About Share Incentives
The world of share incentives and employee ownership is currently one of the hottest topics and a huge priority for the current government. The law is constantly changing and companies are regularly having to grapple with new legislation, new guidance and new ideas. In such a complex, ever-changing area, where the repercussions of getting it wrong can be unforgiving, companies need to understand the law and implement it correctly.
Corporate governance content
Reports on executive pay are regularly in the news. We include subtopics on corporate governance, remuneration issues for financial services firms and a comparison of UK Corporate Governance remuneration principles.
Disguised remuneration
Get updated documents and a Practice Note examining common disguised remuneration scenarios in share schemes. There’s nothing like this elsewhere.
Key Share Incentives developments
Keeping up-to-date on developments naturally important. We produce a weekly Share Incentives highlights report and email it straight to subscribers' inboxes. It's also posted on our news carousel.
Topics We Cover
Our Share Incentives Experts
Nicky Griffin
Stephen Woodhouse
David Pett
William Franklin
David Cohen
Latest Share Incentives News
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) a final reminder of the 6 July filing deadline for annual share schemes returns...
Law360: On 28 May 2026, the government confirmed that its planned reforms to unfair dismissal rights will take effect from 1 January 2027, with...
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) a focus on executive pay as the AGM season continues, and (2) a new Q&A with...
Tax analysis: On 23 June 2026, the government announced a package of technical tax policy proposals aimed at reducing administrative burdens and...
HMRC has published the Employer Bulletin for June 2026....
Latest Share Incentives Practice Notes
Background to the Trust Registration Service (TRS)HMRC's online Trust Registration Service (TRS) was designed to implement the EU’s Fourth Anti-Money...
The Budget is a Parliamentary event at which the Chancellor of the Exchequer makes important announcements relating to the national economy. This...
BackgroundEnterprise management incentives (EMI) are a form of share option popular with both employers and employees due to their flexibility and the...
The UK’s formal withdrawal from the EU took effect at 11 pm on 31 January 2020 (exit day). At this point, the withdrawal period under Article 50 TEU...
This Practice Note provides an overview of retained EU law as it applied from 2021–23, including the key definitions and concepts with reference to...
Latest Share Incentives Precedents
DefinitionsAwards•means the respective rights to acquire shares granted to each Award Holder as detailed in the Awards Schedule;Award Holders•means...
1Details of AwardsAs at the Termination Date, you hold awards granted to you relating to the shares of [[the Company] OR [name of parent company] OR ...
[insert date of letter][insert name of employee][insert address of employee]Dear [insert name of employee][insert name of Company] (Company)I am...
That:•the [insert name of company] plc [Savings-Related OR Save-As-You-Earn OR Sharesave] Share Option Scheme (the Scheme), in the form of the rules...
This Deed is made on the [insert] day of [insert month] 20 [insert year]Parties1[Insert name] of [address] (the Participant);2[Insert name of company]...
Latest Share Incentives Q&As
Featured Share Incentives content
Malus and clawback
Malus and clawbackThe use of malus and clawbackThe concept of withholding or even recovering value from executives if a material adverse event occurs...
What is a long-term incentive plan?
What is a long-term incentive plan?A long-term incentive plan (LTIP) is a term that is commonly used among listed companies to describe executive...
Nil paid shares and partly paid shares—practical considerations
Nil paid shares and partly paid shares—practical considerationsWhat are nil paid shares and partly paid shares?When shares are issued, their...
Implementing share plans—ways to manage dilution of existing shareholders
Implementing share plans—ways to manage dilution of existing shareholdersWhat is share dilution?Share dilution happens when a company issues...
Introduction to enterprise management incentives (EMI) schemes
Introduction to enterprise management incentives (EMI) schemesIntroduction to EMI schemesThe EMI scheme is a highly flexible and tax-efficient scheme...
Corporation tax relief and employee share schemes
Corporation tax relief and employee share schemesCorporation tax deduction for costs incurred in setting up and operating employee share schemesCosts...
What is an employee benefit trust?
What is an employee benefit trust?The EBT as a trustAn employee benefit trust (EBT) is a form of trust. A trust refers to the legal relationship...
Phantom share awards and options
Phantom share awards and optionsWhat is a phantom award?Phantom awards, broadly speaking, can be split into two categories, phantom share awards and...
Growth shares—practical examples and comparisons with options
Growth shares—practical examples and comparisons with optionsWhat are growth shares?Growth shares, also known as value shares or hurdle shares, are a...
Value Creation Plans
Value Creation PlansWhat is a Value Creation Plan?The term ‘Value Creation Plan’ (VCP) normally refers to an employee incentive plan which is designed...
Cashless exercise of options
Cashless exercise of optionsWhat is a cashless exercise of options?The ‘cashless exercise’ of options or a 'cashless exercise facility' refers to the...
Employee ownership trusts
Employee ownership trustsWhat is an employee ownership trust?An employee ownership trust (EOT) is a particular type of employee benefit trust (EBT)...
Shares for non-executive directors—issues and considerations
Shares for non-executive directors—issues and considerationsMeaning of ‘non-executive director’The general definition of ‘director’ is not exhaustive....
Underwater share options
Underwater share optionsWhat is an underwater share option?'Underwater option' is the term used to describe a share option (granted under any share...
What is a SIP?
What is a SIP?This Practice Note provides an introduction to the HMRC tax-advantaged share incentive plan (SIP). It provides a summary of:•the types...
Pitfalls of setting up and operating an employee ownership trust
Pitfalls of setting up and operating an employee ownership trustWhat is an employee ownership trust?An employee ownership trust (EOT) is a particular...
Long-term incentive plans—income tax and NICs treatment
Long-term incentive plans—income tax and NICs treatmentTypes of LTIP awardsThe most common type of awards that can be made under a long-term incentive...
Notice of exercise of option
Notice of exercise of optionThe Company Secretary[insert date of letter][insert name of company who granted the option] (Company)[[insert address of...
Associated legal terms
Conditional share award
A conditional share award is a commitment to issue or transfer shares to the relevant employee participant subject to the attainment of a period of service and/or performance conditions.
Institutional investor
An investor such as a pension fund, insurance company or charity.
Non-executive director (NED)
A member of the board of directors of a company, who is not part of the executive management team.
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