Giant US technology company Intel closed its operations in Denmark in June of this year resulting in the loss of 200 jobs.

Many of the former employees were consequently unable to exercise their non-mature share options and the Danish commercial and clerical trade union is now taking the company to court to test whether it is lawful to take away share options without compensation.

The move could have a wide impact across Europe especially amongst technology based companies which have had a particular tendency to make share options a part of their recruitment packages.