Shares windfall for Asda staff
Around 15,000 workers at supermarket group Asda have received free shares worth more than £2 million after one of the group's share ownership plans matured.
Free shares in Asda's parent group Wal-Mart are allocated to staff on either a three-year or six-year basis, with the number of shares people receive varying according to their pay and how long they have been with the group.
When the share plan matures, staff can either opt to cash in their shares or continue to hold them.
Each share option for both the three-year and six-year schemes has made a profit of around 8.40 US dollars (£4.81), and people who cash in their options will receive an average of £130 each.
It is the second Asda share ownership plan to mature this year, with 19,000 workers sharing more than £3 million worth of free shares when another scheme matured on August 1.
