EQUITY SOLUTIONS
PUBLIC COMPANIES

Global Intelligence

Transform the way you approach and manage your global equity plans while helping to navigate tax and legal complexities.

Know As It Happens, Act When It Matters

Bring daily equity plan management in-house with a modern, easy-to-use online database of international legal and international tax regulations that spans more than 170 countries. Our Global Intelligence offering is continuously updated putting a world of information at your fingertips and making it easier to get access and stay up-to-date.

Get Ahead, Stay Current
Use the compliance dashboard and project management tool to generate reminders, alerts and action items for your global equity plans.
Put Data to Work
Get more time back in your day. Configure online employee tax guides and, if enrolled, have them automatically updated with tax changes throughout the year.
Navigate Change
Stay ahead of changes and potential roadblocks with practical tools and detailed reports, run global share-plan health checks whenever you want, and leverage legal and tax information in different ways that support the success of your global plan.
Global Intelligence

Offering Equity Globally

Global Intelligence offers a fresh approach to due diligence and transforms the way you manage the complex world of global equity plans. Hear from James Hocking and Justin Pon on how you can leverage Global Intelligence to better manage your global equity plan.

00:00:05

Justin Pon

It's a pleasure to be here with you today. My name is Justin Pon and I've been with Morgan Stanley for four years and I lead solutions for our Global Intelligence and Taxability services. And I'm proud to be part of this dynamic team. Joining us is my colleague James Hocking.

 

00:00:19

James Hocking

Hello, I'm James Hocking and I serve as the Executive Director of US Public Sales Administration at Morgan Stanley at Work. I'm thrilled to be here to speak with you about my passion for equity compensation and how it can transform businesses. With over 17 years of experience at Morgan Stanley and in the equity compensation industry, I've had the privilege of working with many talented individuals and companies around the globe. My mission has always been to empower companies to offer equity to their employees by connecting them with technologies that enhance automation and potentially reduce risk with their equity compensation plans.

 

00:00:52

Justin Pon

Today, we are discussing the current challenges companies who offer equity around the globe are facing. We have a workforce that is more mobile than ever, a constantly evolving tax and regulatory landscape and participants that want to better understand the equity awards they are receiving. These pieces combined can make offering equity complex and time consuming going to dive into some of these challenges and discuss how Morgan Stanley at Work's Global Intelligence platform may help you navigate this complex landscape.

 

00:01:16

James Hocking

Over the past few years, there's been a significant increase in the demand for issuing equity broadly across organizations and to employees around the world. As equity compensation continues to gain traction as a tool for retention and talent attraction. Corporations are looking to scale their equity plans beyond the US and into multiple jurisdictions. Let's talk about what this challenge presents to plan administrators.

 

00:01:37

Justin Pon

Well, the regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, making it challenging for companies to match compliance requirements. In addition, companies now have a more mobile employee workforce, which adds another layer of complexity.

 

00:01:48

James Hocking

What are some of the complex problems that you see from your Global Intelligence clients?

 

00:01:54

Justin Pon

Right. So, there's a few problems that we have that we note that our clients are trying to solve for things such as being able to communicate text pieces to their participant populations. So, for instance, a lot of our clients say, hey, Justin, we have a client that has a lot of participant questions. Being able to have a resource that both the administrator can refer to and being able to provide to their participants so that the participants can engage and understand the plan just helps relieve some of that burden and, helps participants feel more engaged with their equity plan.

 

00:02:24

James Hocking

So, with our record-keeping solutions, we know that we're pulling in data from all different geographies, different countries, different time zones. How does having that data in one place help global intelligence assist clients?

 

00:02:36

Justin Pon

Well, when you have all that different location data, all the different demographics and different award information, the record keeper, whether or not it's a participant staying in one jurisdiction or when they're moving between different states or different countries. That comes with a whole suite of different tax obligations, which we quickly refer to as tax mobility.

 

00:02:54

James Hocking

So Justin, when you have a new client, what’s the discussion that you have with that client to help them along the way with Global Intelligence?

 

00:03:02

Justin Pon

Right. So, it's aspects of understanding all the different parts of the Global Equity plan. Right? So, what types of rewards are they offering? Like an ESPP, RSU on qualified stock option? Are there any tax preferred varieties of the award, like for instance, we’re all familiar with the US ISO. But are there any tax preferred variety that they may or may not have internationally. Or are they trying to contemplate mirroring that type of tax preferred treatment in those jurisdictions? We also want to understand what kind of resources they have at their disposal as well. Like, do they have a large team that's able to manage this? Is it just a one-person shop? How many people can they involve in the process and what are those internal stakeholders that can be involved in that Global Equity crowd so that they're having successful compliance, due diligence, exercise.

 

00:03:47

James Hocking

And when combined with our equity platforms, companies can monitor and manage the taxes on their equity plans in real time, even as employees move from one location to another.

