On October 30, 2024, the UK Chancellor delivered the new Labour government’s first budget, which included tax increases that may impact employee share plans. The most notable changes include the following: In light of the increased costs, if they are not doing so already, employers may wish to consider whether to pass some, or all, of the employer NICs to employees, which is permitted for stock options and other share-settled awards (such as share-settled RSUs/PSUs). Because the…
When we are asked to review equity plans and related agreements governing equity awards and share purchase rights granted to participants in the United States and abroad, they often contain beneficiary designation provisions. While nice in theory, beneficiary designations are administratively burdensome and fraught with pitfalls, particularly outside the United States. As we’ve recently been helping several companies work through the ins and outs of the treatment of awards upon the death of a participant,…