M&A can be transformative events for any company, but they also come with complex equity compensation considerations. Whether your company is actively pursuing a deal or simply preparing for future opportunities, understanding the nuances of equity compensation in an M&A context is critical.
This session will explore key considerations from both the acquirer and target perspectives, providing actionable insights to navigate equity-related challenges. Additionally, we’ll discuss effective strategies for communicating with participants to ensure clarity and alignment throughout the process.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

• Learn the different types of mergers and acquisitions and how to define critical equity compensation parameters to ensure seamless integration.
• Explore the importance of testing scenarios and managing timelines to mitigate risks and align equity plans with deal structures.
• Discover best practices for engaging and informing participants during M&A events to maintain trust and reduce disruptions.

GEO’s Global Share Plans Ranking Project 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

Extending Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) to non-traditional employee groups—such as those working for PEOs, franchisees, or Employers of Record (EORs)—offers new opportunities but also significant complexities.

This session explores the tax, legal, and regulatory considerations involved, with practical insights from a company case study. Learn how innovative approaches, including groundbreaking efforts in the UK, have made these plans viable for a broader workforce.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the tax, legal, and regulatory complexities of offering ESPPs to non-traditional employee types across various jurisdictions.
• Explore practical steps to address challenges when extending ESPP access to PEOs, franchisees, and EOR employees.
• Gain insights from a groundbreaking case study, including successful strategies and lessons learned in the UK.

Managing global equity plan taxation sits at the intersection of employee experience and corporate risk mitigation, requiring administrators to balance competing priorities across functions. Defining a tax strategy that works for all stakeholders—while aligning policies to support this strategy—is a critical yet complex task.

This panel of experts, featuring leaders from Palo Alto Networks and NVIDIA, will explore contrasting approaches shaped by differing budgets and strategic priorities. Through practical insights and real-world examples, the session will offer actionable tips for crafting and executing effective tax policies that align with organisational goals.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Explore how corporate policies, such as entity type and statutory accounting, influence payroll and employment tax obligations.
• Understand considerations for diverse worker types, including employees, gig-workers, and employees of record.
• Gain strategies for addressing exceptions like international mobility and executive business travel.

2023 and 2024 saw pivotal shifts in data privacy with rapid regulatory advancements in the U.S. and abroad. U.S. state-level privacy laws have more than doubled, presenting both similarities and critical differences that complicate compliance.

This session will explore the current regulatory landscape, its impact on organizations, and potential future legislation. The panel will also examine Europe's growing AI and cybersecurity regulations and their potential influence on U.S. policies and companies.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Discuss key changes in U.S. data privacy laws and their real-world impact on companies.
• Share experiences and strategies for navigating state-by-state regulatory differences and ensuring compliance.
• Explore the global regulatory trends in AI and cybersecurity, and discuss their potential impact on U.S. companies in an interactive, solution-driven environment.

Succession planning isn’t just for top executives—it’s essential at all levels, particularly within equity plan management teams. As equity plan managers develop their teams, it’s important to foster continuity and prepare direct reports for larger roles within the department and across the organization.

In this roundtable session, panelists will discuss strategies to cultivate a culture of continuous learning, identify growth opportunities aligned with career motivations, and create effective feedback loops to enhance employee development.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• How to create a culture of continuous learning.
• Identifying growth opportunities that align with career motivations.
• Developing feedback loops to enhance employee growth.

This session will demonstrate how generative AI can make share plans smarter and more efficient. You’ll see a live demo of the tools already in use to improve the experience for plan participants, compensation committees, shareholders, and administrators alike.

Practical examples will cover how AI can assist in plan design, communication, disclosure, and more. Discover how generative AI tools can generate ideas, improve clarity, and offer instant expertise. We’ll also discuss how to address privacy and confidentiality concerns when using AI tools.

The session will feature Clarita, the internal chatbot of specialty chemicals manufacturer Clariant. Launched in 2023, Clarita has become an invaluable resource, used daily by over 1,000 employees.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Explore how generative AI can streamline share plan design and communication to improve efficiency.
• Discuss real-world applications of AI tools to enhance clarity, reduce complexity, and drive engagement in share plans.
• Share best practices for managing privacy and confidentiality when integrating AI tools into equity compensation processes.

This interactive roundtable discussion will dive into the global trends and shifts shaping the future of work, with a focus on how these transformations are impacting remuneration, reward systems, and equity compensation. Our experts will guide participants through the demographic, technological, and regulatory forces at play, while engaging in a lively conversation about the challenges and opportunities ahead. Attendees will have the chance to share insights, ask questions, and interact with panelists throughout the discussion.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Discuss how emerging regulations are influencing global compensation and equity plans, with a focus on adapting to various markets.
• Explore the evolving expectations of today’s workforce, including preferences for flexibility, equity ownership, and long-term rewards.
• Exchange ideas on integrating AI, automation, and new technologies into remuneration and share plans to improve efficiency and foster innovation.

Maximising the potential of equity programmes relies on participant understanding and engagement. However, despite progress in communication and education, maintaining consistent participant involvement remains a persistent challenge.

In this interactive roundtable, our expert panel will share candid insights from their experiences of trial and error, offering valuable lessons, effective strategies, and fresh ideas to build stronger connections with participants.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Share and evaluate approaches to communication and education strategies that resonate with diverse participant groups.
• Discover on practical solutions and actionable insights to maintain participant engagement and drive programme success.
• Brainstorm creative outreach strategies to address evolving participant expectations and behaviours.

Global equity professionals know that offering equity compensation isn’t one-size-fits-all. This session will present data insights from top locations—India, China, the UK, Canada, Germany, and the US—comparing employee perceptions with the ease of offering equity, as ranked by GEO’s Global Share Plan Ranking report.

Surprisingly, regions where equity is easiest to offer often see lower employee appreciation, while more challenging regions may show higher engagement.

This session will explore where employees need more support, how they prefer to receive it, and how to prioritise jurisdictions based on perceptions and regulatory obstacles.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand employee perceptions and attitudes toward equity compensation across key jurisdictions.
• Explore how regulatory ease or complexity impacts employee engagement with equity plans.
• Gain insights into how to tailor support and communication strategies based on jurisdictional priorities and employee needs.