Employee Shareholding: A Historic Record for the SBF 120

A Decade of Continuous Growth

Between 2014 and 2024, more than 385 employee shareholding operations have been recorded, representing 35 billion euros in capital increases. In 2024, 37 companies from the SBF 120 offered shares to their employees, with an average subscription amount of 5,943 euros per employee, marking a 9% increase.
This movement now reaches more than a third of SBF 120 employees, totaling 2.4 million people, and in six groups, employees have become the majority shareholders. The construction sector remains the leading industry, with a participation rate of 11.3%, significantly higher than the average of 3%. Bouygues, Eiffage, and Vinci stand out, together accounting for nearly a quarter of the total amounts raised.

Employee Retention, Performance, and Corporate Culture

Employee share ownership goes beyond a mere financial incentive. The collective plans offered by companies on average include a 19.3% discount on the purchase price of shares, and in 75% of the cases, the discount exceeds 20%. As a result, between 2006 and 2019, employee shareholders have come out ahead in 82% of cases, reaching up to 93% with matching contributions.

According to Eres, these plans enhance retention: the voluntary departure rate is only 8.1% in companies with such plans, compared to 12.1% elsewhere. « The construction sector is exemplary, » notes Mathieu Chauvin, president of Eres. « The largest collective plan for 2024, amounting to 685 million euros, was implemented in this sector."
Employee share ownership thus emerges as a powerful driver of trust and belonging, at a time when France is establishing itself as the European reference for value sharing.

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