As companies expand globally, boards are increasingly composed of directors who reside outside the company’s home country—introducing new layers of regulatory, tax, and compliance complexity. This panel will explore the critical considerations companies must address when compensating non-resident board members, including securities regulations, taxation, withholding, reporting, and treaty relief.

Drawing on real-world case studies from jurisdictions such as Canada and the UK, panelists will share practical approaches to structuring director compensation, managing multi-jurisdictional tax obligations, and avoiding common pitfalls. Attendees will gain actionable insights to help ensure compliant, efficient, and well-governed outcomes for globally distributed boards.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• How to evaluate regulatory and securities law requirements for non-resident directors.
• How to determine residency, allocate compensation, and manage cross-border tax obligations.
• How to navigate withholding, reporting, and treaty relief to reduce risk and complexity.

Asia’s equity landscape is shifting rapidly, with new regulatory reforms, foreign exchange restrictions, and tax developments reshaping how companies design and deliver employee share plans. From China’s evolving SAFE framework to India’s changing exchange control rules and Japan’s flexible securities law exemptions, issuers face both challenges and opportunities as they balance compliance with engagement.
 

This session will provide practical strategies for implementing equity programs across major Asian markets. Panelists will share real-world examples and best practices, highlighting how companies are navigating regulatory complexity while creating culturally resonant, sustainable programs that deliver meaningful employee experiences. Attendees will gain actionable insights to drive compliance, engagement, and efficiency in their global equity operations.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• How regulatory and tax developments across major Asian markets impact share plan design and delivery.
• Strategies for navigating cross-border compliance while maintaining employee engagement.
• Practical approaches to implementing sustainable and culturally aligned equity programs.

From China to Chile, the U.S. to the UK—and everywhere in between—this session takes a practical look at the legal, regulatory, and tax updates shaping global equity incentive plans. 
Designed for professionals balancing compliance, cost, and complexity, this session cuts through the noise with candid discussion, practical guidance, and hard-earned lessons on managing global incentive plans without losing your sanity—or your budget. Whether you’re a seasoned global equity leader or just expanding internationally, you’ll walk away with actionable insights you can apply immediately.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the latest regulatory and tax developments impacting equity compensation across key global markets.
• Learn strategies to control compliance costs while minimizing legal, tax, and operational risk.
• Gain real-world tips from issuers and advisors on keeping plans compliant, scalable, and efficient across multiple jurisdictions.

GEO’s Global Share Plans Ranking Study is the first of its kind, offering a country-level snapshot of the appetite, support, and provision of employee share ownership - and now includes insights from even more countries!
With insights from senior equity compensation issuers and service providers across a growing number of countries, this expanded report paints the bigger picture of employee equity worldwide. This session will dive into key report highlights, uncovering the countries leading the charge in employee equity adoption as well as those with untapped potential.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Explore key findings, including emerging trends and barriers to implementing share plans,
• Learn how to leverage the report to strategically extend plans into new countries or boost participation in your current regions
• Discover actionable insights to enhance your global equity strategies

Receiving an executive equity grant can be thrilling—a promise of future wealth with the potential to transform careers. But what happens between the initial grant and the final payout? This session explores the realities versus expectations for employees, executives, and directors, unpacking the complexities of communication, regulation, and strategic planning throughout the executive equity lifecycle.

Participants will gain a comprehensive view of how effective communication aligns expectations, while regulatory frameworks shape the journey from grant to vesting. The session will also examine broader considerations, including tax optimization, succession planning, estate management, and trust creation. 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the full journey from grant to vesting, including common challenges and regulatory considerations.
• Learn strategies to clearly communicate equity value and align expectations for executives, directors, and employees.
• Gain insights into tax optimization, succession planning, estate management, and trust strategies to enhance wealth outcomes.