Employees as Shareholders? Finax Unveils Its Own ESOP

“We’ll give people a stake in the company, and they’ll be motivated.”
Reality?
This isn’t always true, nor does it happen automatically.

So how can an ESOP be structured so that it actually works?

In this episode of Highgate Talks, Peter Varga, Tomáš Demo, and Juraj Hrbatý from Finax speak candidly:

• Why do percentages of the proceeds from a future sale of the company often fail to motivate employees,
• How the ESOP was established at Finax,
• how Finax distributes shares among managers and team leaders,
• how they bought back employee shares for €1.1 million,
• What are the main legal and tax restrictions on ESOPs in Slovakia,
• And most importantly, what happens when you give people a real stake in the company.

In this interview, you’ll find a practical look at how an ESOP can be set up in the Slovak context—no theory, just real numbers and real-world experience.

Moderators: Tomáš Demo and Peter Varga (Partners at Highgate Group)
Guest: Juraj Hrbatý (CEO of Finax)

If you’re dealing with employee motivation, turnover, or setting up an ESOP and are looking for some inspiration, you should check out this interview.