Genus is a business rooted in science but built around our people. You help us invest and build. TakeStock, our new share plan, is our chance to invest in your future.
We want to show you our appreciation by offering you the opportunity to become a stakeholder in Genus.
And when good things come in threes, becoming a Genus shareholder can be done in three easy steps.
Put aside as little as £10, up to £150 a month – a total maximum of £1,800 per tax year or 10% of salary (whichever is lower). Savings are taken directly from your pre-taxed earnings.
At the end of every 3 month period, for every three shares you buy, we give you one free share – called a matching share – building your investment together.
Hold your shares to benefit from any share price growth and any dividends that Genus may pay. The shares you buy are yours and you're able to sell them at any time, but you'll have to pay tax if you sell them before you've held them for five years and you'll lose the free matching shares awarded to you by Genus if you sell the shares you've bought before you've held them for three years. If you sell your purchased shares earlier, you'll lose the free matching shares awarded.
If you want to own a part of Genus don't miss these dates:
We operate a cut-off around the 18th of the month before the next quarter begins. If you join ahead of this date, deductions will start from the beginning of the next quarter (i.e. the following month). If you join after this date, then you would start deductions the following quarter.
All employees can join once they have completed one month's continuous service.
* Calculations are based on a lower rate taxpayer (in England or Northern Ireland) paying 20% income tax and 13.25% NICs. For a higher rate taxpayer, paying 40% income tax and 3.25% NICs, the equivalent cost from after tax pay would be £127.69 and the profit value higher. For an additional rate taxpayer, paying 45% income tax and 3.25% NICs, the equivalent cost would be even lower.
The share amounts are for this example only and do not represent a real scenario for you, but should help you understand how TakeStock works.
We're introducing TakeStock to share in any of our future success with you. You're helping to invest in our business, so we want to help invest in your future.
That's why, for every three shares you buy, we'll give you a free matching share. Think of this as a long term investment.
After three years, you can choose what you want to do. You can either keep the shares, or sell them. To find out your options if you're leaving Genus before then, see our FAQ below. You should be aware that you will need to hold the shares for 5 years to get the full tax benefits.
In the meantime, you'll receive any dividends Genus pays to its shareholders in cash, and can have your voice heard by voting on matters covered at the company's Annual General Meetings.
Making financial decisions is important, and if you're new to share plans, they can feel complicated.
To help you decide on whether to invest or not, we're here to answer your common questions:
If you're a permanent UK employee, you'll be eligible to join once you've been an employee for one month.
We've partnered with Morgan Stanley at Work to allow you to sign up to TakeStock, and you'll need to register an account with Shareworks – their online portal – to sign up.
When you become eligible to join, you'll receive a unique personalised link via email. This link expires for security reasons after 60 days.
If your link has expired or you can't locate the email, please call Shareworks on:
UK: 08 082349514 (8am to 6pm GMT)
When calling from outside of the UK: +44 2074251075 (8am to 6pm GMT)
Already have a Shareworks account? Simply, click the 'Join' button to login and join.
Also, once registered, you can download the Shareworks App which is available on all App stores. This means you can view your TakeStock shares at any time.
A minimum of £10 per month, so £30 over a single three-month saving period. There is a maximum of £150 per month, so £450 over a single three-month saving period. These contributions are from your pre-tax salary.
Overall, there's a maximum of £1,800 per tax year, or a maximum of 10% of your salary, whichever is lower. The Plan is designed to support regular saving. You cannot put more than £150 in per month and lump sum contributions are not permitted.
No – this is one of the benefits. Genus pays for all admin costs and all the typical share trading costs (e.g. Brokers' commission and Stamp Duty) for you.
Shares will be purchased in the month following each three-month savings period. This is normally on 19th of that month, or the next working day after that date if this falls on a weekend or on a day when the markets are closed.
We'll use your savings to buy shares in Genus. It's unlikely that your savings across three months will buy an exact number of shares. We'll carry forward any savings left over, and add them to your savings in the next three-month savings period.
Once you've joined, you can stop and restart, as well as change your monthly savings amount. However, you need to notify us via the Shareworks platform before the monthly payroll cut off (the 20th of the month) for it to take effect the following month.
Our chosen partners are Morgan Stanley at Work – they hold shares in a secure Shareworks Vested Share Account. You can view your shares at any time via the Shareworks platform. They're share plan experts and independent from Genus.
