
Welcome to In Focus
Welcome to the latest Edition of In Focus
By Jay Foley, Managing Director, EMEA Employee Share Plans
Over the past few months, our teams have been working behind the scenes to support key plan events, deliver special projects, and roll out new services designed to enhance our support for you and your participants. This newsletter informs you about these important developments while sharing insights and updates across the employee share plan community.
A highlight at the end of 2024 was our Stockholm Roundtable, where we were delighted to welcome many of our clients from the Nordic region. A heartfelt thank you to all our clients who participated as panellists and attendees for your contributions that made the event a great success.
We also want to extend our congratulations to AstraZeneca, Entain, Experian, Kerry Group, and Wise, who were among the winners at the 2024 UK ProShare Awards. It was a fantastic evening celebrating excellence in our industry.
Looking ahead, we'll soon be rolling out US 423b ESPP Plans, which represents a major milestone for our clients with US employees. This reflects our commitment to use EquatePlus as a single platform for global and local qualified share plans.
And finally, don't forget to mark your calendars for ACC2025, our annual client conference, which promises to be the most exciting one yet. We are planning engaging sessions for you and your entire team, including a brand-new dedicated stream for operational teams. Additionally, there will be opportunities to book one-on-one sessions with our experts in our new exhibition zone. In this edition, you will find more details about our conferences in both London and Zurich. If you are interested in participating in a panel, please reach out to your Relationship Manager.
I hope you find this edition of In Focus both insightful and engaging. We always welcome your feedback, so let us know what you think and what topics you would like to see covered in future editions.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Jay Foley, Managing Director, EMEA Employee Share Plans
Products and Services
Computershare enhances global offering with US 423b ESPP integration
Partnering with Computershare just got better. As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure our products and services meet your needs, we are excited to announce that you can now manage your US423b qualified employee stock purchase plans (US 423b ESPP) on EquatePlus.
Already have a US 423b ESPP?
Consolidate with us today and manage your US 423b ESPP directly on EquatePlus. This solution ensures simplified employee share plan management through one platform and one single login.
Why choose Computershare for US 423b ESPP?
Computershare brings global and local expertise, providing a clear and informative web and mobile experience.
Features and benefits
Simple Enrollment. Employees have easy access to plan rules, overview of enrollment windows, and user-friendly forms to manage their participation.
Clear Tax Treatment. Employees can see their positions as either qualified or disqualified for favorable tax treatment, in plan details and in the order entry.
Flexible Limit Tracking. EquatePlus manages limit tracking, supporting both yearly and cumulative tracking approaches.
Best Purchase Price. EquatePlus supports lookback provisions, applying the lower of fair market value (FMV) at the beginning of the offer period and the purchase day FMV.
Purchase Reporting. Purchase report providing pre- and post-allocation information relevant to US 423b ESPP.
Tax Benefit Reporting. Reports providing participants’ tax benefit information in relation to US 423b ESPP, summarised and per transaction.
Want to learn more about consolidating your global and local employee share plans with Computershare? Contact your Computershare representative today.
Steady growth in adoption of share plans among Hong Kong listed Companies
Computershare has conducted research for decades creating awareness and recognising behaviours of employee share plans. Our most recent research provides data from both our existing clients in Asia, as well as 2,609 companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) across twelve industries. Our research has enabled us to produce insights about share plan adoption, levels of equity compensation for senior management, share plan performance targets, common vesting schedules, share sourcing and more.

Focusing on the growing trends across companies in different industries and of different sizes, our research provides data on employee share plans helping you make informed business decisions, attract and retain top talent, increase productivity and performance, and improve employee engagement.
Click here to view the full report
View the latest product release notes
Click here to download the latest product release notes.
Events
ACC 2025: Register now

Join us at our exclusive Computershare Annual Client Conference in London or Zurich
This year we’re taking our annual client conference, ACC 2025, to the next level with even more sessions tailored to you and your whole team based on what you want to know. This one-day conference will be packed with learning, connecting and development.
Why attend?
Engaging panel sessions
Participate in interactive sessions with your peers designed to provide valuable insights into their major successes and challenges, with practical and strategic takeaways.Meet the experts in our brand new exhibition
Connect with our product specialists in 1:1 pre-bookable appointments. Explore our latest technology, develop your understanding and expertise, and share your feedback.Networking opportunities
Build connections with peers and industry leaders in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Who should attend?
This year our expanded programme is designed to appeal to and inspire employee share plan professionals at all stages of their careers from Company Secretary to Rewards Managers and future leaders. All are welcome.
Get ready for ACC 2025
More exciting details, including the full agenda, will be shared over the coming months. In the meantime, make sure you register now to reserve your place and start planning who from your team will benefit most from attending. Please feel free to share this webpage to encourage them to register.
London The Landmark Hotel - 11 September 2025
Zurich, Park Hyatt Hotel - 18 September 2025
We want to hear your thoughts about our upcoming conference – take the 2-minute survey.
Congratulations to our clients that won at the ProShare Awards

Back in November, our team had the pleasure of joining clients who had been shortlisted for awards at the prestigious ProShare Annual Awards Dinner. It was an incredible evening, filled with anticipation as our clients eagerly awaited the results. We were thrilled to celebrate alongside AstraZeneca, Entain, Experian, Kerry Group and Wise, who were recognised among the winners.
The ProShare Annual Awards Dinner is a highly anticipated, sell-out event each year, bringing together the best in the share plans industry. This year’s ceremony was at the InterContinental on Park Lane, a fittingly stylish venue for such a prestigious occasion. As anyone who has attended will know, the ProShare Awards dinner is the standout event in the employee share plans industry, offering a night of well-deserved recognition and celebration.
These awards honour issuers who have navigated complexity and achieved success whether through exceptional communications strategies, outstanding results, or innovative use of technology.
If you are interested in entering for a ProShare Award next year, please reach out to your relationship manager, who will be happy to guide you through the process.
Will we see you in Prague at GEO’s 26th Annual Conference?

