Short Term Trading Weekend Lounge : 23-25 Sept, page-99

Just further on the above it would be up to a company to apply for ESIC status but to get same would need to satisfy one of three tests the third of which or the Principles Based Innovation test would seem to be the easiest to satisfy ie

• The company must be genuinely focused on developing one or more new or significantly improved innovations for commercialisation
• The business relating to that innovation must have a high growth potential
• The company must demonstrate that it has the potential to be able to successfully scale up that business
• The company must demonstrate that it has the potential to be able to address a broader than local market, including global markets, through that business.
• The company must demonstrate that it has the potential to be able to have competitive advantages for that business.

So i suppose the question is to what extent there will be a push to have companies seek ESIC status or whether the loss of potential capital loss claims will outweigh the benefits to the upside in brokers eyes.

NB it does apply to small investors but not if you invest more than 50k in ESIC's in any calendar year.