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.

In 2018, New Zealand reformed the taxation of employee share schemes (ESS), but many aspects of the new rules, particularly regarding employer deductions under section DV 27 of the Income Tax Act 2007, have remained unclear. The recent Interpretation Statement 24/07 provides guidance, indicating that while the Australian case Clough v Commissioner of Taxation could influence deductions, it is uncertain whether New Zealand courts would apply it due to differences in statutory frameworks. The statement clarifies that deductions may be available if cancellation payments to employees are tied to past employment services rather than capital transactions, encouraging employers to design their ESS with liquidity events in mind to avoid non-deductible expenses.

Paytm has allotted 254,908 equity shares to eligible employees under its employee stock option plans, with the allocation approved by the company's nomination and remuneration committee. This allotment increases Paytm's paid-up equity share capital to INR 63.66 crore, with the newly issued shares valued at INR 5.65 crore based on the last closing price. The move comes amid challenges for Paytm, including regulatory issues with the Reserve Bank of India and significant financial losses, but the company has also received government approval for investment in its payments arm, enabling a payment aggregator license application.

Empower has acquired Plan Management Corporation (PMC), the creator of OptionTrax®, a leading digital equity plan administration platform, to expand its retirement and wealth management services. The acquisition will integrate OptionTrax's equity compensation platform with Empower’s financial tools, offering enhanced equity compensation services to both public and private companies. Empower aims to meet growing market demand for equity compensation management, helping employers provide valuable equity benefits to their employees, while OptionTrax will continue operating under the brand "OptionTrax by Empower."

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of worker share ownership schemes for economic transformation, stating that giving workers a stake in corporate decision-making fosters innovation, morale, and builds a resilient economy. Speaking at the inaugural Worker Share Ownership Conference, he highlighted that Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs) can deepen workers' understanding of business challenges and opportunities, promoting growth, investment, and job creation. He also stressed that these initiatives not only advance social justice but make sound business sense, helping to equitably distribute the benefits of economic progress across society.

AXA has launched its 2024 annual employee share offering, known as Shareplan 2024, across 40 countries for over 110,000 employees. Employees will have the option to participate in either a Classic offer or a Guarantee Plus offer, with shares offered at a discount to the reference price. The share subscription period will take place from November 4 to November 8, 2024, and the capital increase is expected to occur on December 5, 2024, with the new shares being listed on Euronext Paris.

Elis has launched the "Elis for All" 2024 employee share ownership plan, offering its employees the chance to invest in company shares with a 30% discount and a matching contribution of one share for every 10 subscribed. The plan applies to employees in France and various international subsidiaries, with a minimum three-month seniority requirement. Participants must hold their shares for three to five years, depending on their location, and the offering is part of a broader effort to strengthen employee engagement and ownership within the Elis Group.

New Zealand's tax exempt thresholds for employee share schemes are set to increase under the proposed Taxation Bill, aimed at adjusting for inflation and boosting support for startups, particularly in the tech sector. The changes would raise the maximum value of shares offered to employees from $5,000 to $7,500 annually, and the employer's maximum discount from $2,000 to $3,000. These adjustments are intended to help early-stage companies recruit and retain talent, aligning employee incentives with company growth and contributing to broader economic recovery.

Capgemini has launched its eleventh Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP), offering approximately 97% of its employees the opportunity to subscribe to up to 2,700,000 new shares, maintaining employee shareholding at around 8% of the company’s capital. The subscription period runs from September 12 to October 1, 2024, followed by a subscription/revocation period in November, with shares offered through leveraged and guaranteed formulas to protect employees from potential losses. To neutralize the dilutive effect of the capital increase, Capgemini's Board has authorized a share buyback within the next 12 months.

Michelin has launched a new global employee share ownership plan, "BIB'Action 2024," offering 127,000 employees in 44 countries the opportunity to buy shares at a 20% discount with additional free shares depending on the number purchased. The plan, which aims to increase employee ownership within the company, allows participants to vote at the 2025 Shareholders Meeting and receive dividends, with a five-year lock-up period on the shares. The subscription period runs from September 11 to 26, 2024, and the shares will be delivered by October 29, 2024.