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 a focus on executive pay, as the AGM season continues....
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes a focus on executive pay, as the AGM season continues....
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) HMRC’s Employment Related Securities Bulletins 67 and 68, (2) the FCA’s...
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) the ISS STOXX Governance 2026 Global Benchmark Policy Survey, (2) the FRC’s new...
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) a focus on executive pay, (2) the formal establishment of the loan charge...
Latest Share Incentives Practice Notes
Forthcoming Change—fund liquidity risk managementOn 13 August 2026, the FCA published PS26/17, Enhancing fund liquidity risk management, setting out...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE relating to call for evidence on tax support for entrepreneurs: At Budget 2025, the government published a call for evidence...
This Practice Note is based on the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and consent guidance published by the Information Commissioner’s...
This Practice Note is intended for private-sector commercial organisations in the UK. It sets out expectations of the Information Commissioner’s...
The following Share Incentives resources, providing useful practical commentary, legislation, rules and guidance for Share Incentives lawyers, whether...
Latest Share Incentives Precedents
[TO BE PRINTED ON COMPANY HEADED NOTEPAPER][Insert name of Trustee][Insert address of Trustee]Date: [Insert date]Dear Trustee(s)[Insert name of...
To: [insert name of Trustee]I refer to the agreement that I entered into on [date] with you and [insert name of the Company whose shares are under the...
This Agreement is made on [insert date of execution of the agreement]Parties1[insert name of acquiring company whose shares are being granted under...
1Definitions and interpretation1.1The following words and expressions have the following meanings:Accumulation Period•in relation to Partnership...
IntroductionThis legal due diligence questionnaire relates to the proposed purchase by [insert buyer name] (the Buyer) of the entire issued share...
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
Investment Association (IA)
An institutional investor organisation representing UK investment managers, formerly known as the Investment Management Association (IMA). The Investment Association (IA) are responsible for the publication of the Investment Association Principles of Remuneration - http://www.ivis.co.uk/guidelines
The Investment Association Principles of Remuneration
The Principles set out members’ views on the role of shareholders and directors in relation to remuneration and the manner in which remuneration should be determined and structured.
UK Corporate Governance Code (UKCG Code)
A code administered by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), first published in May 2010 to replace the 2008 edition of the Combined Code. It applies to companies with a premium listing of equity shares and sets out standards of good practice in relation to leadership and effectiveness of the board of directors, remuneration, accountability and relations with shareholders.
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