RM2 Becomes Fully Employee Owned
On the occasion of its 25th birthday, RM2, the market leading employee share schemes and EOT consulting business, is converting to full employee ownership as the present owners transfer their entire shareholding to an Employee Ownership Trust.
Since 1994, RM2 has helped private companies set up and run equity incentive schemes, ranging from Enterprise Management Incentive (“EMI“) share option schemes for start-up companies to larger scale all-employee share schemes including Share Incentive Plans (“SIP“). Since 2015, the company has developed a market leading position in Employee Ownership Trust transactions, providing a “one stop shop” service ranging from initial feasibility to valuation, financial structuring, finance raising and legal documentation. In converting to employee ownership, RM2 is practising what it preaches.
Managing Director Nigel Mason said: “We thrive as an independent boutique, attracting some of the brightest and best practitioners in our field. Clients tell us they enjoy working with us. Our team provides exceptional service and takes great pride in the outcomes we achieve, so employee ownership is a natural fit for us.”
Deb Oxley OBE, chief executive of the Employee Ownership Association, said: “We’re delighted to see RM2 become part of this fast growing sector of EOT-owned businesses – a succession plan that will root jobs and the businesses in its region for the longer term. RM2 has long been a supporter of EOA and there is no better advertisement for the cause than to have one of our leading advisers adopt this structure.”
After the transaction completes at the start of April, Nigel will be stepping back from the business temporarily to take a “late career break” but will remain a Senior Associate of the firm. Sarah Anderson, a share schemes solicitor who has been with RM2 since 2011 will succeed Nigel as Managing Director.
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Notes for editors
- The Employee Ownership Trust is an all-employee benefit trust introduced in the Finance Act 2014 to encourage business owners to pass ownership and control to employees. Around 300 EOTs have been established so far, including some well-known names such as Aardman Animations and Riverford Organics. Bonuses paid to employees in EOT-owned companies are free of income tax and shareholders selling a controlling interest to EOTs pay no capital gains tax.
- RM2 was founded in 1991 as a profit-related pay consultancy, moving into employee share schemes in 1994. Its two founders retired in 2011, selling the business to a corporate owner, from whom the business was acquired in 2015 by a management buyout team. That team is now transferring ownership to the EOT.
- For more information visit our website: www.rm2.co.uk or contact sarah.anderson@rm2.co.uk or call on 0208 949 5522.