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Negotiating And Structuring Your Stock Compensation (Part 1): Key Documents This is premium content

Alisa J. Baker
You may find a gap between what you expect from your equity compensation and what you receive. Often the problem stems from the complexity of the related documents and rules. Learn about them, and understand why you must focus on conflicting or inconsistent provisions.

Negotiating And Structuring Your Stock Compensation (Part 2): Private Companies This is premium content

Alisa J. Baker
NEW! Part 1 looked at the problems of conflicting or inconsistent provisions among different documents. Part 2 discusses which existing documents and rules nonfounder executives must consider when negotiating for equity compensation during the early (pre-public) stages of a company's development and growth.

Taking An Overseas Assignment: Stock Compensation For Mobile Employees This is premium content

Mark Miller
For employees and executives, international travel and relocation are increasingly common. Taxation for "mobile employees" is always complex, and never more than with equity compensation. This article explains the key rules in cross-border situations.

What Are My Stock Options Worth? This is premium content

Richard Friedman
Your company just gave you a stock option grant, or your existing options are underwater. You wonder: "What are my stock options worth? Are they worth anything at all?" Learn about different valuation methods, including Black-Scholes.

Stock Grant Sizes In Pre-IPO Tech Companies

Johanna Schlegel
Particularly in high-tech startup companies, it is more important to know what percentage of the company a stock option grant represents than how many shares you get.

Picture Improves For Private-Company Pay

Lisa Yoon
CFO.com
As stock option expensing causes public companies to reduce stock grants, it similarly affects stock grants at private companies. The pay packages at private companies can now more evenly match those at public companies, and private companies can offer more generous option grants.

Why Stock Options Still Rule

Michael Malone
Wired
Nothing lures top talent like the chance to get really rich.

Avoiding The Dot-Bomb: Do Your Homework Before Applying For A Job At An Internet Startup

Carrie Kirby
San Francisco Chronicle
The gold rush is over, but that does not mean you won't do really well in working with stock options if you do your research.

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Is it better to be granted nonqualified stock options (NQSOs) or incentive stock options (ISOs)?

First, you may be eligible to receive only NQSOs, so read the FAQs on the requirements of ISOs...

What guidelines do employers use to determine how many stock options or restricted shares to grant? This is premium content

Though this varies from industry to industry and among peer companies, most companies use a combination of...

Can I have the exercise price of a new stock option grant lowered or backdated? This is premium content

This is a controversial practice. Previously, in some new-hire situations your company might have been more flexible. Now companies try...

How much are my options worth at grant? This is premium content

Stock options often cannot be exercised until they are vested, and then they are profitable only after...

How do I know whether I am being granted my fair share of stock options? Are grant guidelines available publicly so that I can compare my grant to others in my and different industries? This is premium content

Unless you are a senior executive of a public company who can compare grants at peer companies by looking at their proxy statements, or unless your company is willing to open its option records to you, you may never know whether you and your co-workers have been treated equally...

What should I do if I feel that I have been granted too few options? This is premium content

If you are convinced that you have been treated unfairly...

Do employers ever issue additional options or restricted stock to replace grants that were forfeited at a previous employer? This is premium content

If your skills are in great demand, employers may...

Can my employer give me a choice of stock options, restricted stock, or cash? This is premium content

Your company's flexibility depends on economic conditions, the stage of its development, trends in your industry, and the limitations in the company's stock plans. Any choice offered can depend on whether it is a negotiated grant at hire, an alternative to a cash bonus, or a new approach for your company's equity grants. Employee-choice programs are a nascent trend, with companies such as...

What does it mean when someone says that employee stock options have both face (or intrinsic) value and time value? This is premium content

The value of an option consists of two elements: time premium and intrinsic value. Intrinsic value is the difference...

Does service with a previous employer ever count toward vesting? This is premium content

Not usually. An exception would occur if your...

Can the terms of my severance accelerate vesting or give me a longer period to exercise my options? This is premium content

You can try for it. Companies occasionally do this for all employees in special situations. But...

How common are noncompete provisions in stock grants? What activities can trigger a noncompete provision? This is premium content

They occur at numerous companies...

How does a "clawback" work to take away stock grant gains? This is premium content

A clawback is triggered when you leave to work for a direct competitor or engage in...

How common are clawback provisions? This is premium content

The exact percentage of companies that use clawbacks is...

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Featured FAQs
What does it mean when someone says that employee stock options have both face (or intrinsic) value and time value? This is premium content
The value of an option consists of two elements: time premium and intrinsic value. Intrinsic value is the difference...
Can the terms of my severance accelerate vesting or give me a longer period to exercise my options? This is premium content
You can try for it. Companies occasionally do this for all employees in special situations. But...