GEO INSIGHTS

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CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT

16 October 2025, 2:30 - 4:30pm EDT

GEO BOSTON CHAPTER MEETING

Boston, MA

USA

Equity Excellence: Strategic Equity Plan Design and Year-End Execution 
presented by Stock and Options Solutions

SPEAKERS: Marc Tipton, Stock and Options Solutions | Jacqueline Read, Stock and Option Solutions

Year-end can be one of the most challenging times for equity plan professionals, requiring careful coordination of design, administration, compliance, and communication.

Join us to share best practices for designing effective equity compensation plans that align with organizational goals and attract top talent, while also addressing the practical realities of year-end execution.

Topics will include plan structure, grant types, vesting schedules, participant communication, and the administration of timelines, compliance requirements, tax considerations, and reporting.

Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies to optimize their equity programs and ensure a smooth and efficient year-end close.

KEY LEARNINGS:

Best practices for designing equity compensation plans that balance organizational goals and employee needs.
Key year-end administration considerations including compliance, tax, and reporting requirements.
Practical strategies to streamline timelines, communication, and execution for a successful year-end close.

LOCATION:
BDO Boston Office
One International Place
Boston, MA 02110

There is no cost to attend this chapter meeting, and GEO members and non-members are welcome, but registration is required.

View the event attendee terms and conditions.

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT

17 September 2025, 10am - 5pm PDT

15TH ANNUAL NORCAL FORUM

San Mateo, CA

USA

Join your Bay Area equity compensation peers on 17 September at Pinstripes in San Mateo, CA!

We're bringing you the latest insights on current industry trends and challenges. This is your golden opportunity to stay at the forefront of your field. But it's not just about learning; it's about connecting.

This year, we’re thrilled to welcome Brandi Chastain to the Forum—proudly sponsored by Bank of America—as our keynote speaker, presenting Motivation, Performance, and Ownership: From Athletics to Business.

Meet us there to engage with your local NorCal chapter friends and other GEO members. Exchange ideas, build valuable relationships, and fuel your professional growth.

It's more than an event; it's a vibrant community coming together to inspire, learn, and grow.

REGISTER

LIVE WEBCAST

9 September 2025, 10 - 11am PDT

NO SURPRISES: BUILDING A CAP TABLE INVESTORS CAN TRUST

Gracie Arnold, Carta
Chris Hoffmann, Equity Admin
Jason Mann, The Players Company

All plan types

Global

Your cap table is more than rows and columns — it’s the single source of truth that drives investor trust, internal alignment, and your company’s long-term success.

In this essential session, equity experts break down why maintaining a clean, compliant, and up-to-date cap table is critical at every stage of growth. From due diligence and fundraising to expansion into new markets, you will uncover the most common mistakes that can stall momentum — and learn how to avoid them.

Hear real-world cautionary tales of cap table missteps that derailed deals, diluted founders, or caused unnecessary complexity. Then walk away with practical tools and proven best practices to get — and keep — your cap table in top shape.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

Why transparency, ownership clarity, and consistency inspire investor confidence and streamline fundraising.
How to identify and fix common red flags — from founder over-dilution to “dead equity” and undocumented equity promises.
Actionable insights to clean up and future-proof your cap table before it costs you time, capital, or opportunity.

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group Internet-Based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit:1.0 credits *CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only.

Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

REGISTER

ARTICLE

3 September 2025

ELIS ANNOUNCES A 2025 “ELIS FOR ALL” EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP PLAN

GlobalNewsWire

Case Study

All plan types

France

Elis has launched its 2025 “Elis for All” employee share ownership plan, offering eligible employees in France and 20 other countries the chance to subscribe to company shares through two capital increases capped at €2 million (0.85% of share capital). The plan uses a classic structure with a 30% discount on the reference share price and a matching contribution of one free share for every 10 subscribed, with holding periods of five years in France and three years internationally. The subscription period runs from 16 September to 2 October 2025, with new shares expected to be admitted to trading on Euronext Paris after completion in November 2025.

