ARTICLE
22 August 2024
SNOWFLAKE’S BUSINESS IS SELLING ITS OWN STOCK TO EMPLOYEES
External News

Sherwood News

Finance, tax and accounting
All plan types
USA

Publicly-traded companies often exclude stock-based compensation from EBITDA and cash flow to present a more favorable financial picture, even though this practice dilutes shareholder value. Snowflake, a data warehouse provider, exemplifies this by reporting high levels of stock-based compensation—43% of its revenue in the recent quarter—while simultaneously announcing a $2.5 billion share buyback plan that fails to offset the dilution caused by new equity issuances. Despite these tactics, Snowflake remains unprofitable, with slowing revenue growth, leading to investor dissatisfaction and a significant drop in its stock price.

ARTICLE
24 August 2024
X WORKERS REPORTEDLY MUST PROVE THEY DESERVE THEIR STOCK—ELON MUSK’S VARIOUS EMPLOYEE POLICIES, EXPLAINED
External News

Forbes

Design and strategy
All plan types
USA

Elon Musk now requires employees at X (formerly Twitter) to submit one-page reports detailing their contributions to access stock grants, tying stock awards to the anticipated impact of their work. This is part of Musk's broader approach of enforcing strict and unorthodox employee policies across his companies, including delayed promotions, mandatory in-office work, and intense work expectations. Musk's leadership style, characterized by high demands and frequent layoffs, reflects his personal work ethic and has led to significant turnover and contentious relationships with labor unions.

ARTICLE
2 July 2024
BE.EV POSITIONS EMPLOYEE SHARE SCHEMES TO RETAIN TOP TALENT
External News

Emplolyee Benefits 

General
All plan types
UK and Channel Islands

Be.EV, an electric vehicle charging network launched in 2021, has embedded employee equity participation into its core model, initially offering early hires an equity stake and later implementing enterprise management incentive (EMI) schemes. With recent investment from Octopus Energy Generation, Be.EV is now launching a growth share scheme for newer employees, ensuring that both junior and senior staff can participate. The equity offerings have been instrumental in attracting and retaining talent, aligning employee success with the company’s long-term goals and contributing to its appeal during recruitment.

ARTICLE
26 August 2024
STRIPE PLANS NEW TENDER OFFER TO BUY BACK EMPLOYEE SHARES
External News

Silicon Republic 

Trending now
All plan types
Ireland
USA

Stripe is planning to buy back shares from its employees in a new tender offer, financing it independently as speculation grows about a potential IPO. This follows a recent valuation of around $70 billion, spurred by Sequoia Capital's offer to buy shares from investors, signaling confidence in Stripe's improving financial health, including a reported $615 million in free cash flow last quarter. Despite the rising valuation and industry speculation, the Collison brothers have not indicated any immediate plans for an IPO.

ARTICLE
7 August 2024
SECTION 409A: KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR US AND NON-US COMPANIES
External News

G2

Finance, tax and accounting
All plan types
Global

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code governs the taxation of stock options and other deferred compensation, requiring companies to follow strict compliance standards to avoid severe tax consequences. This regulation was introduced in response to corporate scandals like Enron, aiming to enhance transparency and fairness in deferred compensation practices. For startups, compliance with Section 409A involves obtaining a 409A valuation to determine the fair market value of their stock, ensuring that employee stock options are priced appropriately and avoiding potential tax penalties and legal issues.

ARTICLE
20 August 2024
RA INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TO EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP TRUST
External News

Derbyshire Times

Case Study
All plan types
UK and Channel Islands

RA Information Systems has transitioned to an employee-owned business through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), transferring 100% of the company's shares to the trust. This move is aimed at preserving the company's independence, recognizing the contributions of its employees, and maintaining the founders' legacy and the company's culture. The founding family will remain actively involved, ensuring stability, while the new ownership structure aligns with the company's long-term vision and commitment to its employees and clients.

ARTICLE
20 August 2024
REVOLUT BECOMES EUROPE’S MOST VALUABLE PRIVATE TECH FIRM AFTER $500M EMPLOYEE SHARE SALE
External News

Fintech Futures

Trending now
All plan types
UK and Channel Islands

Revolut, now Europe's most valuable private tech company with a $45 billion valuation, recently conducted a secondary share sale, enabling its employees to gain $500 million in liquidity. The company, which has grown rapidly with $2.2 billion in 2023 revenue and securing banking licenses in Mexico and the UK, is predicting significant growth in 2024, including an increase to 50 million users. Speculation is rising about a possible stock market debut, with Revolut potentially considering a New York listing.

