CGT on deferred bonus awarded as shares

Shares awarded as part of a bonus are held under a scheme whereby they vest after 3 years, with the number of shares depending upon performance criteria. After that they are then held in a restricted pool for a further 1-3 years before they are released to me and can be sold. When is the date of acquisition for CGT purposes? - the date on which they vest or the date on which they are released and available for me to sell?

Hi sallyt46,
There are a number of different ways in which a company may award staff via the means of shares in the company.
One of the most common is a via a Share Incentive Plan (SIP).
The company can directly award its employees the shares rather than applying them indirectly via an option.
Plan shares may be awarded free to employees participating in the plan and may be performance related.
The shares are normally held on behalf of the employee/s via a Trust and are held for 3 years or more.
Normally the cost to the employee for CGT purposes for shares held in this type of plan is the market value (MV) on the date that the shares cease to be subject to the plan and become the employees to hold or sell.
Guidance at CG56495 Share Incentive Plans, refers.
CG56495 - Share Incentive Plan (SIP): employee: CGT
Further guidance on other types of approved  Employee share schemes for CGT purposes can be located within the Capital Gains Manual at CG56400P onwards.
CG56400P - Capital Gains Manual: Shares and Securities: Employee share schemes: Approved employee share schemes and Enterprise Management Incentives: Contents
Thank you.