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15 Share-based payments

As of 31 December 2014 and 2015, the Group had the share-based compensation plans as described below.

Total compensation cost for share-based compensation plans recognised in net income was USD 76 million and USD 61 million in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The related tax benefit was USD 17 million and USD 13 million, respectively.

Stock option plans

No options were granted under stock option plans from 2007 onwards. Options issued vest at the end of the fourth year and have a maximum life of ten years.

A summary of the activity of the Group’s stock option plans for the year ended 31 December 2015 is as follows:

The weighted remaining contractual life is 0.3 years and all stock options outstanding are also exercisable. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using a binomial option-pricing model. The underlying strike price for the outstanding options has been adjusted for the special dividend payout in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Restricted shares

The Group granted 25 153 and 7 776 restricted shares to selected employees in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Moreover, as an alternative to the Group’s cash bonus programme, 302 260 and 288 125 shares were delivered during 2014 and 2015, respectively, which are not subject to forfeiture risk.

A summary of the movements in shares relating to outstanding awards granted under the restricted share plans for the year ended 31 December 2015 is as follows:

Leadership Performance Plan

The Leadership Performance Plan (LPP) awards are expected to be settled in shares, and the requisite service as well as the maximum contractual term are three years. For LPP 2014 and LPP 2015 awards, an additional two-year holding period applies for all members of the Group EC and GMDs. At grant date the award is split equally into two underlying components — Restricted Share Units (RSUs) and Performance Share Units (PSUs). The RSUs are measured against a ROE performance condition and will vest within a range of 0–100%. The PSUs are based on relative total shareholder return, measured against a pre-defined group of peers and will vest within a range of 0–200%. The fair values of both components are measured separately, based on stochastic models.

The fair value assumptions included in the grant valuation are based on market estimates for dividends (and an additional special dividend of CHF 4.00 for the LPP 2013, a special dividend of CHF 4.15 for the LPP 2014, and a special dividend of CHF 3.00 for the LPP 2015 respectively) and the risk free rate based on the average of the 5-year US government bond rate taken monthly over each annual period in the performance period. This resulted in risk free rates between 1.0 and 3.1% for all LPP plans.

For the year ended 31 December 2015, the outstanding units were as follows:

Unrecognised compensation costs

As of 31 December 2015, the total unrecognised compensation cost (net of forfeitures) related to non-vested, share-based compensation awards was USD 56 million and the weighted average period over which that cost is expected to be recognised is 1.8 years.

The number of shares authorised for the Group’s share-based payments to employees was 3 930 229 and 3 554 592 as of 31 December 2014 and 2015, respectively. The Group’s policy is to ensure that sufficient treasury shares are available at all times to settle future share-based compensation plans.

Employee Participation Plan

The Group’s Employee Participation Plan consists of a savings scheme lasting two or three years. Employees combine regular savings with the purchase of either actual or tracking options. The Group contributes to the employee savings over the period of the plan.

At maturity, either the employee receives shares or cash equal to the accumulated savings balance, or the employee may elect to exercise the options.

From 2013 onwards, the Employee Participation Plan was discontinued and no more options were issued. In 2014 and 2015, the Group contributed USD 12 million and USD 1 million, respectively, to the outstanding plans.

Global Share Participation Plan

In June 2013, Swiss Re introduced the Global Share Participation Plan, which is a share purchase plan that was rolled out for the benefit of employees of companies within the Group. Swiss Re makes a financial contribution to participants in the Plan, by matching the commitment that they make during the plan cycle with additional Swiss Re shares.

If the employee is still employed by Swiss Re at the end of a plan cycle, the employee will receive an additional number of shares equal to 30% of the total number of purchased and dividend shares held at that time. In 2014 and 2015, Swiss Re contributed USD 7 million and USD 10 million to the plans and authorised 109 461 and 211 472 shares as of 31 December 2014 and 2015, respectively.