For the Crowne Plaza Colleague Share Plan, when does the conditional right to matching shares vest?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza FDD, the Colleague Share Plan allows eligible corporate employees to purchase shares up to an annual limit. For every share an employee purchases, they are awarded the right to receive one matching share, contingent upon their continued employment with the company. The conditional right to these matching shares vests on the second anniversary of the end of the plan year, provided the participant still holds the purchased shares.

This means that if an employee participates in the Colleague Share Plan, they must remain employed by Crowne Plaza and hold onto their initially purchased shares for at least two years after the end of the plan year to fully receive the matching shares. This vesting period encourages employees to remain with the company and aligns their interests with the long-term performance of the company's stock.

The FDD also notes that the total fair value of the Colleague Share Plan is not significant. While this suggests the plan's overall financial impact on the company is relatively small, it does not diminish the potential value and incentive it provides to individual employees who participate. Prospective franchisees should be aware that this plan is offered to corporate employees, not franchisees themselves.