Share options, aimed to qualify for tax reliefs under the EMI scheme, can be granted once again

Companies can grant share options under the Enterprise Management Initiative (EMI) scheme, now that approval from the European Commission has been received.

We recently advised companies to consider delaying granting employee share options, intended to qualify for tax reliefs under the EMI scheme, until fresh EU State Aid approval has been given.  The current EU State Aid approval for the EMI scheme had expired on the 6th April 2018 and fresh approval at that time was being sought.

We are pleased to announce that the European Commission has now approved under EU State aid the prolongation of the UK Enterprise Management Initiative scheme (See "State aid: Commission approves prolongation of UK Enterprise Management Initiative scheme").

Therefore, you may now grant EMI share options once again.

If you would like to discuss the EMI scheme and share ownership for your employees, please do get in touch with the DRG team.