One of the most effective means of rewarding employees for their service to the Company is by allowing them to acquire shares in the Company through a share award plan.
It is important to note that in the case of employee share award plans, the Maltese Investment Services Act provides an exemption from the requirement of obtaining a licence for investment services in relation to “a person operating a scheme or arrangement where the services provided consist of the execution of orders or the reception and transmission of orders for its own employees, former employees, their dependents, or for employees, former employees or their dependants of companies in the same group, in instruments issued by the company or other companies in the group and any other instruments as may be approved by the competent authority.”
This exemption is not automatically operative but is subject to the determination in writing by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) as the competent authority in Malta.