Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) in simple meaning refers to the plan/ scheme brought in by the company in accordance with the Acts and regulations for the participation of the employees in the ownership viz. Equity ESOP shares of the company at a pre-determined price. It is a kind of benefit plan for the employees to become the owners of the company and also serves as an important tool to attract and retain talent in the organization.
In the today scenarios, Startup ESOP/ESOP in a startup is significantly gaining popularity over a period of time, since the business is at an initial stage would rather strive for implementing these schemes so as to retain the talented employees and also considering the fact that burden of paying huge salaries to the employees can be neutralized by bringing in such motivated benefit plans and rewarding the employees for their contribution to the business of the company.
Employee Stock Purchase Schemes (ESPS), Employee Stock ownership plan, Employee Stock Options Scheme (ESOS, etc.) are some of the major employee compensation plans adopted and formulated by corporates in India.
Especia is one of the leading ESOP Advisory Services, Equity/ESOP Taxation planning firm/consultants in Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon, Other Regions in India.
You can read our blogs related to tax on ESOP services in India here with changes in budget 2020. https://especia.co.in/post/taxability-of-esops-under-new-union-budget-2020
In case we are looking forward to understanding how ESOP works in India then we can read this https://especia.co.in/post/all-about-esop-policy-working
USEFULNESS OF ESOP/ ESOP Benefits
For employees:
a) Since the Equity shares refer to the Ownership in the company, employees can become part of the company’s success over a period of time.
b) As per these plans, generally, shares are given at a pre-determined price, hence the employees can stand benefitted by selling the shares at a future point of time.
c) These schemes carry great motivation for employees to perform and grow with the company.
d) Employees pay zero tax on the contributions to the ESOP.
For the company:
a) Leverage employee’s morale urging them to perform better in their day-to-day tasks
b) Boosts employee retention and thereby lowers turnover rate
c) Savings on director remuneration for a private limited company as a part of salary by offering a certain portion of ESOPs.
KEY POINTS – COMPANYS’ CONSIDERATION
There are lots of points to be considered and accordingly evaluated before bringing in such schemes viz.
1) ‘ESOP Pool’ Provision :
Generally, the ESOP scheme is brought in for selected employees in companies, based on their abilities and experience to impact the company. We need to ascertain a maximum number of equity shares in the form of equity incentive plans that are made available by the Company for granting of options to the employees, officers, and directors of the company in pursuance of this ESOP.
Eg. Percentage of Equity provision i.e. 5% or 10% etc. Accordingly, the provision would be made available in Charter documents, and amendments would be carried out in MOA and AOA respectively.
2) Share Capital Table & Shareholding Structure
Understand the current capital structure of the entity & shareholding held by various shareholders to identify the pool and further capital structure planning post-ESOPs in place.
3) Identification of employees eligible
Eligibility terms shall be defined for the employees who can become eligible for ESOP provision. It could be years of experience/ technical know-how brought, performance record, etc. by the employee.
4) Vesting Period or Term
We need to define the period during which the options shall progressively vest/ be available with the Employee in accordance with the policy.
As per law, a minimum period of one year shall be there between ‘grant of option’ and vesting/ exercise by the employee.
5) Lock-in Period
To be determined by the Company for the shares allotted in pursuance of this ESOP during which an employee shall not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of shares allotted.
6) Exercise Price
We need to specify the pre-determined price at which the Board shall be specifying the exercise price per share to be undertaken at a future date by the employee etc.
7) Tax Liability Terms
Provision will be marked for tax liability i.e. the costs, expenses, liabilities pertaining to the payment of any and all taxes, stamp duties, levies, charges, etc. under applicable laws whether be dealt by employee or employer. This would be categorically specified.
8) Cancellation Provision
Specifying the various circumstances eg. Termination, behavioral concerns to organization, etc. under which shares to be issued in pursuance to ESOP would be canceled by the company.
PROCEDURE AND COMPLIANCE
The legal framework that governs the formulation of ESOP in India are:
a) The Companies Act, 2013
b) The Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014
c) SEBI (Employee Stock Option Scheme and Employee Stock Purchase Scheme) Guidelines, 1999, and
d) SEBI (Share Based Employee Benefits) Regulations, 2014
The company needs to undertake the following activities for the implementation of the ESOP scheme:
1. Formulation of the ESOP scheme
It is important to draft the scheme in accordance with the company objectives for the formulation of these plans. Various points are required to be considered viz. Quantum of the issue and proposed offer to selected employees, Price for shares, etc.
2. Shareholders’ approval:
Post drafting, the ESOP Policy/Scheme is required to be approved by the shareholders of the company at their meeting. Prior to June 5, 2015, the approval for this scheme needs to be obtained by a ‘special resolution’ and filed with the Registrar of Companies. But now with above mentioned dated notification, the private limited companies need not comply with this rule and in such cases simple Ordinary resolution can be passed by this Company.
3. Granting Option to employees:
After approval of the ESOP scheme in a shareholders meeting, the second step is an issuance of ‘Letter of Grant’ to the concerned employees. This letter contains important details about the number of options granted, the vesting period, the calculation of the exercise price, etc. This will have all the written information about the options like several granted options, exercise period, vesting exercise period, etc.
Valuations of shares are also required to be done at the time of “grant of Option” by a registered valuer and “exercise of option” by Merchant Banker. Therefore, valuation is to be done every time when the options are granted and /or exercised. Generally, valuation not older than six months is considered to be valid.
4. Exercise by the employees
Now, after receiving ‘Letter of Grants’, an employee can then opt for the ESOP option via the ‘Exercise Application’. Accordingly, on receiving the application by the company, it is required to conduct a Board meeting by the company in accordance with Company Law and regulations for the issuance of these shares to the employees.
Also, the company needs to give disclosure in its Boards’ Report regarding the ESOP shares issued by the company as per the specified guidelines.
The register is required to be maintained under the concerned Rules at the registered office of the company and shall be duly authorized by the Board on respective entries.
If you are looking for any Employee stock option plan (ESOP) services or consultants in Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon or anywhere in India, write to us at accounts@especia.co.in.
