EFES NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2007

Employee share ownership - what's in it for you?
Is buying shares in your company a wise investment and a good way to keep your eye on management? In this interview for Rhodia Alliance OnLine (Rhodia's association of employee shareholders), we talk about the advantages of owning a stake in your company, whether criticism of your management is a bad career move, and we break down some of the mysteries and financial ins and outs of share ownership. More details

New European Report
The European Foundation in Dublin just published a new report about financial participation of employees in the European Union. Conclusion: "There has been a clear trend of rising levels of financial participation over the five years between 2000 and 2005. In all countries there has been an increase, in some cases notable, in the percentage of employees participating… This indicates that the percentage of workers involved in financial participation schemes in Europe, although still low, is on the increase, suggesting that the phenomenon will probably become more significant in the near future." More details

Political debate about employee share ownership in Germany
Two different proposals are discussed in Germany. The Christian Democratic Party has published a paper with a list of proposals to promote financial participation on the company level. The proposal of the Social Democratic Party has a different objective: They propose to establish a so called “Germany Fund”. A common proposal of the two governmental parties – that means a compromises – could be expected in autumn. More details

Request to the new Member States of the European Union
EFES requests all new Member States to adopt a legislation allowing employee share plans based on international standards. Most countries answered positively. More information

Press review
Much new information about employee ownership in August 2007, with 1.121 articles in this press review (on which 381 involving stock options and 171 about workers' cooperatives). We made a selection of  42 remarkable articles in 10 countries: Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, Poland, UK, USA, South Africa.
Austria: Employee share ownership gets more and more support, even faster than in Germany. "Alle wollen Mitarbeiterbeteiligung" – they all want employee ownership.
Germany: Debate about employee share ownership is at the top, both political parties of the big coalition having published their own proposals. "Das System Merkel".
Canada: The lure of ESOPs is growing. Planning for employee share ownership in your Canadian company.
France: More and more companies are offering shares to wider groups of employees. A new survey shows that employee share ownership is considered as a win/win tool by 91% of executives and 66% of employees.
Ireland: Employee share ownership trusts (with a 35% stake in Eircom and a 15% stake in Aer Lingus) support new strategies.
Jamaica: Government will transfer a 20% stake to the employees of the Jamaica Public Service.
Poland: Bus services strike ends - the president of Kielce is to withdraw the motion to close the company, and its personnel is to set up a new employee-owned corporation.
UK: Firms owned by staff have beaten the FTSE all-share. So why aren't there more?
USA: Ideally, employee stock plans can give workers more leverage. Recently released results from the Employee Ownership Foundation's 16th Annual ESOP Economic Performance Survey prove that the decision to become employee-owned means better company performance and greater wealth creation for employee owners. However, a recent study suggests that big public companies are backing away from employee stock ownership plans. Now decision was taken to buy the Chicago Tribune through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, things are progressing: Tribune buyout plan won shareholders OK - Unions demand employee representation on Board – Still many questions about how solid is the deal.
South Africa: "Employee Share Plan a Victory, Unions Say".

The press review is available on:
              http://www.efesonline.org/PRESS REVIEW/2007/August.htm 

WHAT ABOUT YOU?
This is how much an employee held in 2006, in average, in shares of:

EFES needs more members. Download EFES membership form

What's new on EFES website?

EFES NEWS distribution: 80.000