KYA Holdings, Inc. Becomes Employee-Owned Through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 12, 2023
Contact: Brooks Berry, CFO
Phone: (714)-659-6477
Email: brooks.berry@thekyagroup.com
After 10 years of significant expansion and growth, KYA Holdings, Inc. opens its next chapter
Santa Ana, CA: KYA Holdings, Inc. (“KYA”, or “the Company”) has completed a transaction to become employee-owned through its newly created Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). The Company was founded in 2013 in Santa Ana, California as a GSA & CMAS approved vendor providing products and services to the public sector.
After 10 years of significant expansion and growth, the shareholders of KYA are transitioning the Company’s ownership to all of the employees of the Company through a qualified retirement plan known as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). All eligible employees will be granted shares of Company stock each year, at no cost, allowing them to earn ownership over time solely through their service to the Company and accumulate tax-deferred retirement wealth. KYA joins a group of elite employee-owned companies across the United States of America.
According to Tony Leyds, CEO, “Each employee of KYA is a trusted team member. We want our employees to feel that they ‘own and operate’ their own business which fosters tremendous pride resulting from owning a stake in the Company. We also want our hard-working and loyal employees to benefit beyond their wages alone if they continue to help grow KYA. Together we strive to be more efficient, innovative, safe and responsive to our clients’ needs. We decided to implement our ESOP plan because we felt it was the best and most sustainable path forward for the employees and managers of the Company in a manner that protects the legacy that we have built. Legacy was a critical factor in forward progression, but equally as important was ensuring that anything we did as owners would also help our employees succeed.”
KYA was advised by AmbroseAdvisors, a national investment banking firm specialized in employee-ownership transactions. Michael Harden, Senior Managing Director with AmbroseAdvisors, stated “The KYA shareholders’ goal was to secure a sustainable future for the Company in a manner that would be highly beneficial to its managers, employees, clients, and the community. Employee ownership, when done right, benefits all stakeholders and should be celebrated. It is a true win/win transaction for all parties involved and we were pleased to be a part. We heartily congratulate KYA and thank them for trusting AmbroseAdvisors to manage this transition process.”
Holzman Horner PLLC acted as legal counsel in connection with the transaction.
About: KYA Holdings, LLC was founded in 2013 in Santa Ana, California as a GSA & CMAS approved vendor providing products and services to the public sector. http://www.thekyagroup.com
About: AmbroseAdvisors is a national middle-market investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on guiding and assisting business owners with ownership succession planning, including through employee ownership. http://www.AmbroseAdvisors.com
About: Holzman Horner PLLC is a full-service business law firm. http://www.holzmanhorner.com