Canada Image
ARTICLE
11 July 2024
Canada: Changes to taxation of stock options and capital gains – Effective immediately
External News

Baker McKenzie

Finance, tax and accounting
Stock options
Canada

Starting from June 25, 2024, changes from Budget 2024 will alter the capital gains inclusion rate and the employee stock option deduction rate. The stock option deduction and capital gains tax exemption will decrease from 1/2 to 1/3 of the taxable amount if an individual's annual combined limit of CAD 250,000 is exceeded. Taxpayers can decide how to allocate the preferential tax treatment between stock option income and capital gains beyond the combined limit.

2.5 Mastering Share Sourcing and Sales: Strategies for Effective Employee Share Plans

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.
Speaker/Author

Ghal Supple, Equiniti
Tom McCulloch, Equiniti
Ben McCarthy, Linklaters
Robert Lyons, Marks and Spencer

Event date
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2024, 13:10 - 14:00
Breakout series
Location
Affiliation Hub 2
Field of Study
Specialized Knowledge
Level
O
ARTICLE
4 July 2024
BANXA LAUNCHES EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN AND COMPLETES SALE OF NON-CORE ASSET
External News

Financial Times

Case Study
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Canada

Banxa Holdings Inc. has launched an Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP), allowing employees in Australia, the US, Europe, and the UK to purchase shares and benefit from the company's growth, with the plan featuring a 40% employer match and a one-year lock-up period. CEO Holger Arians emphasized that the ESPP aims to foster an ownership mindset and align employees with Banxa’s long-term success. Additionally, Banxa completed the sale of the non-core asset Bitcoin.co.uk for EUR $266,500, contributing to the company's strategic financial management.

ARTICLE
27 June 2024
CANADA: CHANGES TO TAXATION OF STOCK OPTIONS AND CAPITAL GAINS – EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
External News

Baker McKenzie

Legal and regulatory
Stock options
Canada

The proposed changes in Budget 2024 regarding stock options in Canada will come into effect on June 25, 2024. These changes reduce the stock option deduction and capital gains tax exemption from 1/2 to 1/3 of the taxable amount, if the individual's annual limit of CAD 250,000 is exceeded. Employers face uncertainty in managing tax withholding on stock option income, as they may not know if the employee has exceeded the limit or how exemptions are allocated. Additional legislative clarifications are expected by July 2024, prompting employers to currently consider withholding taxes based on the reduced exemption rate of 1/3.

ARTICLE
22 April 2024
OPINION: THE MOMENT IS RIPE FOR EXPANDING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP IN CANADA
External News

Vancouver Sun

Design and strategy
All plan types
Canada

 

This article advocates for greater democratization of workplaces, highlighting the absence of democratic rights for workers despite their significant time spent in these environments. It discusses the potential benefits of enabling employees to have more control and ownership in their workplaces, citing examples of successful employee-owned firms in Canada and abroad. The article also outlines various public policy options, including the creation of Employee Ownership Trusts, to facilitate the expansion of democratic employee ownership in Canada and address barriers such as limited access to capital.

VIRTUAL CHAPTER EVENT
25 April 2024, 12 - 1pm EDT
TORONTO VIRTUAL CHAPTER MEETING
TORONTO THUMB
Workplace solutions
Canada

SESSION ONE: HOW BLACKOUT PERIODS IMPACT EQUITY AWARDS
What are the different ways issuers address blackout periods in their equity incentive awards, including how blackout periods impact the timing for granting or settlement of awards and the calculation of award values?  What have regulators said? What if a special blackout is in place when annual awards are scheduled to be made?  The event will focus on gathering market perspectives and sharing practices from various organizations

SESSION TWO: LTIP TREATMENT FOR RETIRESS: EVOLUTION, CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES
The purpose of this session is to address the complexities and considerations surrounding the treatment of retirees in the context of LTIPs within the share plan world. The session will explore how the treatment of retirees has evolved over the years, the challenges it presents, and best practices for dealing with retirees and good leavers.

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

 

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT
28 November 2023, 4:30 - 6:30pm EST
GEO TORONTO CHAPTER MEETING
Toronto

Ali Abid, CCGG
Assad Mallick, TELUS Health
Amanda Voegeli, Southlea Group

Canada

EXPLORING BEST PRACTICES IN SHARE OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES

The expert panel will dive into the world of share ownership guidelines, shedding light on their importance in aligning management interests with shareholders.

Attend to discover insights from the 2022 review conducted by the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance, an essential report that analyzes proxy circular disclosures from 237 Canadian companies.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Discover the essential components of effective share ownership guidelines.
  • Gain insights into methods for accurately valuing equity securities.
  • Understand the best practices for treating unvested awards and their impact on share ownership policies.
NEWS
2 August 2023
SEC APPROVES NYSE AND NASDAQ CLAWBACK LISTING STANDARDS - ASSESSING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CANADIAN FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUERS
article

Michael H. Taylor , Cory Kent and Ravipal Bains

Finance, tax and accounting
Executive plans
Canada
USA

The article discusses the approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of clawback listing standards for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. These standards, aligned with the SEC Clawback Rules, mandate that listed companies develop and implement clawback policies for recovering incentive-based compensation from executive officers in the event of an accounting restatement. The article provides an overview of the key elements of the SEC Clawback Rules, including their application to all issuers, the triggers for recovery, the types of compensation covered, and disclosure requirements. The article also offers guidance for Canadian companies subject to these rules, highlighting potential implications and considerations for compliance with the new standards. The deadline for companies listed on NYSE and NASDAQ to adopt compliant clawback policies is outlined, along with the consequences of non-compliance, and the need for Canadian companies to adjust their compensation plans and policies accordingly. Additionally, the article touches on the perspectives of proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and ISS, and the evolving market practice regarding clawbacks in Canada.

READ THIS ARTICLE

ARTICLE
18 July 2023
CORNISH METALS CORPORATE UPDATE AND GRANTS INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
external article

SOURCE: Yahoo Finance 

Canada

 

The article covers Cornish Metals Inc.'s recent corporate update, highlighting the grant of 11 million incentive stock options to its executive management and senior staff as part of a Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP). The options are priced at £0.18 per share and will vest over three years, expiring on July 17, 2028. This grant brings the total options issued to 3.02% of the company's Issued Capital. Additionally, the article briefly mentions the appointment of sub-committees of the Board following a recent Annual General Meeting.

IN-PERSON CHAPTER EVENT
14 June 2023, 4 - 5:30pm EDT
TORONTO CHAPTER MEETING
Toronto
Trending now
Canada

COMPENSATION CLAWBACKS UNVEILED: NAVIGATING NEW RULES WITH URGENCY 
Compensation clawback rules are becoming increasingly stringent, impacting companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges. This session will provide vital insights into the new U.S. securities rules and stock exchange requirements that mandate the adoption of executive incentive compensation clawback policies. We will explore the implications, challenges, and urgent actions Canadian companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges must take to ensure compliance and avoid potential delisting. 

EQUITY - KEEPING IT REAL AND RELEVANT TODAY 
In a landscape characterized by high inflation, economic uncertainty, intensified climate and regulatory risks, and fluctuating employee turnover, the appeal of share ownership has diminished. Moreover, employees, influenced by market conditions and the availability of alternative compensation options, may undervalue the potential benefits of equity incentives compared to cash rewards. This session aims to explore effective approaches to ensure that equity programs deliver their intended retention and incentive benefits in today's dynamic environment. 

LOCATION:
Deloitte
8 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, M5H 0A9

COST:
There is no cost to attend this Chapter meeting. Both GEO members and non-members are welcomed to join!

Registration is required.