Get ready for an engaging update from the world of global stock plan administration! This session combines learning with friendly competition, offering a chance to explore the latest trends in global equity through an interactive trivia game.

Compete with fellow equity administrators in a fun, thought-provoking challenge.

Test your knowledge on key topics, stay ahead of industry changes, and refine your strategies—all while enjoying the contest and competing for prizes and bragging rights!

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Global tax, mobility management and compliance essentials
• Touch on valuable GEO resources including the Global Share Plans Ranking Study and the 2024 Global Equity Insights Study
• Delve into tax withholding practices, new country-specific regulation, 83(b) elections,accounting nuances, valuation and financial reporting strategies

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.

Join our panel of equity compensation experts as they 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

Join this session for a comprehensive session on preparing your equity team for a successful start to the New Year.

Learn how to adhere to T+1, ensure data integrity, and foster collaboration among HR, Payroll, and IT to meet deadlines.

The panel will also cover how to review your share plan, set parameters, and conduct essential software testing for a smooth transition into 2025.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Master best practices for preparing your equity team for a strong Q1 start
• Navigate challenges and strategies for tax filings, T+1 adherence, and data integrity
• Understand the importance of interdepartmental communication and centralized software, and learn essential software testing procedures for Q1 audits

Setting up an employee share plan involves crucial decisions about sourcing shares and managing sales effectively. Join Ghal and Tom from EQ's Corporate Dealing team, Ben McCarthy from Linklaters and Rob Lyons from M&S as they share their extensive experience in this area.  They’ll cover current trends in sourcing shares, looking at new issue or market purchase, along with key considerations for an issuer and their finance team.  Discover strategies for hedging, managing large share sales and using the Employee Benefit Trust to your advantage. There will be focus on the recent changes to dilution limits in the Investment Association’s Principles of Remuneration.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Learn strategies for sourcing shares, planning in advance for your share plan vesting whilst managing headroom and dilution limits.
• Understand how an issuer can use various approaches across their share plan grants to keep their finance team and employees happy.
• Discover effective liquidity management techniques to ensure an orderly market at vesting.