More than 16,500 Asda employees will share in a £43m payout thanks to the supermarket’s Sharesave plan.
This years’ plan will be the largest ever payout since Wal-Mart acquired Asda in 1999.
The current stock price means all investors will receive a 150% return on their monthly investments.
Shareholders who have saved a maximum of £250 per month for the past three years will pocket around £13,800, which is over £4,500 more than their original £9,000 investment.
Asda savers will benefit even more thanks to the strength of the dollar against the pound.
The option price was set at £20.80 back in 2006 and the Wal-Mart share price was at £30.76 on Monday.
This means that the average Asda ‘colleague’ investing in the scheme will receive a pay out of £2,737.
About 95% of investors are choosing to cash in their Wal-Mart shares.
Asda people director Caroline Massingham said: “Over 200,000 colleagues have already benefited from Asda Sharesave, but this year marks our biggest ever payout since we were taken over by Walmart in 1999.
“Our colleagues drive the success of this business and Sharesave ensures they also reap the rewards.
“With a 50% increase on the money they invested, it’s great to see that over 16,500 of our colleagues rewarded with such a big windfall.”
The Sharesave plan, created in 1982, was designed to give Asda staff a stake in the company and the chance to share in the success of the business.
The Sharesave plan allows colleagues to save between £5 and £250 every month.
At the end of the saving period, colleagues gain a tax-free bonus and can choose to use the savings and bonus to buy Wal-Mart shares discounted by 20%.
