"All 1,100 staff will get shares in the FI group worth up to 10 per cent of their annual salary," executive chairman of IIS, Saurabh Srivastava, told PTI here.

He said the FI group's shares, quoted at around 3 pounds per share on LSE, would be allowed to sell only after a two-year period.

"FI group has already started buying the shares for the employees at the prevailing market price. The employees also can avail up to 50 per cent of their profit share in cash," Srivastava said adding that this would be in addition to the employees' salary.

Srivastava said IIS could be the first Indian firm to offer free shares to employees listed on an overseas bourse.

He said the company had also begun a second scheme of `Save As You Earn'. As per this scheme, the IIS staff would save a specified amount every month for aperiod of three years.

After the period of three years, the company will give an option to the employees to buy shares of FI group at the present price.