Well, I've found out what the score is....
When I worked 'in the UK' all the stock options I got were approved (not much use to me because the share price today is nowhere near the dizzy heights of the dot com bubble days so they're all underwater)
When I started working for a World wide team, reporting to managers based in Europe or the US, all the options were unapproved.
This particular block of options was granted after April 1st 2003 which means that at exercise I'm liable to pay, get this...Income tax at the higher rate, Employees National Insurance contributions, plus I'm also liable for Employers National Insurance contributions.
So I get to give the chancellor 48.6% of the gross amount
Is it feckin worth it