October 2000 Survey - "Global Compliance"

October/November Survey: Global Compliance/Stock Plan Modification for Local Rules
October and November's survey touched on the delicate issue of whether companies are complying with local requirements in operating their stock plans around the world. In addition, we asked a number of questions on whether country specific tax-favored rules and regulations were being taken advantage of in designing a plan. For instance, the survey revealed that nearly all (80%) respondents had conducted a compliance review prior to implementing a plan in another country but only 13% of respondents have qualified their plans in France. No respondent was ever fined for non-compliance in operating a stock plan in any country. Over three-quarters of the respondents qualified their plans in the US, while only 20% operate UK qualified plans. Just over a quarter of respondents have made alterations to their option plan operated in The Netherlands and 13% of companies provide translated material to their plan participants in Belgium. The most interesting finding of the survey was the response on whether options were issued in China (not Hong Kong). A full third of the respondents (33%) indicated that they grant options to employees in that country, despite the confusing signals received from the PRC on option legality/treatment.

As Of December 15, 2000 12:12 pm CT