NEWS
14 September 2023
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION GUIDE
article

SOURCE: PwC

Finance, tax and accounting
Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Non-qualified plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Save as you earn (SAYE)
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
USA

PwC's updated Stock-based compensation guide covers accounting principles, measurement, vesting, expense attribution, and classification for stock-based compensation, with insights and references to FASB guidance.

READ THIS ARTICLE

NEWS
19 September 2023
FOCUS: STOCK COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES, SYSTEM SUPPORT ESSENTIAL FOR SPREAD IN JAPAN
article

Ritsuko Shimizu, Makiko Yamazaki

Design and strategy
Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Non-qualified plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Save as you earn (SAYE)
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Japan

 

The article holds a discussion of how employees in Japan now able to access stock compensation as well as the executives in an attempt to increase productivity. 

READ THIS ARTICLE

NEWS
12 September 2023
THE IMPACT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INCENTIVES ON CORPORATE INNOVATION CAPABILITY
article

Yue Shang et al

Executive pay
Finance, tax and accounting
Executive plans
Greater China

The article highlights the impact of executive compensation incentive on corporate innovation capability by categorizing it into short and long term incentives. Evidence from agro-based companies in China.

READ THIS ARTICLE

NEWS
13 September 2023
SKY-HIGH CEO PAY IS IN FOCUS AS WORKERS EVERYWHERE ARE DEMANDING HIGHER WAGES
article

Daniele Kaye, Andrea Hsu

Executive pay
Finance, tax and accounting
Executive plans
USA

Union demands for higher wages and addressing CEO-worker pay disparity are at the forefront in negotiations with Big Three automakers, potentially leading to a strike by United Auto Workers (UAW) members if not met. UAW is proposing a 40% wage increase over four years. CEO-worker pay gap highlighted.

READ THIS ARTICLE

5.1 MINDING THE (GENDER PAY) GAP: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE EUROPEAN PAY TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVE

The Pay Transparency Directive in the EU is a significant step towards achieving equal pay and reducing the gender pay gap. Companies operating within the EU must adapt their pay structures and policies to ensure compliance and promote a more equitable work environment.

Join this session as the expert panel explores the practical implications of this directive and unveil strategies for fostering transparency and equity. Master the intricacies of the Pay Transparency Directive and equip yourself with the knowledge to promote pay equality and transparency in your organization.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Directive insights: Gain a deep understanding of the European directive on pay transparency, covering vital aspects such as information rights, reporting obligations, enforcement mechanisms, compensation practices, and potential sanctions.
  • National law variations: Discover the key differences between the directive and current national laws in Germany, the UK, France, and Belgium, ensuring compliance in diverse legal landscapes.
  • Effective employee engagement: Receive valuable tips on skillfully managing employee requests related to pay transparency and equal pay, fostering a collaborative and equitable work environment.

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Business Law
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group live
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit: 1.0 credits

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

Speaker/Author

Jennifer Granado Aranzana, Linklaters LLP
Yukiko Hitzelberger-Kijima, Linklaters LLP

Event date
Thursday, 16 Nov 2023, 14:10 - 15:10
Country
Breakout series

4.3 PROMOTION OF THE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM TO PUBLIC EQUITY TRANSITIONS

Join us for a dynamic session that sheds light on the thriving startup landscapes in both Germany and Spain. Berlin consistently ranks among the top three startup cities in Europe, while Madrid and Barcelona secure coveted spots in the top 10. In this enlightening presentation, we will explore how both countries have recently upgraded their regulatory frameworks to support the creation and growth of startups.

The expert panel will provide invaluable insights into implementing your equity strategy across the transition in both countries. Discover how the Spanish Act to Promote the Startup Ecosystem, enacted in 2023, has revolutionized the regulatory landscape to support startups, and compare it to the German startup ecosystem.

This session is a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of startup-friendly policies in Germany and Spain and equip yourself with the knowledge to thrive in two of Europe's most dynamic startup ecosystems.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Startup ecosystem comparison: Gain a deep understanding of the startup ecosystems in Germany and Spain, and learn why Berlin is a top contender. Explore the factors that contribute to the success of these cities.
  • Navigating equity vehicles: Understand the intricate landscape of equity vehicles, spanning both private and public markets, and gain insights into their significance for startups in both countries.
  • Evolution of equity guidelines: Explore the evolving equity guideline framework, tracing its journey from the private sector to the public domain in both Germany and Spain, and grasp its implications for your startup's growth trajectory.
  • Global equity roll-out: Dive into market data and practical perspectives on executing a global equity strategy, ensuring you're well-prepared for international expansion, with a specific focus on Germany and Spain.

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group live
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit: 1.0 credits

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

Speaker/Author

Christian Hyldig, Aon plc
Jaime Pavía, Cuatrecasas
Katalin Kiss, Delivery Hero

Event date
Thursday, 16 Nov 2023, 12:10 - 13:10
Country
Breakout series
NEWS
1 August 2023
CORPORATE TAX BREAKS AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
article

Aeaweb, Eric Ohrn

Executive pay
Finance, tax and accounting
Executive plans
USA

This article analyzes the effect of two corporate tax breaks, bonus depreciation and the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (DPAD), on executive compensation in publicly traded US firms. The author finds both tax breaks significantly increase executive compensation. For every dollar a firm benefits from the tax breaks, compensation of the firm's top five highest-paid executives increases by $0.17 to $0.25. The tax breaks increase compensation primarily in firms with weaker governance structures, suggesting the compensation response is driven by executive rent extraction.

