GEO INSIGHTS

President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted at the Inaugural Worker Share Ownership Conference in Johannesburg that employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) are vital for broadening ownership and promoting economic transformation in South Africa, particularly among previously disadvantaged groups like women and black South Africans. He emphasized the role of ESOPs in improving social justice, enhancing worker engagement in corporate decision-making, and boosting productivity and innovation within companies. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel presented statistics showing significant ESOP adoption across various sectors, with 551,000 workers benefiting and ESOPs reaching about 1.54 million South Africans, underscoring their growing impact on economic empowerment and equity in the country.

Employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) in South Africa have gained momentum, highlighted at the inaugural Worker Share Ownership Conference in Johannesburg. Minister Ebrahim Patel emphasized the widespread adoption of ESOPs across various sectors, benefiting over 551,000 workers and indirectly reaching 1.54 million South Africans through family dependents. President Cyril Ramaphosa underscored ESOPs as crucial for economic transformation, promoting inclusivity, and enhancing worker engagement and productivity, while advocating for improved governance and funding policies to further support their implementation and success.

EY's 2024 Mobility Reimagined survey reveals that only 25% of employers have fully developed mobility functions, despite 64% of employees expressing a higher likelihood of staying after long-term global assignments. Companies face increasing cross-border risks, with 71% of respondents noting heightened challenges, including tax/regulatory and data privacy risks, highlighting the need for robust policies and integration of mobility functions to attract and retain top talent and ensure business resilience.

This article advocates for greater democratization of workplaces, highlighting the absence of democratic rights for workers despite their significant time spent in these environments. It discusses the potential benefits of enabling employees to have more control and ownership in their workplaces, citing examples of successful employee-owned firms in Canada and abroad. The article also outlines various public policy options, including the creation of Employee Ownership Trusts, to facilitate the expansion of democratic employee ownership in Canada and address barriers such as limited access to capital.

Research indicates that while board gender quotas can enhance female representation at the board level, they do not increase the number of women appointed to executive positions within organizations, as seen in India's case. Instead, appointing women to positions of authority on boards, such as executive directors, positively impacts the careers of women at lower levels, potentially due to their influence in senior management recruitment. The study underscores the need for policies that focus on increasing women's representation across all levels of senior management, rather than solely targeting board appointments, as highlighted by the forthcoming Women on Boards directive in the European Union.

The Menke Group facilitated AV Construction's transition to becoming 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), allowing employees to benefit from company ownership and ensuring a strong succession plan. ESOPs, which incentivize and reward employee productivity, offer advantages to both employees and company owners seeking to maintain independence and community presence. With ESOPs particularly effective in companies reliant on human capital, AV Construction aims to provide excellent retirement benefits while maintaining its commitment to healthcare development excellence.

Computershare has partnered with AIB to provide an Irish "Save As You Earn" (SAYE) programme, allowing clients to use AIB as a savings carrier for their approved SAYE schemes. The SAYE plan enables employees to save a portion of their net pay to purchase shares in their company, with the option price often discounted by up to 25%. This flexible plan offers employees the ability to profit from company performance while minimizing share price risk, as they can choose to take their savings back if share prices do not rise.

The information technology sector leads investments in employee share schemes in Hong Kong, contributing HK$38.5 billion, which accounts for over half of the total annual spend of HK$72 billion among listed companies. The adoption of employee share plans has surged over the past decade, with 83.6% of listed companies now offering them, primarily in the form of share options and share awards, the former being more common among smaller companies. Larger companies tend to have a mix of both options and awards, with the healthcare and IT sectors showing the highest adoption rates for share awards, at 58.7% and 46.6%, respectively.

The US IPO market, although challenging over the past two years, shows signs of improvement in 2024 as interest rates stabilize and stock valuations recover. Despite geopolitical uncertainty, IPO proceeds reached US$23.94 billion last year, a marginal increase from 2022, with the market showing resilience and attracting cross-border listings. Technology and biotech sectors are driving IPO activity, buoyed by strong investor support and market performance, while ongoing geopolitical tensions and market volatility remain challenges for potential issuers. However, a positive start to the year and pent-up demand may encourage more companies to pursue IPOs in 2024.