Thanks for your replies. My wife and I have been discussing this, and we have come up with two possible options. First: the value of the shares when floated was £3.30. I am willing to offer half of the total value of the shares at that price (bearing in mind the total number of shares is allocated over two financial years). I will pay this over three months. Second option is, if they insist on the full value of the shares at the price they quoted of £5,38, that I will transfer the value of the shares to my trustees as and when they are paid over to me from the SIP. This won't be for at least three years, but I am unwilling to pay for something that I don't own, have no legal documentation to say that I own these, and am unsure as to what the value will be in the future.

Do you think that either of these options are reasonable? Personally, I still don't think that I should be paying anything towards these as my circumstances may change over the next three years and I may not even receive the shares.

Hello bigtoddy.

I think the issue with the second proposal is that your trustee might feel unable to discharge you until such time that you had handed over the shares or the value of the shares. You might not mind that, but for other people it would be very unwelcome.

Negotiating a cash amount might be a more attractive type of compromise?