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Notes 16-20

20. Share-based payments

The Company currently uses a number of equity settled share plans to grant options and shares to its directors and employees.

The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which may be issued in respect of share options or share plans will not (without shareholder approval) exceed:

  • 10% of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue immediately prior to the date of grant, when aggregated with the total number of ordinary shares which have been allocated in the preceding ten year period under all plans; and
  • 5% of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue immediately prior to the date of grant, when aggregated with the total number of ordinary shares which have been allocated in the preceding ten year period under all plans, other than any plans which are operated on an all-employee basis.

Share options

Vodafone Group sharesave plan

The Vodafone Group 2008 sharesave plan and its predecessor the Vodafone Group 1998 Sharesave Scheme enables UK staff to acquire shares in the Company through monthly savings of up to £250 over a three or five year period, at the end of which they also receive a tax free bonus. The savings and bonus may then be used to purchase shares at the option price, which is set at the beginning of the invitation period and usually at a discount of 20% to the then prevailing market price of the Company’s shares.

Vodafone Group executive plans

The Vodafone global incentive plan is a discretionary plan under which share options are granted to directors and certain employees. Some of the share options are subject to performance conditions. Options are normally exercisable between three and ten years from the date of grant. No share options have been granted to the directors or employees under the Vodafone global incentive plan in the year to 31 March 2009.

The Company has a number of discretionary share option plans, under which awards are no longer made: the Vodafone Group 1998 company share option scheme and Vodafone Group 1988 executive share option scheme (which are UK HM Revenue and Customs approved); the Vodafone Group 1998 executive share option scheme and the Vodafone 1988 share option scheme (which are unapproved); and the Vodafone Group 1999 long term incentive plan. Some of the options are subject to performance conditions. Options are normally exercisable between three and ten years from the date of grant.

For grants made to US employees, prior to 7 July 2003 the options have phased vesting over a four year period and are exercisable in respect of ADSs. For grants made from 7 July 2003, options are normally exercisable between three and ten years from the date of grant, subject to the satisfaction of predetermined performance conditions and are exercisable in respect of ADSs.

Other share option plans

Share option plans are operated by certain of the Group’s subsidiary undertakings although awards are no longer made under these schemes.

Share plans

Vodafone share incentive plan

The share incentive plan enables UK staff to acquire shares in the Company through monthly purchases of up to £125 per month or 5% of salary, whichever is lower. For each share purchased by the employee, the Company provides a free matching share.

Vodafone Group global allshare plan

A significant number of employees received a conditional award of 290 shares (2008: 320) in the Company on 1 July 2008, under the Vodafone Group global allshare plan. The awards vest after two years and are not subject to performance conditions but are subject to continued employment.

Vodafone Group executive plans

Under the Vodafone global incentive plan and its predecessor, the Vodafone Group Plc 1999 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan, awards of performance shares are granted to directors and certain employees. The release of these shares is conditional upon achievement of performance targets measured over a three year period.

Under the Vodafone Group deferred share bonus plan, directors and certain employees were able to defer their 2006 and 2007 annual bonuses into shares. Subject to continued employment and retention of the deferred shares for two years, additional shares are released at the end of this two year period if a performance condition has been satisfied.

Movements in ordinary share options and ADS options outstanding

  ADS   Ordinary

 
2009
Millions
2008
Millions
2007
Millions
  2009
Millions
2008
Millions
2007
Millions
1 April 1 3 8   373 584 787
Granted during the year   7 46 65
Forfeited during the year   (11) (30) (31)
Exercised during the year (1) (3)   (16) (204) (179)
Expired during the year (1) (2)   (19) (23) (58)
31 March 1 1 3   334 373 584
               
Weighted average exercise price:              
1 April $18.15 $21.46 $26.53   £1.42 £1.35 £1.32
Granted during the year   £1.21 £1.63 £1.12
Forfeited during the year   £1.47 £1.67 £1.26
Exercised during the year $19.52 $18.50   £1.09 £1.20 £1.05
Expired during the year $28.50 $41.86   £1.55 £1.72 £1.68
31 March $15.37 $18.15 $21.46   £1.41 £1.42 £1.35

