GEO INSIGHTS

ACCESS THE LATEST GLOBAL EQUITY COMPENSATION INSIGHTS

Read industry news, explore technical updates, access ideas on global employee compensation innovation, and find ways to connect.

CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION

ARTICLE

24 August 2026

HMRC Updates Tax Treatment of Company Contributions to Employee Ownership Trusts

HM Revenue & Customs

Finance, tax and accounting

All plan types

UK and Channel Islands

HMRC updated its Company Taxation Manual on the treatment of company contributions used by EOT trustees to finance share acquisitions.

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LIVE WEBCAST

20 August 2026, 10 - 11am MST

The Global Equity Gap: Why Ownership Doesn't Always Travel - ZOOM

Computershare

Finance, tax and accounting

Legal and regulatory

All plan types

Global

Companies often position equity compensation as a cornerstone of their ownership culture—but that promise doesn’t always translate globally. Regulatory complexity, tax considerations, and operational barriers can result in international employees being excluded from share plans or shifted into cash-settled alternatives, creating a disconnect between intention and reality. This session challenges those assumptions and explores what it really means for employees everywhere to own a piece of your company.

We’ll explore the “compliance gap” in cross-border equity and its impact on culture, alignment, and growth. Attendees will gain insight into the realities of balancing global consistency with local requirements, examine whether cash-settled awards truly deliver ownership, and uncover hidden risks while rethinking how to design equity programs that are both globally consistent and locally compliant.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

Identify the key regulatory, tax, and operational challenges that create the cross-border equity “compliance gap”
Evaluate the effectiveness of cash-settled awards versus equity in delivering true ownership and alignment
Apply practical strategies to design globally consistent, locally compliant equity programs

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group Internet-Based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit:1.0 credits *CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only.

Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

COST

Members: Free access — Live and on-demand
Non-members: $85 per webcast — Live and on-demand

Unlock unlimited access! Join GEO from just $375/year and watch every webcast free—live or on-demand plus more member perks!

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ARTICLE

20 August 2026

Disney Plans Broad-Based Employee Stock Purchase Program for 2027

Business Insider / James Faris

Employee engagement

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)

USA

Disney plans to introduce an ESPP for eligible employees, positioning broad-based share ownership as part of its benefits and retention strategy after reductions in some stock-based compensation.

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IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT

20 August 2026, 4 - 6pm EDT

Atlanta Chapter Meeting - ATLANTA

Atlanta, GA

Trending now

All plan types

USA

Join the Atlanta Chapter for an update on the latest compliance developments affecting employee share plans around the world.

SPEAKER: Aimee Bell, Baker McKenzie

Managing multinational share plans continues to grow more complex as organizations navigate evolving tax rules, regulatory changes, reporting requirements, and increasing scrutiny across jurisdictions.

Join Baker McKenzie Partner Aimee Bell for a practical overview of the key legal, tax, and regulatory developments shaping global equity compensation in 2026. You'll gain actionable insights into emerging compliance risks, administrative best practices, and strategies for maintaining compliant and effective share plans across multiple countries.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

- Identify emerging global compliance risks and tax developments affecting multinational share plans.
- Evaluate regulatory and legal changes to help adapt your equity compensation strategy.
- Implement administrative best practices to reduce cross-border risk and improve global plan operations.

LOCATION
Morgan Stanley
3280 Peachtree Rd, NE
20th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30305

There is no cost for this chapter meeting.

Members and non-members are welcome to attend. Registration is required.

View the event attendee terms and conditions.

Register

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT

20 August 2026, 3 - 5pm CDT

Texas Chapter Meeting - HOUSTON

Houston, TX

Trending now

All plan types

USA

Join us for a relaxed summer gathering designed to bring our Texas community together! Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the group, this is a great opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, connect with colleagues, and strengthen relationships across our network in a casual setting.

What to expect:

A welcoming environment to connect and unwind with peers
Fun, interactive activities at the start to help spark conversations and build connections
Light finger foods to enjoy throughout the event

We hope you can join us for an afternoon of networking, conversation, and summer fun!

LOCATION:
Yard House (CityCentre)
800 Sorella Ct,
Space 116
Houston, TX 77024

Generously Hosted by

Register

ARTICLE

18 August 2026

ASIC Updates Guidance for Legacy Employee Incentive Schemes

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Legal and regulatory

All plan types

Australia

ASIC updated RG 49 to clarify that the guide has largely been overtaken by the 2022 employee incentive scheme reforms but remains relevant for legacy schemes.

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ARTICLE

18 August 2026

What Germany Can Teach Us About Employee Equity: Real vs Virtual Ownership

Nigel Watson / Burges Salmon

Design and strategy

Germany

UK and Channel Islands

Compares genuine equity with German-style virtual equity and explores ownership, economic exposure, tax, funding and employment-law trade-offs.

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ARTICLE

14 August 2026

2026 ESOP RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SURVEY

National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)

Employee engagement

All plan types

USA

New survey based on 433 respondents examining whether employee ownership helps companies attract and incentivise employees and how ESOP companies communicate ownership.

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ARTICLE

12 August 2026

REPURCHASE OF STOCK OPTIONS: PERQUISITE VS CAPITAL GAINS

Lexology

Finance, tax and accounting

Stock options

India

Practitioner analysis of the tax treatment of repurchased employee stock options and the distinction between employment perquisites and capital gains.

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