The March 3, 2008 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following:

• Supreme Court Says Individuals Can Sue Retirement Plan Fiduciaries; Implications for ESOPs Unclear
  
• Survey of Multinational Companies Shows Changes in Equity Practices
  
• New NCEO Board Members Elected
  
• 2008 National Gathering of Games Conference, April 30-May 2, 2008
  

More LaRue

The Update discusses LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Assoc. Inc., No. 06-856 (Feb. 20, 2008) and provides a separate page with more analysis and ESOP implications.

"On February 20, 2008, in LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates (No 06-856), the Supreme Court unanimously concluded that individuals do have the right to sue for individual monetary damages under Section 502(a)(2), although a concurring opinion in the case written by Chief Justice Roberts argued individuals have to exhaust administrative remedies first.

Global Equity Incentives Survey 2007

The Update discusses the results of the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Global Equity Incentives Survey 2007:

PwC's annual global equity survey covers a wide range of topics related to global equity compliance, design and administration, including: stock option expensing, compensation strategy and design, tax planning and compliance, global coordination, plan administration, and employee communications. The 2007 Survey will build on the insights gained over the last four surveys to help multinational companies as they monitor trends in equity compensation and plot their strategic position within their markets and industries. These results will become a useful tool for all of those impacted by the transformation of equity in the hands of employees: human resources professionals, finance executives, tax professionals, regulators, consultants, and employees.

The Update notes that companies are half as likely to offer options (at all levels) than they were in 2003. For more information about the results of the survey, here are links to a webcast, webcast slides, and executive summary.

Open-Book Management

The Update discusses the 2008 National Gathering of Games Conference, which is from April 30 – May 2:

Open-book management transforms organizations and gives them a major advantage over others who keep employees in the dark. It's not just about generating profits, cash and wealth but also about distributing it for the good of everyone involved – giving those who embrace open-book management a spirit of generosity and a willingness to openly spread the word to help each other succeed.

New Board Members

The NCEO also announced the new NCEO board members.