Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Equity definition

What does Equity mean? In corporate finance practice, equity means the risk-bearing capital provided by a company’s owners, usually through ordinary shares, as distinct from debt finance. Equity holders have the residual interest in profits and assets: returns are by dividend or capital growth, and they rank behind all creditors on insolvency. Equity commonly carries voting and control rights and is subject to company law capital maintenance and distribution rules (for example, dividends only out of distributable profits and statutory pre-emption on new share issues unless disapplied). It is central to capital structure, M&A, venture capital and private equity transactions. Practitioners also describe certain...

US equity compensation: award types, tax treatment, Sections 409A and 83(b)/(i), FICA and withholding, and SEC T+1 settlement—a practitioner’s guide

Published by a LexisNexis Share Incentives expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note outlines the principal types and tax treatment of Equity compensation awards used within wider remuneration programmes. Whether a company is privately owned or publicly held, there are many reasons to build pay structures that feature equity compensation. Linking reward to the company’s value forges a direct connection between business results and employee pay, aligning staff interests with those of shareholders. Equity can also foster an Ownership mindset, encouraging behaviours and performance that enhance the company’s worth. Equity compensation appears in numerous forms and can be tailored to drive both long- and short‑term outcomes, support Retention, settle in shares, cash, or a blend of the two, and, when structured appropriately, provide tax‑deferred growth advantages. This Practice Note reviews the fundamental categories of equity and equity‑based awards. For information and strategies on designing public and Private company equity plans, see Practice Notes: Designing a US public company equity compensation plan and Drafting a US private company equity compensation plan.

Restricted stock

Shares of restricted stock are actual shares of the company’s common stock that carry restrictions on...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...