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT
18 September 2024, 4 - 5pm EDT
TORONTO CHAPTER MEETING
Toronto

Toronto

All plan types
Canada

GEO TORONTO CHAPTER SUMMER/FALL 2024 MEETING

Meet and hear from local equity compensation professionals at the next GEO Toronto Chapter meeting.

 

SESSION ONE: THE BEST OF NASHVILLE
From Nashville to Toronto: the GEO Toronto Chapter is excited to share the latest updates from the GEO Annual Conference. Amelie Desrochers (Deloitte) will focus on sharing the knowledge and key themes from the event, on share plan design, strategy and engagement, in addition to the latest technical updates.

 

SESSION TWO: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, AND WHY - DELIVERING TAX COMMUNICATIONS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY
Knowledge is power especially when it comes all things related to tax. So why not empower your participants with the tools and resources they need to help them understand the potential tax consequences of what they own. During this thought-provoking session we will cover the five Ws - who, what, when, where and why - of tax communications. It's not just about giving the information, but more importantly delivering it in a meaningful way. You'll hear from our experienced guest speaker that has done just that and as a result has a powerful story to share.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

  • Learn how to empower yourself with the necessary tools and resources for informed decision-making.
  • Delivering tax information in a meaningful and impactful way.
  • Hear from an experienced guest speaker who has successfully navigated tax communication challenges

     

SESSION THREE: BURSTING THE MYTH OF MOVING TO AN OMNIBUS PLAN
This session will be conducted by industry experts who have experience in implementing and managing omnibus plans. During the session, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the advantages and challenges associated with moving to an omnibus plan. The experts will present real-life examples, share best practices, and provide practical tips to help organizations make informed decisions about adopting an omnibus plan.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

  • Common misconceptions surrounding the transition to an omnibus plan in an organization.
  • Advantages and challenges of adopting an omnibus plan, with insights from industry experts.
  • Best practices to help your organization make informed decisions when considering an omnibus plan.

     

COST:
There is no cost for this chapter meeting, but registration is required. Both GEO members and non-members are welcome.

VIRTUAL CHAPTER EVENT
24 September 2024, 11:30am - 4:30pm EDT
BOSTON CHAPTER MEETING
Boston

Virtual 

All plan types
USA

JOIN US ONLINE

The GEO East Coast Chapters are pleased to present three sessions that are sure to inform, educate, and spark new ideas for your plan designs.  

These sessions will explore the intersection of AI and human expertise in equity compensation, how life-changing events can create challenges for global share plan administration, and challenge the conventional wisdom that equity compensation plans may lead to harmful dilution.

SESSION ONE: AI VS HUMAN EXPERTISE: EXPLORING CHATGPT'S ROLE IN EQUITY COMPENSATION
SPEAKERS: TERRY ADAMSON, INFINITE EQUITY

Explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and equity compensation in this engaging session. As ChatGPT evolves, this session questions whether AI can match human expertise in this field. Our panel of equity compensation experts will critique ChatGPT's responses, examining its handling of scenarios like stock options, restricted stock units, and performance shares through live demonstrations and discussions.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Assess the strengths and limitations of ChatGPT in equity compensation compared to expert knowledge.
  • Explore practical AI applications in equity compensation, including stock options and performance shares.
  • Discuss AI's future impact on finance and compensation roles, and its potential to reshape financial advisory and equity compensation professions.

     


SESSION TWO: LIFE INTERUPPTED - STRATEGIES FOR LIFE CHANGES IN GLOBAL EQUITY PLANS IN A COMPLEX LEGAL LANDSCAPE
SPEAKERS: LINDSAY MINNIS, BAKER MCKENZIE AND KIMBERLY FRANKO LOWER, BAKER MCKENIZE 

Navigating life-changing events within equity plans can be complex, especially when factoring in global legal and regulatory requirements. This session explores how companies can effectively manage these challenges, focusing on leaves of absence, terminations, and other major life events from both compliance and administrative perspectives. We'll cover strategies for handling long-term incentive awards like RSUs and options, as well as employee stock purchase programs, while avoiding legal pitfalls and balancing administrative challenges in a multijurisdictional context.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn about the complexities of managing global equity compensation plans, in during significant life events like leaves of absence and terminations.
  • Gain insights into the potential legal and practical pitfalls that can arise when handling life-changing events in global share plans.
  • Explore practical solutions for balancing administrative challenges and managing compliance risks associated with long-term incentive awards.

