I don’t think there is anything fishy, but I also don’t believe it is a standard options program. I think they issue loans that are later extinguished to avoid recipients having to pay CGT on the issue price. Somebody with a better grip on tax efficient incentive schemes should chime in, but I am fairly sure the loans to buy shares, many of which are later cancelled is about ensuring cgt doesn’t need to be paid till the share incentive is sold.
in any case, look at the figures. They are small potatoes, just a filip for workers who stick around and make their targets.
my suggestion is if you like the company story, buy some shares. Somebody has been buying in multi-hundred thousand lots recently. You might sell because you think you can redeploy funds elsewhere for a better gain, or to pay a tax bill, or for lots of other reasons.
the only reason to buy is because you think the price will go up from here.
