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There are a number of benefits:
Saving is effortless: deductions are made from your post-tax salary automatically each month.
You can withdraw your savings at any time (but you will lose the right to buy the shares under option)
At the end of the savings period you can buy shares at the original discounted price, using your savings and any interest.
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The option price for any Sharesave will be announced a the time of invitation. This is usually August. It will be posted on this website and on posters at each site.
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If you are paid from a UK payroll and are employed by Diageo when the annual results are announced, you can join the Sharesave plan when the invitations are sent out. You must also be employed when your first monthly payment is taken from your salary.
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You can only start one Sharesave contract each year, but you can join every year if you want to. Your minimum monthly contribution is £5 and your maximum monthly contribution from the August 2017 invitation will be £350. ( Please note that the maximum limit was previously £250).
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Yes, you can take part in both the Sharesave plan and the Sharepurchase plan at the same time.
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The Sharesave plan is normally launched once a year.
If you are eligible to take part in a Sharesave plan, an invitation will be sent to you just before the plan is due to start.
You can apply to join a Sharesave plan during the invitation period by logging into your MyDiageoShares portal using the Login button at the top of this page.
If you think you are eligible but have not received an invitation, please contact help.emea@solium.com
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You can save any amount of whole pounds between £5 and £350 per month. The total of your monthly savings across all your Sharesave plans must not be more than £350. ( Please note that the maximum savings amount has increased from £250 to £350 for the August 2017 invitation).
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This depends on how long you save for and also what year you started saving. Visit the Bonus and Interest Rates page for full details.
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The HMRC rules for the Sharesave plan are different to the rules for Sharepurchase.
The rules for Sharesave state that your contributions must be taken from your salary AFTER tax has been paid. Instead, the price that you buy shares at is discounted by up to 20%. The bonus you may receive at the end of the contract will be tax free.
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You cannot change the amount of money you save each month.
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You can miss a maximum of 12 payments during your whole savings period BUT, you have to make these up at the end of your savings period, month for month, before you can exercise your Sharesave option.
To suspend your Sharesave plan(s), please log into your shares portal account using the Login button at the top of this page. Once you are logged into your account click on the Portfolio tab, then SAYE then select the Manage SAYE contracts link. If you suspend your contributions up to the 5th of the month then no further deductions will be taken from that same months salary. i.e. suspend on 4th January deductions will be suspended from January salary, suspend on 6th January deductions will be suspended from February salary.
If you miss more than 12 payments, then your Sharesave plan will be cancelled and your savings and any interest will be returned to you. You will not be entitled to buy any shares.
It is your responsibility to restart your contributions on your shares portal account prior to more than 12 payments being missed.
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When you apply to join Sharesave, you agree to save for a set period of time (3 or 5 years). You must complete your savings period before you can exercise your option. The day you complete your savings period is the 'maturity date'.
You can view your Sharesave options by securely logging onto your MyDiageoShares portal using the Login button at the top of this page.
If you are leaving Diageo before the maturity date, under certain circumstances, you may be able to exercise your option(s) early. Please see the Leavers Information for further details.
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The maturity date is the earliest date that a particular Sharesave option can be exercised. You can view your Sharesave options on your MyDiageoShares portal, which is available using the Login button at the top of this page.
If you are leaving Diageo before the maturity date, under certain circumstances, the maturity date may change. Please see the Leavers Information for further details.
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The number of shares you can buy depends on how much you save, the option price, and how long you save for. When you join Sharesave, you will receive an option certificate telling you how many shares you will be able to buy if you save to the end of your savings period.
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There is normally no UK income tax payable on the exercise of a Sharesave option. However, if your employing company is sold and you exercise your option within three years of the grant date, you will be liable to pay income tax on the gain.
If you are subject to tax in another country, you must check if you have any tax liability under that country's tax regime.
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When you exercise your Sharesave option, your shares are transferred directly into the Diageo Sharestore. You will not receive a share certificate.
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No. When you participate in Sharesave, you are granted an option to buy shares. As you do not own the shares until your option has been exercised, you will not receive dividends on your Sharesave options. You will however receive dividends on the resulting shares if you keep your shares at the time of exercise.
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No. You cannot sell or transfer a Sharesave option. You can only sell or transfer the shares that you get once you have exercised your Sharesave option.
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To cancel a Sharesave contract please log into your shares portal account using the login button at the top of this page. Once you are logged onto your account click on the Portfolio page at the top of your screen then select the SAYE tab, you can then select the cancel contract link for each plan you wish to cancel. You will be asked to provide bank details and any money will be returned to you within 10 working days.
If you would like to Suspend (not cancel) your payment/s please use the manage SAYE contracts link from the SAYE tab on your Portfolio screen.
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There is no interest paid if you close your Sharesave account in the first year. Please see our Bonus and Interest Rates for more information.
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These rates are all decided by the Treasury department of the Government.
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You cannot make any extra payments, but in the UK you can leave your money with the Sharesave Plan Managers for as long as you want. Remember, if you do this, you will lose the right to buy shares after 6 months. If you leave your money for 7 years (i.e. you choose a 5 year savings contract and then save for a further 2 years), you may receive another tax-free bonus.
