M&A
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M&A

M&A

What can happen to stock grants in corporate mergers, acquisitions, spinoffs, and divestitures?

Browse an overview of this section below, or explore the subtopics.

Find easily understandable explanations of key terms and concepts in Basics. Learn what an M&A deal may mean for your grants in the subsection Impact. Then move on to a comprehensive range of content explaining the tax treatment of stock compensation in M&A.

Selected Articles

Basics

My Company Is Being Acquired: What Happens To My Stock Options? (Part 1)

The terms of your option grants, the terms of the M&A deal, and the valuation of your company's stock all affect the treatment of stock options in M&A. What happens to your unvested options is the main focus of concern.
Impact

Restricted Stock Units After An Acquisition: Know What Could Happen This is premium content

Podcast included! When a company is merging or being acquired, many employees are left wondering what will happen to their unvested RSUs. While the outcomes for holders of unvested RSUs and current equity holders will depend on the terms of the M&A deal, if your company is being acquired there are a few things you should know about your restricted stock units and what may happen.
Taxes

My Company Is Being Acquired: What Happens To My Stock Options? (Part 3, Taxes) This is premium content

Part 1 looked at the importance of your option grant terms. Part 2 examined the acquisition's terms and the valuation of your company. Now let's look at the tax treatment.
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Impact

My Company Is Being Acquired: What Happens To My Stock Options? (Part 2) This is premium content

Your company is being acquired. You worry about losing your job and your valuable stock options. In Part 1 we looked at the importance of your option grant terms. Part 2 examines the acquisition's terms and the valuation of your company.
Taxes

UPDATES! Techniques To Defer Or Eliminate Taxes On The Sale Of Your Company's Shares (Part 1): QSB Stock This is premium content

UPDATES! Finding legal techniques to minimize taxes is almost as popular in the US as stock compensation. These sophisticated techniques with founder's stock and options can defer or reduce taxes. Qualified small business stock (QSBS) is the most famous.
Basics

The Acquisition: All's Well That Ends Well? This is premium content

I was hired by Company X and received equity pay that might have been worth between $300,000 and $400,000 at our IPO. Not bad, except that we never went public.
This is simply a selection of the many articles in this section.
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Selected FAQs

Impact

UPDATES! What will happen to my vested stock options if my employer is acquired by another company?

Your vested stock options may be handled in any of the following ways in an acquisition, depending on the deal's terms and any limits in your stock plan. For example, they could be rolled over into...
Impact

UPDATES! What could happen to my restricted stock in an acquisition of my company? This is premium content

The treatment of the restricted stock (or restricted stock units) in the acquisition or merger depends on various factors. The possible treatment of your unvested shares includes...
Impact

UPDATES! What will happen to my unvested stock grants if my company is acquired or if it merges with another company? This is premium content

In a merger or acquisition (considered a change in control), there are many possibilities. Study the terms of the stock plan and any individual grant agreements with special provisions, and examine the way the acquisition is structured. Some companies...
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Impact

What happens to my ESPP when my company is acquired? This is premium content

Your contribution does not roll over into the buyer's ESPP, and rarely is the target's offering period continued after the deal is closed...
Impact

Why do I need to complete IRS Form W-9 when the company where I work is being acquired? This is premium content

It must not be on file with the transfer agent that is handling the share transfer for stock option exercises, restricted stock/RSU vesting, or sales of company shares. To avoid federal withholding at the 28% rate...
Impact

Can an acquisition of my company accelerate the vesting of my stock options? This is premium content

Possibly. Read your grant agreement and the stock plan documents carefully...
Impact

How will I know that a change of control has occurred? This is premium content

A change of control is commonly considered a merger and/or acquisition, but it can be...
Impact

How do change-in-control and trigger provisions in stock plans work to accelerate vesting? This is premium content

Provisions vary according to the terms of your grant and stock plan. Trends and data show that...
Impact

What portion of unvested options is normally accelerated in a change of control? This is premium content

Typically, stock option vesting is accelerated in some way in a change of control. Depending on your stock plan...
Impact

Once acceleration of vesting has occurred, how long do I have to exercise my newly vested stock options in the seller? This is premium content

First check whether your options will be converted to options in the buyer...
Impact

UPDATES! A private equity firm is buying my company. What will happen to my stock options and restricted stock? This is premium content

The vesting of the grant will probably accelerate according to specifics in your stock plan or grant agreement. The grants will probably be cashed out. Depending on your level in the company and the length of your employment, you may receive a meaningful grant in your newly private company that will require you to...
This is simply a selection of the many FAQs in this section.
Use the navigation to the left to explore all of the categories in this section.
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