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.

LIVE WEBCAST

15 February 2024, 11pm - 16 February 2024, 12am EST

COMMUNICATING SHARE PLANS TO A GLOBAL WORKFORCE - THE ANGLO AMERICAN STORY

Chrissie Davis, Eximia
Martha Parkhurst, Eximia
Matt Mitchell, Anglo American

GEO award excellence

Global

GEO AWARD WINNER - 2023 Best Plan Communications (over 75,000 employees)

Join us for an engaging session where we delve into the success story of Anglo American plc, a global mining giant with a diverse workforce spanning 19 countries. With a focus on their MyShare global share plan, we will explore how they achieved an outstanding 36% take-up rate in the first year, surpassing their 10% goal. The session will also shed light on the challenges they faced, their innovative communication strategy, and the valuable lessons learned.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

Discover effective strategies for communicating a global share plan to employees working in diverse and remote locations
Gain insights into the role of local Reward Champions, People Managers, and online/offline communication methods in fostering plan participation
Learn from Anglo American's experience on how to build and evolve a successful global share plan in a challenging economic environment

COST
GEO members: No charge
GEO non-members*: $85

Become a GEO member to attend webcasts for free in the future!

*Fees are non-refundable. Recordings are available to access on-demand following the webcast.

CPE CREDIT: 1.0
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Level: 0
Delivery method: Group internet-based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT (CE): 1.0

*CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

REGISTER TO ATTEND
Registration is required. Connection and login instructions are sent to registered participants prior to this webcast.

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ARTICLE

1 February 2024

Delaware Court Applies Traditional Entire Fairness Standard to Very Large Stockholder-Approved, Performance-Based Equity Award

Jones Day

Executive pay

Performance shares

USA

The Delaware Court of Chancery recently invalidated Elon Musk's equity compensation plan with Tesla, which was criticized for being excessively large compared to peer plans and lacking proper negotiation. The court found that Musk effectively controlled Tesla in the context of the award, and that the approval process was flawed, including misleading proxy statements and insufficient benchmarking. As a result, the court determined the award was unfair and ordered it rescinded.

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ARTICLE

1 February 2024

A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP FOR RICHER SOUNDS

RSM UK

Case Study

All plan types

UK and Channel Islands

Richer Sounds successfully transitioned to an employee share ownership trust, transferring 60% of shares from founder Julian Richer to employees in May 2019, overseen by RSM's People Advisory Services team. This transition involved corporate restructuring, maintaining business culture, and legal and tax compliance, ultimately preserving the company’s employee-focused ethos. The project, completed in 18 months, was well-received by the media, and employees received celebratory bonuses from Julian Richer, enhancing recruitment, engagement, and retention.

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LIVE WEBCAST

30 January 2024, 12 - 1pm EST

GLOBAL EQUITY INSIGHTS SURVEY: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

GEIS sponsor panel

All plan types

Global

Join us for an enlightening webcast as we delve into the insights uncovered by the Global Equity Insights Survey.

During this session, we will retrospectively examine the key findings from the 2023 survey, shedding light on global trends in equity compensation and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape and its implications for companies worldwide.

Furthermore, we are excited to offer an exclusive preview of the thought-provoking questions slated for the ongoing 2024 survey.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

Uncover global equity compensation trends from the 2023 survey, exploring the evolving landscape's impact on organizations worldwide
Get an exclusive preview of new 2024 survey questions, capturing emerging trends like artificial intelligence in equity compensation
Engage in a dynamic discussion with experts, sharing your opinions on key survey topics

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.

WATCH THE WEBCAST

ARTICLE

29 January 2024

The complete guide to equity compensation for startups

Ravio

Private and pre-IPO companies

All plan types

Global

Startups often use equity compensation to attract and retain talent by offering employees a stake in the company, but the structure of this compensation can vary widely. Key decisions include how much equity to reserve for employees, which roles should be eligible, and whether to use stock options or RSUs, with considerations for vesting periods and exercise windows. While equity compensation can motivate and align employees with company success, it also risks dilution of founder control and can be complex to manage, especially across different jurisdictions and stages of company growth.

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LIVE WEBCAST

23 January 2024, 12 - 1pm EST

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING STRESS FOR EQUITY PROFESSIONALS

Sheila Frierson, CEP, Computershare
Donna Hammer, FGE, CEP, Lighthouse Equity Development
Lori Serrano, FGE, CEP, Outset Medical

All plan types

Global

Start the new year with our expert panel exploring well-being. Join a lively session where personal stories, both positive and challenging, create a shared experience. The panel will highlight companies with successful wellness programs, offering practical examples for creating a thriving work environment.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

Delve into the scientific intricacies of how cortisol and adrenaline flooding can adversely affect our bodies, providing a comprehensive understanding of the physiological consequences of stress
Gain valuable insights into balancing and incorporating different forms of rest into your routine for enhanced overall well-being
Acquire practical strategies for setting up backup systems to manage multiple responsibilities efficiently

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ARTICLE

22 January 2024

BELGIUM: EQUITY BASED COMPENSATION NOT – ALWAYS – SUBJECT TO EMPLOYEE SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS

Baker McKenzie

Finance, tax and accounting

All plan types

Belgium

In a landmark decision, the Antwerp Labour Court of Appeals ruled that Belgian employee social security contributions are not due on equity-based compensation (RSUs) granted by a U.S. parent company to employees of its Belgian subsidiary. The court concluded that these RSUs were not provided as part of the employees' service to the Belgian subsidiary but were instead granted by the U.S. parent company to retain employees long-term, with the parent company assuming full financial and legal responsibility. This decision provides an opportunity for companies to review their equity compensation policies and potentially claim refunds for social security contributions paid in the past three years.

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VIRTUAL CHAPTER EVENT

12 December 2023, 9 - 10am EST

DACH Chapter Meeting

SPEAKERS: Gordon Rosch, EY; David Voggeser, hkp///group; Sebastian Wetzel, Siemens Energy

Germany

UNPACKING THE FUTURE FINANCING ACT

Join our expert panel for an in-depth exploration of the transformative Future Financing Act and its profound implications on the financial domain. Delivered by industry leaders, this session unveils the intricacies of recent legislative changes, tax regulations, and global classifications that are redefining the financial landscape.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

Comprehensive legislative overview: Acquire a nuanced understanding of recent legislative changes and their far-reaching implications, gaining insights into how they shape the financial terrain.
ESPP and MAB impact analysis: Investigate the direct impacts on Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP) and Management and Board (MAB) designs, unraveling market practices specific to Europe.
Strategies for implementation challenges: Navigate the intricacies of ongoing employee stock purchase plans by arming yourself with practical strategies to adapt and thrive in the dynamically evolving financial environment.

We look forward to seeing you!

Please note this meeting will be presented in German.

The DACH Chapter Team

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IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT

6 December 2023, 4:30 - 9pm GMT

UK AND CHANNEL ISLANDS DECEMBER NETWORKING EVENT

UK and Channel Islands

As 2023 draws to a close - the GEO UK Chapter team invites you to join us for some year-end updates, networking and fun!

Linklaters will kindly host, as we share 2023 industry updates and highlights, and offer a chance for a bit of healthy competition - it’s your opportunity to take our quiz and find out if you are part of the share plan 1% club! It will also be your last chance to try and top the GEO UK Chapter leader board before the year is out.

WHEN?
Wednesday 6 December from 4:30 - 7:30pm

WHERE?
Linklaters, 1 Silk St, London EC2Y 8HQ

Followed by optional festive fun at a venue nearby.

We look forward to seeing you there – hopefully in your best festive outfit!

REGISTER