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) an update on the progress of Finance Bill 2025 and the National Insurance...
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) the CIOT’s response to the employee ownership trust provisions of the draft...
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) Glass Lewis’ publication of its 2025 proxy voting guidelines and (2) HM...
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) publication of Finance Bill 2024–25, (2) a change in the bonus rates for SAYE...
This week's edition of Share Incentives weekly highlights includes (1) the Takeover Panel’s response to its recent consultation, in which it confirms...
Latest Share Incentives Practice Notes
Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS)—essentialsThis Practice Note explores key elements of the Directive...
Deferred share bonus plans—UK listing rules and shareholder approvalThis Practice Note details the obligations placed on quoted companies in respect...
How CSOPs work and key featuresThis Practice Note covers the following topics in high level detail:•what are CSOPs?•the law governing CSOP options•the...
Brexit legislation trackerThis Practice Note tracks the progress of UK legislation introduced as part of the legislative project associated with the...
The general anti-abuse rule (GAAR)The general anti-abuse rule (the GAAR):•counteracts (by the making of adjustments on a just and reasonable basis by...
Latest Share Incentives Precedents
Questionnaire to select the right type of share schemeSelection of the right share scheme is essential in order to ensure that the arrangement meets...
Joint share ownership plan (JSOP) agreementThis Deed is made on the [insert] day of [insert month] 20 [insert year]Parties1[insert name] of [address]...
Covering letter to EMI option holders (options granted pursuant to EMI rules and agreement)[insert date of letter][insert name of employee][insert...
EMI options—FAQs for employeesWhat is the [insert name of EMI scheme]?[insert name of company establishing EMI scheme] (the Company) has established...
Rule 15 letter—general offerTHIS LETTER IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the Offer or the action you...
Latest Share Incentives Q&As
Featured Share Incentives content
How do I contact HMRC with a share schemes related query?
How do I contact HMRC with a share schemes related query?HMRC consists of specialist departments dealing with specific areas of employment related...
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...
Tax implications of salary sacrifice
Tax implications of salary sacrificeCoronavirus (COVID-19): As part of a series of measures put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19),...
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...
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 happens to restricted stock units or stock options that have vested during an employee's notice period (assuming the employee is still employed at the vesting date)?
Comparison of UK and US share incentive arrangements
Comparison of UK and US share incentive arrangementsCompanies in both the US and the UK have a long history of involving employees in equity...
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...
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...
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...
Unapproved share options—tax treatment
Unapproved share options—tax treatmentSpecific income tax rules (in sections 471–487 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (Part 7,...
EMI—HMRC annual return
EMI—HMRC annual returnThis Practice Note details the following:•the EMI annual return form•the pre-registration and timing of completion of the annual...
Employee share schemes—dealing with leavers
Employee share schemes—dealing with leaversWhat are leavers?Departing individuals are known generically as ‘leavers’ but the reason behind the...
An introduction to deferred share bonus plans
An introduction to deferred share bonus plansDeferred share bonus: key elementsDeferred share bonus plans are typically constituted by the following...
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...
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...
Understanding US non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements and Internal Revenue Code Section 409A
Understanding US non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements and Internal Revenue Code Section 409ARelevance of non-qualified deferred...
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...
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.
Pensions Investments Research Consultants (PIRC)
An independent body established in 1986 offering a variety of services to pension fund investors including monitoring compliance by companies with corporate governance guidelines and voting advice.
Unapproved share option
'Unapproved option' is used to refer to any share option that does not benefit from HMRC tax advantageous treatment.
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