Summary of options outstanding and exercisable at 31 March 2009

  Outstanding   Exercisable

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Outstanding
 shares
Millions

 
Weighted 
average
exercise
price
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
Months
 
 

Exercisable
shares
Millions

 
Weighted 
average
exercise
price
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
Months
Vodafone Group savings related and sharesave plan:              
£0.01 – £1.00 9 £0.92 17  
£1.01 – £2.00 13 £1.24 37  
  22 £1.11 29  
Vodafone Group executive plans:              
£1.01 – £2.00 9 £1.58 28   9 £1.58 28
£2.01 – £3.00 20 £2.76 13   20 £2.76 13
  29 £2.39 18   29 £2.39 18
Vodafone Group 1999 long term stock incentive plan:              
£0.01 – £1.00 62 £0.90 39   62 £0.90 39
£1.01 – £2.00 219 £1.46 58   148 £1.48 41
  281 £1.34 54   210 £1.31 40
Other share option plans:              
£1.01 – £2.00 1 £1.14 35   1 £1.14 35
Greater than £3.01 1 £2.47 31   1 £2.47 31
  2 £1.77 33   2 £1.77 33
Vodafone Group 1999 long term stock incentive plan:
$10.01 – $30.00
1 $15.37 43   1 $15.05 42

Fair value of options granted

  ADS options   Ordinary share options

Other(1)   Board of directors and
Executive Committee(1)



Other
  2008 2007   2008 2007   2009 2008 2007
Expected life of option (years) 4-5 5-6   4-5 5-6   3-5 4-5 5-7
Expected share price volatility 25.5-33.5% 27.3-28.3%   25.7-27.7% 24.0-27.7%   30.9-31.0% 25.5-33.5% 25.5-28.3%
Dividend yield 3.8-4.2% 5.1-5.5%   4.0-4.4% 4.8-5.5%   5.04% 3.8-4.2% 5.1-6.1%
Risk free rates 4.4-5.7% 4.8%   5.5% 4.7-4.9%   4.9% 4.4-5.7% 4.6-4.9%
Exercise price(2) £1.67-1.76 £1.15   £1.68 £1.15-1.36   £1.21 £1.67-1.76 £1.14-1.16

Notes:

(1)
There were no options granted in the year ended 31 March 2009.
(2)
In the years ended 31 March 2008 and 31 March 2007, there was more than one option grant.

The fair value of options granted is estimated at the date of grant using a lattice-based option valuation model, which incorporates ranges of assumptions for inputs as disclosed above. Certain options granted to the Board of directors and Executive Committee have a market based performance condition attached and as a result the assumptions are disclosed separately.

Share awards

Movements in non-vested shares during the year ended 31 March 2009 are as follows:

  Global allshare plan   Other   Total

 
 

 
Millions
Weighted
average fair
value at
grant date
 
 
Millions
Weighted
average fair
value at
grant date
 
 
Millions
Weighted
average fair
value at
grant date
1 April 2008 34 £1.30   213 £1.16   247 £1.18
Granted 17 £1.32   155 £1.05   172 £1.08
Vested
Forfeited
(16)
(3)
£1.04
£1.38
  (58)
(22)
£1.15
£1.07
  (74)
(25)
£1.13
£1.10
31 March 2009 32 £1.43   288 £1.11   320 £1.15

Other information

The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the 2009 financial year was £0.39 (2008: £0.34, 2007: £0.22).

The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended 31 March 2009 was £84 million (2008: £75 million, 2007: £41 million).

The compensation cost included in the consolidated income statement in respect of share options and share plans for continuing operations was £128 million (2008: £107 million, 2007: £93 million), which is comprised entirely of equity-settled transactions.

The average share price for the year ended 31 March 2009 was 136 pence.