     


SESSION THREE: CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM: DILUTION FROM EQUITY PLANS
SPEAKERS: AARON SHAPIRO, CARVER EDISON

In this session we'll challenge the conventional wisdom that equity compensation plans lead to harmful dilution. By examining common myths and presenting data-driven insights, we'll reveal true dilutive impact and benefits of these plans. Attendees will learn how thoughtfully designed equity plans can align interests, foster loyalty, and drive long-term success without significant dilution. Join us to rethink equity compensation and empower your company's growth.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

  • Understand the real dilutive impact of equity compensation plans versus common misconceptions.
  • Learn how well-designed equity plans can align interests and foster employee loyalty.
  • Discover strategies to drive long-term growth with equity plans while minimizing dilution.

     

This is a virtual meeting.  Login details will be sent as closer to the meeting date.

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT
24 September 2024, 11:30am - 4:30pm EDT
NEW YORK CHAPTER MEETING
NY

New York and Philadelphia

All plan types
USA

JOIN US IN NEW YORK OR PHILADELPHIA

The GEO East Coast Chapters are pleased to present three sessions that are sure to inform, educate, and spark new ideas for your plan designs. Hosted in two cities, with live speakers in New York, join us at the most convenient location for you!

These sessions will explore the intersection of AI and human expertise in equity compensation, how life-changing events can create challenges for global share plan administration, and challenge the conventional wisdom that equity compensation plans may lead to harmful dilution


SESSION ONE: AI VS HUMAN EXPERTISE: EXPLORING CHATGPT'S ROLE IN EQUITY COMPENSATION
SPEAKERS: TERRY ADAMSON, INFINITE EQUITY

Explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and equity compensation in this engaging session. As ChatGPT evolves, this session questions whether AI can match human expertise in this field. Our panel of equity compensation experts will critique ChatGPT's responses, examining its handling of scenarios like stock options, restricted stock units, and performance shares through live demonstrations and discussions.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Assess the strengths and limitations of ChatGPT in equity compensation compared to expert knowledge.
  • Explore practical AI applications in equity compensation, including stock options and performance shares.
  • Discuss AI's future impact on finance and compensation roles, and its potential to reshape financial advisory and equity compensation professions.

     


SESSION TWO: LIFE INTERUPPTED - STRATEGIES FOR LIFE CHANGES IN GLOBAL EQUITY PLANS IN A COMPLEX LEGAL LANDSCAPE
SPEAKERS: LINDSAY MINNIS, BAKER MCKENZIE AND KIMBERLY FRANKO LOWER, BAKER MCKENIZE 

Navigating life-changing events within equity plans can be complex, especially when factoring in global legal and regulatory requirements. This session explores how companies can effectively manage these challenges, focusing on leaves of absence, terminations, and other major life events from both compliance and administrative perspectives. We'll cover strategies for handling long-term incentive awards like RSUs and options, as well as employee stock purchase programs, while avoiding legal pitfalls and balancing administrative challenges in a multijurisdictional context.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn about the complexities of managing global equity compensation plans, in during significant life events like leaves of absence and terminations.
  • Gain insights into the potential legal and practical pitfalls that can arise when handling life-changing events in global share plans.
  • Explore practical solutions for balancing administrative challenges and managing compliance risks associated with long-term incentive awards.

     


SESSION THREE: CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM: DILUTION FROM EQUITY PLANS
SPEAKERS: AARON SHAPIRO, CARVER EDISON

In this session we'll challenge the conventional wisdom that equity compensation plans lead to harmful dilution. By examining common myths and presenting data-driven insights, we'll reveal true dilutive impact and benefits of these plans. Attendees will learn how thoughtfully designed equity plans can align interests, foster loyalty, and drive long-term success without significant dilution. Join us to rethink equity compensation and empower your company's growth.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

  • Understand the real dilutive impact of equity compensation plans versus common misconceptions.
  • Learn how well-designed equity plans can align interests and foster employee loyalty.
  • Discover strategies to drive long-term growth with equity plans while minimizing dilution.

 

Lunch for New York generously provided by Bank of America                     Lunch for Philadelphia generously provided by KPMG

Image removed.                                                         Image removed.

 

LOCATION

NEW YORK
Paramount 
1515 Broadway
31st Floor
New York, NY 10166

PHILADELPHIA
KPMG
1735 Market St
4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103