An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a system planned on the assumption that the support of government and corporations is needed to promote the cooperation of capital and labor and to improve employees' economic and social status. It can be ach...
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a system planned on the assumption that the support of government and corporations is needed to promote the cooperation of capital and labor and to improve employees' economic and social status. It can be achieved by making employees obtain and retain the stock of a company that has an employee stock ownership association. ESOP, which was reorganized by enacting a labor welfare law in August 2001, seems to have developed a stable system through reorganization in March 2005.
However, there is a controversy surrounding the balance between the promotion of employees' welfare and the rights and interests of stockholders and creditors, owing to economic support of the company when an employee obtains treasury stock. That is because ESOP keeps it an essential condition for the company to offer special conveniences or economic aid to help employees obtain treasury stock. When they let a member of the employee stock ownership association, who is a stakeholder, hold the dual role of both employee and stockholder, and have the right to participate in management, it is necessary to examine the problem of investing that person with authority and benefits and of restricting the authority - not only the legal aspect, but also the political aspect.
In this paper, I will examine the legal problems related to ESOP, with emphasis on the critical mind. This study will suggest a theoretic basis and reasonable mediation to nip the conflict over benefits between stakeholders in the bud, and to mediate it. It will also explore the way to introduce a new form of ESOP.
At first, a preferred dividend for the member of an employee stock ownership association does not infringe the subscription rights of stockholders in the fundamental law of employees' welfare and the Securities and Exchange Act. It does not clash with Article 418 of commercial law, either. Action must be taken to prepare an integrated standard regarding the limit of obtaining treasury stock and the limit of funding that is needed to obtain treasury stock. The possibility of prediction and transparency of the people who take part in the ESOP have to be promoted according to the procedures that require the intention of stockholders.
In the case of a director's economic support for the employee stock ownership association, the director should impose a good manager's notice of duty and a fidelity duty in the range of benefit for the stockholders as well as for the company. The information that the member of an employee stock ownership association obtains comes under the category of important information that can affect the judgment of investors. It corresponds to the prohibition of insider trading to use the information or to make someone use it, related to trade of the securities.
Secondly, related to participating in the employee stock ownership association, there is a need for a written vote prescribed by commercial law or an electronic vote of a revised commercial law that is announced to be legislated by making it easier to exercise the voting right of an employee stock ownership association. It aims to assure the participation in management of employees and to solve the difficulty of attendance at a general meeting of stockholders as a member of an employee stock ownership association. It deserves consideration to have the company that has an ESOP which has stock at a regular rate to enforce cumulative voting. In addition, when the members‘ quotas are over the regular level, it is suggested to vest nomination or the seniority right to a director outside of the company.
Thirdly, the employee as a user of an ESOP is attaching an importance to making a fortune, and the company is putting distribution of profit and public ownership of the result before an employee's participation in management. In that condition, there is no need to exclude introduction of an ESOP as a form of security. Moreover, obtaining sufficient treasury stock over a long period of time is required to realize productivity increases and amicable industrial relations. It will be done by letting the employees share quotas, participate in the company's decisions, and inculcate them with loyalty. Consequently, obtaining sufficient treasury stock over a long period of time is closely related to the nature of a pension. Therefore, introducing an ESOP as a form of a pension must be considered, but, the ESOP has to be planned as an optional system to complement the present ESOP.
In conclusion, a change of the industrial structure, employees' and employers' consciousness, social and economic environment as well as a change of system is essential to establish ESOP successfully and to make it active. Especially, a cooperative relationship should be constructed through mutual sympathizing and concessions. An environment that can get the participant to be admitted as a partner of the enterprise, to exchange opinions, and to share concerns constantly should be built. I expect not only a juridical solution to be derived from this study but also complementary political measures, and legislative alternatives as a cornerstone for the development of ESOP. It is also expected that Korean ESOP will be consummated as a system to accomplish the original purpose.