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.

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 and RSUs, and hear expert tips on optimizing employee equity plans to maximise engagement and impact.

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.

This session explores the crucial connection between stock plan administration and investor relations, highlighting how equity compensation strategies can shape investor perceptions and impact company valuation.

Attendees will learn how effective stock plan management can enhance corporate storytelling and contribute to broader business goals.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

- Best practices for effectively communicating the value of equity compensation plans, ensuring transparency and engagement with shareholders.

- Strategies for building strong relationships with your investor relations team and investors, delivering relevant, timely information to meet their needs.

- Understanding hot-button issues for investors, including the influence of proxy advisors and how to address shareholder proposals and institutional investor concerns.

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.