READ THIS ARTICLE

GAME ON WITH THE GLOBAL SHARES: PUT YOUR MACRO-ECONOMICS KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST

It’s share plan chutes and ladders.

People can find financial concepts boring – that’s why you need to get them engaged and excited. Consider how you would speak to your employees about the effects of macro-economics on their stock plans? Or how to make sure that the “need-to-know” details are presented in an informative, educational and engaging way? This is a session with a difference and will focus not just on the importance of knowledge sharing to help create financial wellness for your workforce, but how you can find interesting ways to communicate and engage with employees.

Creating an engaging and reflective forum, we will get the audience involved in the discussion by beginning the session with a game, where the audience will have their own understanding of specific macro-economic concepts put to the test. One side of the room will be against the other and for each topic accurately explained by a team, they will move forward one space on the board. If the team doesn’t know an answer, they’ll move backwards, representing the setback a lack of knowledge can have on their employees.

From inflation, to volatility, ROI or AMT, and 10B5-1 plans, we’ll be covering the fundamentals to ensure the audience leaves this session better equipped to support their employees in understanding how macro-economics might impact their equity compensation. Following this, our panel will move on to look at practical solutions to educate your workforce, with a particular focus on video libraries as an interactive hub for educational resources.

Speaker/Author

SPEAKERS: Chris Dohrmann, FGE,  Global Shares - a J.P. Morgan Company; Ryan Ross, Aon

Event date
Thursday, 26 Oct 2023, 14:30 - 15:20
Plan type
Country
Breakout series

FOUR THINGS YOUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS MAY BE MISSING

Unlock the potential of your executive compensation strategy with innovative concepts. In this session, our expert panel delves into four crucial areas that can significantly enhance your plan design, benefiting both executives and plan sponsors. These innovative concepts are designed to take your executive compensation strategy to the next level, addressing a variety of critical topics and featuring a case study from Levi Strauss. Learn the power of combining tried-and-true practices with innovative thinking to help you make the most of your executive compensation program.

Key learning points:

  • Automatic exercise benefits: Discover the advantages of incorporating automatic exercise at expiration into your executive compensation plans. This innovative approach streamlines processes, enhances plan performance, and aligns executive incentives more effectively with organizational objectives.
  • Identifying long-term incentive blind spots: Gain insights into potential blind spots that may affect the effectiveness of your long-term incentive programs. By addressing these challenges, you can create a more equitable and impactful compensation structure for your executives.
  • Empowering executives with equity choice: Learn how to empower your executives with greater flexibility and control over their equity compensation choices. This approach leads to higher executive satisfaction, improved retention rates, and better alignment with your corporate goals.
  • Tax-efficient charitable giving: Explore tax-efficient strategies that enable executives to maximize their charitable contributions while optimizing their financial planning. This knowledge equips executives to support causes they care about while making informed financial decisions.

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.5*

Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group live
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit:1.25 credits

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

Speaker/Author

Emily Cervino, FGE, Fidelity Investments
John Hammond, Aon
Aaron Boyd, Levi Strauss & Co

Event date
Wednesday, 25 Oct 2023, 13:30 - 14:30
Country

THE INFLUENCE OF EQUITY GRANTS ON SAY-ON-PAY SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT

In today's corporate landscape, shareholder opposition to compensation proposals is on the rise. This has elevated the importance of shareholder engagement in executive compensation decision-making. In 2022, median support for say-on-pay proposals hit an all-time low, with a record number of companies receiving less than 70 percent investor backing. Equity pay, a significant part of executive compensation, often plays a pivotal role in shaping shareholder sentiment. Consequently, compensation committees are increasingly evaluating strategies to address or preempt shareholder discontent.

Our expert panel will dive into these critical dynamics and examine a compelling case study illustrating how a company addressed low shareholder support attributed to its equity compensation practices, offering practical insights into real-world challenges and solutions.

Key learning points:

  • Compensation committee responses: Explore how compensation committees respond to low shareholder support on say-on-pay proposals, including the common drivers behind diminished support and the resultant impact on voting outcomes in subsequent years.
  • Effective shareholder engagement: Learn from companies that have faced historically low support levels and discover the strategies and practices that have enabled them to rebound through more effective shareholder engagement.
  • Impact of responsiveness: Understand the significance of responsiveness in compensation decisions, spanning from low to high levels, and how these levels can directly influence shareholder support and overall company performance.

 

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.5*

Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group live
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit:1.25 credits

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

Speaker/Author

Valeriano Saucedo, ISS Corporate Solutions
Carmen Luk,  ISS Corporate Solutions

Event date
Wednesday, 25 Oct 2023, 10:45 - 11:35
Plan type
Country