We are excited to announce that Computershare will be Sapphire sponsor at this year’s 26th Annual Conference in Prague on 28-30 April.
We hope to see you at this event which welcomes more than 300 global directors, senior managers, stock plan, HR, and rewards and benefits professionals will be in attendance bringing thought leadership from across the globe.
If you are attending, you can find us on stand 17 where you will be able to meet with the Computershare global team and discuss any of our products including: the introduction of US423b onto EquatePlus, and EquateAPI which improves the data exchange between your HR platform and EquatePlus.
We are also excited to see several of our clients join the Computershare team on stage for a number of sessions which include:
Monday 28 April at 2:45 – 3:45 pm
Session Title: Global Plans and Local Sub Plans: What is the best Approach
An interactive panel discussion exploring the challenges and benefits of implementing global equity plans with local sub-plans, focusing on balancing global consistency with local relevance. Gain insights into aligning objectives, managing complexities, and enhancing participation through regional tax incentives.
Panellists:
Elliot Alexander – Computershare
Hannah Needle – Tapestry Compliance
Anna Jex – RELX
Vanda Kiss – Nokia
Tuesday 29 April at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Session Title: Global Equity Insights Survey 2025: Trends Shaping Equity Compensation
Sheila Frierson President of Equity Plans NA, will be part of this expert panel sharing a first look at key findings from the Global Equity Insights Survey (GEIS) 2025, covering trends in equity compensation, LTIs, SPPs, AI applications, restructuring impacts, and HCM Reporting and Equal Pay initiatives. Understand how companies are adapting equity programs to stay competitive and explore the role of AI and HCM in transforming equity management.
Tuesday 29 April at 9:00 – 10:30 am
Session title: Iconic Companies Discussing the Future of Global and Local Employee Share Plans
Join Sheila Frierson and Francis Catterall along with industry experts from Siemens Energy, AIA, Walmart, and Amazon as they discuss the successes and challenges of employee share plans, focusing on local vs. global plans, communication strategies, and future trends. Gain insights into regulatory challenges, ESG targets, and the role of technology and AI in managing these plans.
Panellists:
Sheila Frierson – Computershare
Francis Catterall – Computershare
Pascale Saar-Naville – AIA
Marc Muntermann – Siemens Energy
Scott Sander - Amazon
Tuesday 30 April at 11:00 – 11:45 am
Session Title: From Design to Execution: Navigating Compliance and Operational Challenges for Administrators
Explore the downstream effects of equity plan design on compliance, data management, and daily operations. Gain practical strategies to balance stakeholder needs and manage cross-border complexities.
Panellists:
Iain Wilson – Computershare
Emma Carter - Flutter
Tuesday 29 April at 3:45 – 4:30 pm
Session Title: Navigating the Future of Work: Global Trends in Remuneration, Reward, and Share Plans
Hear how global trends shaping the future of work, focusing on remuneration, reward systems, and equity compensation. Engage with experts on demographic shifts, GEO-politics, evolving work models, regulatory environments, and AI.
Panellists:
Marcus McEvoy – Computershare
David Edwards – NatWest
David Voggeser – Mercer
Liz Pierson - Deloitte
If you are thinking about attending the conference you can find more information here 26th Annual Conference - Prague | Global Equity Organization
Nordic Client Roundtable in Stockholm

Our most recent client roundtable was hosted in Stockholm in November. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our clients who joined us at our Stockholm roundtable event in December. It was a fantastic day filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and valuable information shared by our team and esteemed panellist speakers.
We were honoured to have representatives from Electrolux, Schibsted, Ericsson, and Sobi join us to discuss important topics such as employee share plans in the Nordics, year-end reporting preparations, and Q1 activity. The conversations were engaging and informative, providing attendees with valuable insights and knowledge to take back to their organizations.
Our team also had the opportunity to share updates on our product roadmap and financial reporting, showcasing the exciting developments and advancements we have been working on. It was a pleasure to connect with our clients and provide them with a deeper understanding of our offerings and services.
We would like to express our gratitude to our excellent speakers and attendees for making the day a success. Your participation and contributions were invaluable, and we truly appreciate your engagement and enthusiasm throughout the event.
We look forward to the possibility of returning later this year for another roundtable event, where we can continue the discussions, networking, and learning opportunities that make these events so valuable. Thank you once again for your support and participation, and we hope to see you again soon.
Marcus McEvoy, honoured with prestigious GEO Title

We are delighted to announce and extend our congratulations to our very own Marcus McEvoy, Business Development Director, Computershare, who has been honoured with the prestigious title of Global Equity Organisation Fellow. This esteemed recognition is a testament to Marcus' exceptional contributions to the employee share plans sector.
With over 20 years of experience in the employee share plans sector, Marcus has collaborated with many of the world's largest businesses. Throughout his career, he has become a familiar face at industry conferences, often taking the main stage as a speaker. His leadership and innovative thinking have not only propelled our initiatives here at Computershare but have also established him as a thought leader in the broader profession.
Marcus has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of employee share plans, and this accolade is a well-deserved acknowledgment of his dedication and expertise.
Please join us in celebrating Marcus McEvoy's remarkable achievement and his ongoing commitment to excellence in the employee share plans sector.
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