Yes. Dividends are sums of money paid by a company to its shareholders out of its profits or reserves. Genus currently pays its dividends twice a year, but this isn't guaranteed and can vary. Any dividends Genus decides to pay to its shareholders, you'll receive as cash into your nominated bank account converted into your local currency. You will receive dividends on any shares you purchase through TakeStock and on the matching shares awarded.
You can continue to invest in TakeStock provided you're still paid by Genus and your salary is sufficient to cover your contribution and any other deductions. Just be aware that if your annual pay decreases whilst you're on leave the Plan rules prevent you from investing more than 10% of your reduced pay into TakeStock.
Once your Genus pay stops, you'll no longer be able to invest into TakeStock. Any amount taken but not used to buy shares will be returned to you. The shares you hold will need to come out of the TakeStock trust as soon as possible after your leaving date, and some of your shares may be sold to cover any tax or NICs you may owe (see below for more information). You can sell any remaining shares or transfer them to a broker of your choice. For a sale of shares to be actioned, please ensure your bank account details have been added to your Shareworks account.
Your reason for leaving Genus will affect how your shares are dealt with, refer to the question "What Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will I have to pay if I leave employment of Genus?" in the "Selling Shares" section of the FAQ for more information.
Yes. You can sell or transfer your shares at any time, but you need to keep hold of them for at least three years to keep your matching Genus shares.
To benefit from the tax saving you get by buying shares from gross salary and not having tax deducted on the amount, you need to hold your shares in the plan for five years from the purchase date.
It will depend on your reason for leaving. When you leave employment, your TakeStock account needs to be closed.
Held shares for less than 3 years
I resign or I'm dismissed: You'll pay Income Tax and NICs on the market value of your purchased shares when you leave. You'll lose any matching shares, so no tax will apply on those shares.
I'm made redundant, retire, my employing company is sold out of Genus, I am subject to a TUPE transfer, I die, or I cannot work due to injury or disability: Then you (or your estate) keep all shares regardless of how long you've held them and pay no Income Tax or NICs.
Held shares for 3-5 years
I resign or I'm dismissed: You keep all Matching Shares but pay Income Tax and NICs on the lower of either the amount you paid for the purchased shares when you purchased them/the value of the Matching Shares when they were awarded to you, or the market value of the shares when you leave.
I'm made redundant, retire, my employing company is sold out of Genus, I am subject to a TUPE transfer, I die, or I cannot work due to injury or disability: Then you (or your estate) pay no Income Tax or NICs on all shares.
Held shares for 5+ years
No Income Tax or NICs to pay.
Yes. Tax laws can change from time to time and we would notify you of any relevant changes that impact the operation of the Plan. However, you should do your own research on your own tax circumstances before you sell or transfer any shares.
The currency in which the employee's or participant's salary is paid.
The year beginning on 6 April and ending on the following 5 April.
The unofficial name of GENUS PLC 2019 Share Incentive Plan.
The online platform for share plan administration provided by Morgan Stanley at Work, where participants can view their share holding, manage their plan and sell shares.
Genus' share plan administrators, supplier of the Shareworks online platform.
The 3-month period after which Genus uses your savings to buy shares on your behalf. We'll keep them safe in a secure Shareworks Vested Share Account for you, until you want to sell them.
You can stop and restart or change your savings amount at any time.
The shares purchased by the employee with their own money
The shares provided by the company, one share for every three shares purchased
The period the employee must hold the partnership shares for, in order to be eligible to receive the matching shares.
Depending on company performance you may be entitled to dividend payments based on the number of shares you hold.
We've partnered with Morgan Stanley at Work to allow you to sign up to TakeStock. You'll need to register an account with Shareworks – their online portal – to sign up.
When you become eligible to join, you'll receive a unique personalised link via email from Shareworks. This link expires for security reasons after 60 days.
If your link has expired or if you believe you are eligible and have not received a welcome email with your Shareworks activation please contact the Morgan Stanley at Work team.
If you already have a Shareworks account, simply click the 'Join now' button to login and join.
Also, once registered, you can download the Shareworks App which is available on all App stores. This means you can view your TakeStock shares at any time.
08 082349514
+44 2074251075
when calling from outside of the UK
(Phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm GMT)
Remember:
The information provided on this website and other communications in connection with TakeStock is provided in good faith. If it conflicts with the rules of the plan, the partnership share agreement, or any applicable legislation, then the rules of the plan, the partnership share agreement, and the legislation will prevail.
