Tanimura & Antle Launches Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Third-generation farming company takes employee commitment to the next level

SALINAS, Calif. (February 14, 2017) – Salinas Valley grower-packer-shipper Tanimura & Antle today announced a new era in the company’s ownership with the launch of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), allowing employees to become partial owners of the company. Tanimura & Antle is one of the first grower-packer-shippers in U.S. history to share company ownership with all qualified, domestic employees, from seed to sale.

“Our employees are not only our single greatest asset, they’re also an extension of our families,” said Rick Antle, CEO, Tanimura & Antle. “By offering employee ownership, we are upholding the legacy of our founding families and preserving and growing the culture that’s been responsible for our success.”

Family-owned and operated since 1982, Tanimura & Antle has always been committed to providing a safe, happy and productive work environment for its employees – and the launch of an ESOP represents the next step in that commitment. An ESOP is a retirement plan that allows qualified employees to vest into a percentage of ownership of the company. Through the new ESOP, employees can earn stock ownership in Tanimura & Antle.

“As a private, family-owned company that values its employees and takes our role in the community seriously, we evaluated several directions for the next phase of our company,” said Antle. “We are in a dynamic business, and need to build a structure that maintains local control and supports future growth and governance, while ensuring we stay agile and innovative. We are proud to be able to take this next step in our commitment to our farm and our employees.”

Tanimura & Antle was advised by Brereton, Hanley, & Co. Inc. Investment Banking and ESOP Law Group, LLP. Primary term loan facility was provided by American Ag Credit, with commercial credit facility provided by Bank of America, N.A.

Tanimura & Antle’s roots in the Salinas Valley are deep. The families have worked together for more than a half century, before even the founding of the company. Today, Tanimura & Antle is one of the largest independently owned vegetable grower-packer-shippers in the U.S. In contrast to industry norms, the company endeavors to employ its entire labor force. The company also is committed to providing vital benefits to all its employees, including full medical benefits, 401(k) and affordable housing for agricultural workers. These offerings allow Tanimura & Antle to attract and retain the best employees, as demonstrated by the fact that not only is the ownership of Tanimura & Antle multi-generational, but so is its employee base. More than 1,500 employees have been with the company for more than 10 years, 416 of whom have been with the company for more than 20 years.