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ARTICLE · 28 AUGUST 2025

Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) Option Schemes

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

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An Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) option is a tax-advantaged share option designed to help qualifying small and medium-sized businesses attract, retain and incentivise talent by offering them a chance to participate in the business's long-term success.

United KingdomTax
Kathy Granby
Kathy Granby
Michael Birchall
Michael Birchall
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An Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) option is a tax-advantaged share option designed to help qualifying small and medium-sized businesses attract, retain and incentivise talent by offering them a chance to participate in the business's long-term success.

What is an EMI option?

EMI options are a right to acquire shares in the company at a set price (the "exercise price"). The EMI option can be designed so that the employee can only choose to "exercise" the option and acquire the shares upon certain "vesting" conditions being achieved, which could include specified time or performance based targets and/or the occurrence of an exit event. The terms can be set to reflect the company's commercial objectives.

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