GEO's new Global Share Plans Ranking Project is the first of its kind. Designed to provide a snapshot in time, senior equity compensation industry issuers and service providers have provided rankings across a wide range of criteria for their country of expertise. The resulting report provides the bigger picture: a detailed country-level view of the appetite, support and provision of employee share ownership.

This session provides report highlights and key takeaways, as well as providing an understanding of how the report can be used for ideas on how to improve regional plans, assess the risk of expanding into new countries, or to start a conversation with regional stakeholders to increase access to share ownership around the globe.  

KEY LEARNINGS: 

• Discover the countries leading the way, and those that have room to develop their employee equity offer
• Explore key report findings, including trends and barriers to adopting share plans
• Find out how you can use the report to decide which countries to extend plans into, or take learnings to improve the take-up of equity compensation in your region

Designing executive share plans with DEI and ESG performance targets requires a robust global standard to ensure fairness, accountability, and transparency. The EU is more advanced in integrating these metrics, but a strong global standard should include clear and measurable targets, alignment with international frameworks like the UN SDGs, and a balanced scorecard approach. Regular monitoring, stakeholder involvement, meaningful incentives, regional adaptation, and continuous improvement are also crucial. 

Join this session to explore practical strategies that drive impactful DEI and ESG outcomes in executive compensation.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Understand the importance of clear and measurable DEI and ESG target
• Learn how to align with international frameworks for consistency
• Explore effective incentive structures to drive DEI and ESG achievements
   

Join this session to uncover how Allianz and EY teamed up since 2018 to expand the Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP) globally, now reaching 43 countries from an initial 30, and see how employee ownership at Allianz soared from just 9% to over 70%.

You’ll learn firsthand how EY navigated tax and legal landscapes while tailoring plans to fit each country's unique needs, balancing consistency with local relevance. Discover Allianz’s approach to boosting participation rates above 29% through centralised communication and innovative initiatives like employee investors days and a customised plan administrator platform.

Plus, delve into the Free Share program integrated with the ESPP, which underscores Allianz’s commitment to sustainability and its core mission of securing the future.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Learn how Allianz grew their Employee Share Purchase Plan to 43 countries, boosting employee shareholder rates
• Discover EY's approach to maintaining tax and legal compliance while tailoring plans for different countries
• Understand how centralised communication and customer-friendly initiatives increased participation in Allianz's ESPP

Join this session to explore how private companies leverage share plans strategically to drive growth and enhance employee engagement. These plans serve as potent incentives, aligning employees' interests with the long-term success of the company. They foster a sense of ownership and commitment that can be challenging to achieve with non-equity-based rewards.

The panel will cover navigating the use of equity in private equity-backed portfolio companies, exploring pathways to achieve liquidity for private companies, and understanding the mechanics of growth shares and their potential for tax efficiencies. They will also examine how traditional tax-advantaged plans can be optimised to maximise benefits and discuss fostering an employee ownership culture through initiatives like employee ownership trusts (EOT) and broader employee plans. Additionally, considerations for private companies when extending equity on an international scale will be covered.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• A clear understanding of how share plans align employee interests with company growth
• Insight into effective strategies for achieving liquidity in private companies
• Knowledge of the benefits and tax efficiencies associated with using growth shares.

Equity compensation has always been hardwired into the Prysmian business model and operations approach. Join this session to explore how Prysmian transformed employee ownership with their YES and BE IN Employee Share Purchase Plans (ESPP). Discover the journey from launching the BE IN plan for blue-collar workers in 2023 to expanding ownership across 30 countries.

In this case-study panel, you'll learn how Prysmian designed, implemented, and managed these plans to cater to diverse employee demographics, achieving 46% employee ownership globally. Hear about their strategic approach, including educational initiatives and overcoming cultural and language challenges.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Learn how Prysmian successfully segmented and managed share plans for different employee groups, increasing global ownership
• Discover effective strategies for educating employees about share plans to ensure understanding and engagement
• Understand how Prysmian navigated cultural and language differences to implement share plans in 30 countries.

Join this sesion for an engaging session that brings AI to life with practical applications in share plans and beyond. The CMS legal innovations team will demystify generative AI, demonstrating its mechanics through live examples. Learn how to optimize AI prompts and get top tips for effective prompting. The expert panel will also discuss AI's impact on share plans, covering legal considerations, design, implementation, communication, and administration. This session will show you how to leverage AI to enhance the efficacy and reach of your share plans.

 KEY LEARNINGS: 

• Understand generative AI and see live examples of its practical applications
• Learn how to optimize AI prompts for maximum benefit with top prompting tips
• Discover how AI impacts the design, implementation, communication, and administration of share plans
  
  
  
  
   

Are you ready for the future of pay transparency? Prepare for the future of pay transparency with our session on the EU's upcoming 'Pay Transparency Directive.' Set to roll out by June 2026, this legislation will affect all member states. Discover what this means for share plan professionals and gain insights on navigating the challenges ahead.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Understand the implications of the EU's 'Pay Transparency Directive' for share plan professionals
• Identify key challenges and considerations for complying with the new legislation
• Receive a roadmap to help plan and ensure compliance with the directive.

Join this session to uncover the latest trends in global share plans with highlights from the 12th annual Global Equity Insights Survey (GEIS) 2024. This unique survey reveals crucial insights into how companies worldwide use equity, focusing on Long Term Incentives (LTIs), Share Purchase Plans (SPPs), and talent.

The panel will also explore survey findings on how companies are harnessing the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for their equity compensation strategies, showcasing real-world applications and best practices.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Discover the latest trends in global share plans from the 2024 Global Equity Insights Survey, including LTIs and SPPs
• Gain insights into how AI is revolutionising equity compensation strategies
• Learn best practices and emerging trends in equity-based compensation to apply in your company

Navigating legal and tax compliance for new or existing plans can be daunting. Join our panel of experienced issuers and advisors as we spotlight three key compliance hotspots: securities laws, foreign exchange, and translations. Experts from Tapestry will guide you on prioritising compliance efforts this year and tackling challenges in hotspot countries. Hear from Sage and Rolls-Royce about their experiences with global expansion.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Learn where to focus your compliance efforts for the biggest impact
• Discover strategies for managing securities laws, foreign exchange, and translations
• Gain insights from Sage and Rolls-Royce on overcoming key issues in global expansion