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ARTICLE

CSOPS AS SHADOW SHIELDS: HOW TO FIX THE ONE-DIMENSIONAL SHARE PLAN

Burges Salmon

Design and strategy

Stock options

UK and Channel Islands

Many incentive plans rely on binary, high-risk equity like growth shares, which suit founders but can be unfair for professional hires who face the risk of ending up with nothing. Pairing growth shares with a lower-volatility instrument like a CSOP creates a balanced incentive stack, preserving upside while cushioning modest outcomes and keeping executives engaged. Ultimately, good incentive design is risk design: combining armour and ammunition manages downside as well as upside, which is essential in volatile markets.

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IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT

2 October 2025, 6 - 8pm CEST

GEO BELGIUM CHAPTER

Brussels, BE

Belgium

WELCOME TO THE BELGIUM CHAPTER LAUNCH!

We are pleased to announce the inauguration of the GEO Belgian Chapter. The ambition of the Chapter is to foster the circulation of knowledge, best practices and market trends within the long term incentives ecosystem, with contributions from leading experts and listed/private companies.

Agenda highlights:

• Presentation of GEO and the Chapter Team – Henk Debrock (Bekaert), Veerle Lerut (Baker McKenzie), Matthieu Sabonnadière (Banque Transatlantique)

• Case study: Bekaert’s global approach to long-term incentives – Henk Debrock, VP Compensation, Benefits & HRIS, (Bekaert)

• Panel discussion on remuneration trends and Belgian legal/tax developments

• Open Q&A, networking & cocktails

LOCATION:
Banque Transatlantique
14 rue de Crayer
Brussels
1000, BE

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT

11 November 2025, 4 - 7pm GMT

GEO UK AND CHANNEL ISLANDS CHARITY EVENT

London, UK

UK and Channel Islands

HELP THE UK AND CHANNEL ISLANDS CHAPTER GIVE BACK!

Join us for a meaningful and sociable evening on the eve of GEO's Pan European Regional Event (PERE), as we bring together the global share plan community for a night of connection and giving back.

This year, we’re proud to support Teams4U, a small charity based in North Wales that works with partners in Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Eastern Europe. Their Shoebox Appeal brings Christmas joy to children in need—and we’d love for you to be part of it.

We invite you to bring along small new items for donation (encouraged, but not required for entry):

Playing cards
Children’s puzzles (ages 3–11, small enough to fit in a shoebox)
Sweets/candy (with a use-by date of after June 2026)

AGENDA

4:00 PM – Arrivals

4:30 – 6:00 PM – Charity activity: Shoebox packing and wrapping
Enjoy tea, coffee, and cakes while helping to pack shoeboxes with thoughtful gifts. You’ll also have the chance to include a handwritten note for the child receiving your box.

6:00 – 7:00 PM – Networking drinks (kindly hosted by Baker McKenzie)

7:00 PM onwards – Optional social at a nearby pub
Whether you join us to lend a hand, reconnect with familiar faces, or make new connections, we’d love to see you there!

Special thanks to our generous hosts:

ARTICLE

29 August 2025

ROUND UP OF THE KEY FEATURES OF NZX50 EMPLOYEE SHARE PLANS IN NEW ZEALAND

Minter Ellison

Design and strategy

All plan types

New Zealand

In 2024, New Zealand businesses faced political uncertainty and a challenging economic climate, yet continued to implement employee share plans (ESPs) to retain key talent amid ongoing migration and talent competition. Long-term incentives (LTIs) showed greater variation in face values, with ESG metrics increasingly incorporated into performance and vesting conditions alongside financial targets, reflecting formalised climate and sustainability reporting requirements. Effective ESPs, particularly when clearly communicated and supported by technology, boost employee engagement and loyalty, while recent tax changes—such as higher tax-free thresholds and proposed deferral regimes—aim to make these schemes more attractive and accessible.

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ARTICLE

29 August 2025

MUSK FILES TO DISMISS LAWSUIT OVER HIS PURCHASE OF TWITTER SHARES

BBC NEWS

USA

Elon Musk is asking a US court to dismiss an SEC lawsuit accusing him of saving $150 million by disclosing his Twitter stake late in 2022, in violation of rules requiring disclosure within 10 days of surpassing 5% ownership. His lawyers argue the case is baseless, saying he corrected the filing quickly, caused no harm to investors, and is being unfairly targeted due to his public criticism of the regulator. The SEC maintains Musk’s delay caused economic harm and is seeking unusually large monetary penalties compared to similar cases.

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