 

00:03:56

Justin Pon

Helping clients navigate between jurisdictions is key to ensuring consistency in offering and driving employee participation in equity plans. We also provide our clients with a dedicated team who are available to connect you with local law firms. Embedded directly within our Equity Solutions platform. Global intelligence seamlessly plugs into your data, provide you with live tax mobility calculations, keeping everything at your fingertips and in platform. Thanks for joining us today. It was great to chat with you about the challenges of a constantly evolving tax and legal landscape and how a more mobile employee workforce can be daunting.

 

00:04:26

James Hocking

Thanks, Justin. At Morgan Stanley at work, we have the solutions to help companies stay current and manage our equity plans more effectively. Our Global Intelligence platform and dedicated team provides companies with some of the tools and resources they may need to navigate these complex landscapes. Thank you for joining us today.

 

Morgan Stanley at Work and Global Intelligence services are provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, member SIPC, and its affiliates, all wholly owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates, employees and Financial Advisors do not provide legal or tax advice. Individuals should consult with their tax/legal advisors before making any tax/legal-related investment decisions. The information is sourced from third parties, may not be current and is subject to change without notice. Morgan Stanley at Work makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information and is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement with/of any third parties or views expressed by such parties. Any views expressed in the information are solely those of the third-party source. Morgan Stanley at Work shall have no liability arising out of, or in connection with, the information, including any loss caused by use of, or reliance on, the information. All information made available by Morgan Stanley at Work is subject to the terms of the written agreement entered into between Morgan Stanley at Work and your company.

 

 © 2023 Morgan Stanley. All rights reserved. Global Intelligence and all product marks and logos are trademarks of Morgan Stanley.

 

CRC 5638535 5/23

Equipped for Modern Due Diligence

Our Global Intelligence solution was developed with a keen understanding of the challenges you face in managing global equity compensation plans.

  1. Tax Updates and Information

    Stay informed on critical tax and policy information based on your subscribed countries including:

     

    ●     Tax rates, tax withholding, and reporting

    ●     Tax mobility

    ●     Reports on recharging implications and tax-favorable structures for global equity 

  2. Useful Planning Tools

    Plan effectively and ensure your due diligence efforts result in positive impact with:

     

    ●     Project management tools

    ●     Customizable compliance calendar

    ●     Global health check tool

  3. Ongoing Communications

    Keep your global teams informed and updated on the latest tax and regulation changes as well as keeping your employees engaged with their equity through:

     

    ●     Monthly newsletter

    ●     Local payroll and subsidiary communications

  4. Legal and Regulatory Reports

    Stay in the know about international compliance and regulation with:

     

    ●     Regulatory update reports

    ●     Information on exchange control requirements, translation requirements and securities law filings

    ●     Configurable country-specific wording

Let’s Start the Conversation
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NOT ALL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL JURISDICTIONS OR COUNTRIES

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide individually tailored investment or financial advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of  persons who receive it. Information and data contained herein is from multiple sources considered to be reliable and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Past performance is not indicative or a guarantee of future results.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor for related questions. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives.

 

Employee stock plan solutions are offered by Morgan Stanley at Work

Employee stock plan solutions offered by E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. are part of Morgan Stanley at Work.

In connection with stock plan solutions offered by Morgan Stanley at Work, E*TRADE Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC provide brokerage services to stock plan participants.

Securities products and services are offered by E*TRADE Securities LLC (ETS), Member SIPC or Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (MSSB), Member SIPC. Throughout 2023 ETS will be transitioning existing clients to MSSB. Learn more about this transition at www.etrade.com/mssb.  

All entities are separate but affiliated subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley.

Content and services available to non-US participants may be different than those available to US participants.

The laws, regulations, and rulings addressed by the products, services, and publications offered by Morgan Stanley and its affiliates are subject to various interpretations and frequent change. Morgan Stanley and its affiliates do not warrant these products, services, and publications against different interpretations or subsequent changes of laws, regulations, and rulings. Morgan Stanley and its affiliates do not provide legal, accounting, or tax advice. Always consult your own legal, accounting, and tax advisors.

© 2023 Morgan Stanley. All rights reserved.

 

Morgan Stanley at Work and Global Intelligence services are provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, member SIPC, and its affiliates, all wholly owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley.  

Shareworks, Global Intelligence and all product and service marks and logos are trademarks of Solium Capital ULC.  THIS INFORMATION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE.  You should always consult with and rely on your own legal and/or tax advisor(s) as Shareworks does not provide legal or tax advice and the information is not tailored to the specific situations of your company or your employees.  The information is sourced from third parties, may not be current and is subject to change without notice.  Shareworks makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information and is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement with/of any third parties or views expressed by such parties.  Any views expressed in the information are solely those of the third-party source.  Shareworks shall have no liability arising out of, or in connection with, the information, including any loss caused by use of, or reliance on, the information.  All information made available by Shareworks is subject to the terms of the written agreement entered into between Shareworks and your company.

 

CRC 5669723  05/2023

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