More than 1,000 people will gather in Seattle for the NCEO and Beyster Institute 2013 Employee Ownership Conference April 23-26. The conference brings together people and ideas that keep employee ownership working.

Verit Advisors CEO and Founder Mary Josephs will participate in a panel on “Optimizing ESOP Transaction Structures in the Current Tax and Business Environment” on Friday, April 26. Josephs founded Verit Advisors in 2009 and has nearly three decades of experience in corporate finance. She is a nationally recognized leader and has advised, structured and closed more than 200 financings for middle market companies. Ms. Josephs is a past two term board member of NCEO (National Center for Employee Ownership).

Peter Abrahamson will be a panelist on Wednesday, April 24, discussing “Considerations in Structuring Second Stage ESOP Transactions.” Abrahamson is the technical director at Verit Advisors and leads the technical aspects of ESOP financial modeling, valuation, tax, accounting and human capital topics. Abrahamson has more than 15 years of valuation and investment banking experience, specializing in the valuation of business enterprises and individual securities, structuring ESOP transactions and executing public and private market capital raises. On Thursday, April 25, Abrahamson will lead a roundtable discussion on “Recent Tax Code Change Implications for ESOP Transactions.”

Neal Hawkins will be presenting with a panel, Wednesday, April 24 on “Issues to be Addressed Prior to Selling Your Company to an ESOP.” In addition, Hawkins will lead a roundtable discussion on “Financing Alternatives for ESOPs,” Thursday, April 25. Mr. Hawkins joined Verit Advisors as Vice President in 2011 and has significant debt capital market and ESOP expertise. Mr. Hawkins works with private business owners on succession and transition alternatives which include the use of ESOPs, management buyouts, private equity transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

Verit Advisors Senior Associate Kristin Ackerman will be part of the panel discussing “Designing an Ownership Plan for Non-U.S. Employees” on Thursday, April 25. Ackerman focuses her time on production, specifically financial modeling, pitch materials, offering memoranda, management presentations and firm administration. Ackerman also has played an instrumental role in the founding and development of the ESOP Emerging Leaders group for young professionals in the industry.

About ESOPs

According to the NCEO, the first employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) was in 1956 and today there are about 10,900 ESOPs and equivalent plans employing more than 13 million employees in the U.S. ESOPs are spread throughout the nation and industries and range from just a few employees to more than 150,000 employees. Over a 10-year period, ESOPs have 25 percent higher job growth than comparable companies without an ESOP. These companies have 4 to 5 percent higher productivity in the year an ESOP is adopted. Employee ownership keeps businesses and jobs in state with ESOP companies 25 percent more likely to stay in business.

About Verit Advisors

Verit Advisors unites sophisticated middle=market investment banking capabilities with a client-centric boutique, fluent in ESOPs, debt and equity capital markets, recapitalizations, valuation services, and mergers and acquisitions and other forms of ownership transition. Integrity, teamwork, service and innovation are at the heart of the organization, as the Verit Team strives to provide unparalleled advice and custom solutions to its clients. Verit Advisors is a sponsor of the NCEO Conference and will have several employees attending.

About NCEO

The National Center for Employee Ownership is a private, nonprofit membership and research organization that serves as the leading source of accurate, unbiased information on employee stock ownership plans, equity compensation plans such as stock options and ownership culture. The Employee Ownership Conference annually features many highly interactive sessions designed so attendees can get answers to the questions and find ideas that work for their company. The Beyster Institute at the Rady School of Management University of California, San Diego is an educational center for the study and promotion of employee ownership and the creation of effective ownership cultures. Information on the conference can be found at www.nceo.org/conference.