Any trust established to hold assets to provide benefits for the employees of a company or group of companies (and sometimes also former employees and employees' dependants). Very often, EBTs are set up to acquire and hold shares in the relevant company, to provide benefits to employees and former employees in the form of shares or options over, or interests in, shares. EBTs usually comply with certain statutory requirements. For more information, see Practice notes, Employee benefit trusts: overview, Setting up an employee benefit trust: overview and Trusts in commercial transactions: Employee benefit trusts.