Year

The ESOP Employee-Owner of the Year Award was created to recognize individuals that embrace the ESOP philosophy, are an ESOP advocate and support efforts to make the ESOP grow through their actions and promotions of the ownership culture.

This year’s recipient joined Acadian Companies in 1987. From the beginning, she’s been a model of the ESOP way, taking pride in answering questions about ESOP from new employees and working hard to keep veteran employees on the right track. Although she gives up a lot of free time all year long helping the ESOP Committee, her biggest role is during the first quarter of the year, when she helps the ESOP committee to prepare for the annual spring ESOP meeting.

We are proud to announce the 2011 ESOP Employee of the Year, Ms. Marleen Hollier.