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.