The paradoxical sight of 13 top managers at national energy provider âEZ enjoying financial gains from exercising share options just as the Prague Stock Exchange’s PX Index heads south may jar with some observers. Public pressure, indeed, has been a factor in âEZ not being quite so generous in drawing up its latest equity option packages. But incentive programs continue to gain popularity at large Czech companies.

Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- CEZ AS, eastern Europe's biggest power producer, said its managers will exercise stock options this month, with Chief Executive Officer Martin Roman gaining 677 million koruna ($38 million), the largest such bonus in the company's history. The shares fell to the lowest in two weeks.