Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2011

19 Investment in subsidiaries

  2011 USD’000 2010 USD’000
Balance at 1 January 750,018 748,401
Effect of share-based payments to employees of subsidiaries in accordance with IFRIC 11 899 1,617
750,917 750,018

The Company granted free shares/share options to employees of its subsidiaries under various plans (Note 9). These shares and options have a vesting period of 18 to 36 months. Accordingly, the proportionate share-based charge for the year of USD 0.9m (2010: USD 1.6m) has been recorded as an increase in investment in subsidiaries with a corresponding credit to retained earnings.