ESOP Direct spins off ESOP ezee to focus on early stage companies
3 min read 16 Feb 2021, 07:15 PM ISTThe key differentiator of ESOP ezee is that it is offered as a managed service and not on a SaaS model.
_1613483019832_1613483031490.jpg "ESOP ezee is a single-window service pack that includes Plan design, Administration and Compliance bundled into a composite service.")
PremiumESOP Direct, India’s leading end-to-end service provider in the Equity compensation space, has carved out its offerings for early-stage companies into a separate SBU – ESOP ezee .
ESOP ezee is a single-window service pack that includes Plan design, Administration and Compliance bundled into a composite service. Based on the experience of over two decades and working with over 1000 companies, ESOP Direct has a pulse on the needs and expectations of unlisted companies. These companies need flexible solutions to suit their specific needs as well as hand-holding in managing day-to-day administration and handling compliance. They expect a single-window service to answer their queries and give legally tenable advice. ESOP ezee is designed to address all these expectations.
The key differentiator of ESOP ezee is that it is offered as a managed service and not on a SaaS model. Team of ESOP ezee handles the back end processes and management reporting. User companies do not have to worry about the software platform, data maintenance, and support.
ESOP ezee has a dedicated team of experienced domain experts who deliver tailormade Plans and legal documents to roll out ESOPs; it also provides Plan administration service through a newly designed integrated online platform (and a mobile app) that handles data management and analytical reporting. Companies can make online Grants. Employees can log in to their respective accounts to view their Grant documents, Options, and their value. They can exercise, view their tax obligations, and pay online.
Several unlisted companies are looking at providing liquidity to the Options issued by them, either through a Cash settlement or investors buying our employee shares. Such events need pre-planning, close co-ordination with employees, legal compliances, and tax obligations. ESOP Leap, our standalone platform that handles the end-to-end processes related to such events – encompassing Planning, Execution, and Compliance aspects, is a part of ESOP ezee offering.
Compliance requirements such as tax calculations and reporting, Options valuation, and related disclosures in Financial statements (as required under IGAAP, IND AS, IFRS, US GAAP) are an integral part of the ESOP ezee service pack.
Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, KP Capital Advisors - a SEBI registered Category 1 Merchant Banker, ESOP ezee also delivers Share valuations needed for arriving at Tax obligations. As optional add-ons, ESOP ezee customers can avail of Trust set up, Trust administration, and Trustee services in case they are using the Trust route.
Announcing the launch, Harshu Ghate, Co-Founder and Managing Director, ESOP Direct, said “with the surge in the number of Start-ups and continuing encouragement from the Government to Fund and incentivise them, we thought it fit to spin off a focussed service offering to suite the needs of early-stage companies. Over the years, we have seen ESOPs being used across all sectors, and right from the day, ventures are set up. The needs of companies in the early stages are very unique. They need flexibility at the same time, want to make things simple and hassle free for employees. These companies do not have the in-house expertise to roll out legally compliant Plans and manage them. ESOP ezee provides just that as a managed service. Ours is a partnership approach – we are with our clients throughout the life span of ESOPs with the objective of making them work. Over the years, we have worked with several early-stage companies and grown with them in their journey towards becoming unicorns".
ESOP Direct is India’s market leader in the Equity compensation space. During its existence of over two decades in this niche domain, the Company has served more than 1000 companies in Designing their Plans, manages over 500 Plans on its platform, My ESOPs, servicing over 100,000 employees in over 50 countries. My ESOPs manages multi-currency global Plans, including ADR linked Plans for US-listed companies. With over 1 Billion+ Options under management, the value of ESOPs on the My ESOPs platform is over $ 3 Billion+.
Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
