In 2022, ErsteGroup launched WeShare by ErsteGroup, an annual employee share plan with a five-year holding period that achieved an impressive 88% participation rate across seven countries. This session will explore the strategies behind the programme's success, including creative plan design, effective financial education, and approaches to addressing challenges during its multi-country rollout.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Explore how well-structured plan design, including an annual offering model and a five-year holding period, boosted participation rates.
• Understand how targeted financial education campaigns improved employee knowledge, engagement, and confidence in the programme.
• Gain insights into tackling cross-country implementation challenges and fine-tuning post-launch processes to enhance programme outcomes.

Discover how Sage transformed its global Save & Share plan by tapping into the power of its people. This session explores how Sage revitalized its communications strategy, enhanced the colleague experience, and implemented a financial education and wellbeing program that empowered employees to make informed decisions at maturity.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Strategies to boost participation and engagement in employee share plans
• The role of financial education in driving confidence and informed decision-making
• How to measure success beyond numbers—real stories and testimonials from employees

This session will dive into the unique landscape of equity compensation in India, examining best practices and emerging trends that are shaping the market. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities companies face when structuring equity plans, including tax implications, legal frameworks, and employment laws specific to India.

The session will also explore how cultural factors influence plan adoption and participation, offering insights into how global companies can effectively tailor their equity compensation strategies to the Indian market.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the tax, legal, and employment law considerations unique to India in equity plan design.
• Explore cultural factors and their impact on plan adoption and employee participation.
• Learn how to align global equity strategies with India's evolving corporate and regulatory environment.

In a globalised business environment, offering equity plans that cater to diverse workforces across multiple jurisdictions presents unique challenges. While global share plans provide a consistent framework, many companies adopt local tax-approved sub-plans to align with regional tax incentives and regulations. This dual structure offers significant benefits but also introduces operational complexities.

This expert panel will delve into the intricacies of implementing global equity plans alongside local sub-plans, offering practical strategies and tools to help organisations strike the right balance between global consistency and local relevance. Attendees will gain actionable insights and tools, including frameworks for aligning objectives and managing complexities.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the benefits of local tax-approved sub-plans in enhancing participation, delivering tax efficiencies, and boosting engagement by tailoring benefits regionally.
• Explore strategies for harmonising global equity plan objectives with local regulations, tax laws, and cultural considerations.
• Learn practical approaches to managing the operational impacts of running global plans with local variants, including streamlined administration, effective communication, and accurate reporting.

As global companies continue to compete for top talent, equity compensation has become a key tool in attracting and retaining employees.

This session provides a unique opportunity to explore how equity incentives are structured and implemented across Central and Eastern Europe, with a special focus on the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Poland. The session will also address considerations specific to private companies, providing insights into how they can effectively leverage equity compensation in competitive markets.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Gain an understanding of the legal landscape for offering equity compensation in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Poland, including common pitfalls and red flags.
• Explore the practical implications of managing equity awards for employees working across multiple jurisdictions, including the unique case of Ukrainian employees relocating throughout Europe.
• Learn about current trends in equity compensation, including stock options, RSUs, and strategies tailored for private companies to optimise employee engagement and impact.

Rolls-Royce has introduced share ownership to its global workforce across 30 countries for the first time, launching with a free share award to help employees become shareholders. This initiative was followed by a share purchase and matching plan, offering employees flexible participation options. The focus on clear communication and seamless enrolment has been key to the plan's success.

In this session, join representatives from Rolls-Royce, plan administrator EQ, legal advisors from Tapestry, and communications experts from Eximia as they discuss the design and implementation of this ground-breaking program. They’ll share insights on their objectives, strategies for overcoming challenges, and lessons learned along the way.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Discover the approach to designing an inclusive global equity plan with multiple participation options to cater to diverse employee needs.
• Learn how clear communication and easy enrolment were crucial for the success of the global share plan rollout.
• Gain insights on what worked, what could be improved, and how to apply these lessons to future global equity initiatives.

Since its establishment in 1993, the Czech Republic has seen significant changes in equity compensation. Our panelists, who began their careers around that time, will discuss the evolution of accounting, tax, and regulatory legislation, and their impact on common equity plan practices. We will also explore how employee expectations and corporate practices have evolved. The session will conclude with a look at current and future trends, including the effects of the global talent war, technological advancements, and corporate ownership on equity compensation.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understanding the global evolution of equity compensation and its regulatory impacts.
• Exploring how employee expectations and corporate practices have shaped equity plans.
• Considering the future of equity compensation in light of global talent trends and technological changes.

Discover the award-winning strategies of Amazon and Google in transforming global share plans. Amazon, winner of ‘Best Use of Technology’ in 2024, will delve into how their VIA system automated complex LOA and COS processes for 400,000+ equity-eligible employees across 60 countries, ensuring compliance, reducing errors, and enhancing efficiency through real-time vesting visibility. Google, winner of ‘Best Use of Technology,’ in 2023 will showcase Project Nutella, their automation initiative that saved 1,500+ hours annually while enhancing accuracy, productivity, and participant experiences.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Identify key processes within your equity plans that are prime candidates for automation, and learn how to integrate technology to save time, reduce errors, and enhance efficiency.
• Develop strategies to build modular, adaptable equity management systems that can scale with your company and incorporate evolving regulations, ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Create effective communication and stakeholder collaboration plans to attract employee buy-in and participation in your equity plans, leveraging insights from successful ambassador programs and data-driven decision-making.

In this session, the panel will explore the key restrictions impacting equity compensation today, from 'soft' restrictions such as shareholder approval ('say on pay') and progressive tax rates, to reputational risks, disclosure requirements, and litigation (including high-profile cases like the Elon Musk case).

This session will also address how these constraints influence equity plan structuring, and delve into the "hard" restrictions that companies face, especially in today’s evolving political environment.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the impact of shareholder approval, 'say on pay', and progressive tax rates on equity compensation decisions.
• Explore the risks around disclosure, reputational challenges, and litigation, including implications from high-profile cases.
• Debate the effects of the current political climate on both 'hard' and 'soft' restrictions in equity plan structuring.