The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is proposing wide-ranging changes to the AIM rules designed to lighten the burden of regulation for AIM companies AIM Notice 62. This is a clear attempt by the LSE to reduce the burden of compliance for AIM companies and to make AIM a more attractive market for IPO and capital…

July 27, 2026 Read more >

March 2026 marked the ten year anniversary of HMRC withdrawing their facility for UK businesses to submit a Post Transaction Valuation Check (PTVC) in respect of the issuing of shares (including transactions involving employees). Whilst the ability to make a submission in respect of qualifying “tax approved” option/share plans has thankfully been retained by HMRC…

July 27, 2026 Read more >

UK biotechs are staying private for longer as investors demand clinically de-risked assets, differentiated science, capital discipline and credible funding pathways. Equity remains essential for attracting scarce talent, but it creates most value when supported by strong leadership, culture, organisation design and people practices. Why equity plans need to evolve Biotech value is often created…

July 24, 2026 Read more >

MM&K’s annual PE/VC Compensation Survey continues to provide one of the industry’s most established benchmarks for compensation, incentives and workforce trends across private capital. The market is shifting rapidly. Compensation structures, talent strategies and organisational models are changing in ways firms can no longer ignore. The 2026 survey will capture those changes and provide firms…

July 6, 2026 Read more >

“Boards as custodians of culture” is now a familiar governance line. The problem is that it is widely repeated and poorly operationalised. The QCA Corporate Governance Code 2023, FCA expectations on conduct and non-financial misconduct, PRA focus on accountability, and broader investor scrutiny are all moving in the same direction: boards are no longer judged…

July 2, 2026 Read more >

AI is on the agenda, but the latest findings from MM&K’s Life in the Boardroom 2025/26 survey raise a key question: is it really under control? Drawing on insights from 435 board roles, the research highlights how Chairs and Non-Executive Directors are navigating the growing focus on AI, balancing rising interest with the need for…

July 1, 2026 Read more >

Smokescreen FTSE 100 remuneration committees are striving to find acceptable remuneration structures to compete with their US counterparts. Articles abound of increased FTSE 100 CEO pay and new, hybrid executive incentives. But for the vast majority of UK listed companies, this is a smokescreen. That said, all companies must be competitive and this applies also…

April 29, 2026 Read more >

The 2026 MMK Pulse Survey has now concluded. Thank you to all participating firms. Participants will receive a complimentary Pulse Report. The report will provide a concise view of emerging compensation trends. Early findings suggest remuneration momentum remains strong. Salaries continue to rise across private capital markets. Bonus outcomes also appear resilient. Firms continue to…

April 28, 2026 Read more >

We see  different problems festering in portfolio companies (PortCos) such as a lack of a leadership pipeline, high executive turnover, reluctance or failure to address cultural issues until they become chronic. Reactive approaches are then employed: Leadership is assessed after the deal closes. The CEO is replaced in year one with little pre-planning. Culture is…

April 27, 2026 Read more >

Board expectations are increasing, yet core governance practices remain inconsistent. MM&K’s Life in the Boardroom 2025/26 survey highlights where boards continue to face pressure, drawing on insights from 435 board positions to show how boards operate today. The findings are based on first‑hand experience from Chairs and Non‑Executive Directors (NEDs), rather than company staff or…

April 24, 2026 Read more >

MM&K supported the ESOP Centre’s 9th Share Plan Symposium, contributing to a panel on the evolving executive remuneration landscape, where Tamsin Howells and Stuart James explored a deceptively simple question: what comes first – culture or reward? There is a familiar pattern in organisations undergoing transformation. Significant investment is made in engagement, communication, and capability-building to shift behaviour.…

April 22, 2026 Read more >

An annual return needs to be submitted by all companies which have an active employee share plan registered with HMRC. This includes tax-advantaged share plans such as EMI, CSOP, SAYE and SIP as well as any non-tax advantaged plans or arrangements such as unapproved options, conditional share awards (or restricted stock units), growth share plans…

April 15, 2026 Read more >