x-Mitarbeiter nehmen Anteil
... beteiligen sich
... ergreifen Besitz

Each of these has different connotations or double meanings, and I'm not sure which (if any) is most suitable in the context.

I can't think of a way to replicate the muliple English meanings here.

take stock =
1. take items from the stock room
2. purchase company stocks/shares
3. review the situation
and there are probably more