Stock options pdf

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Some features of this site may not work without it. An investigation into optimal stock option compensation : a thesis presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Finance at Massey University. Export to EndNote. Abstract Throughout twentieth century, it has become increasingly common for executives to be remunerated with stock options, contracts which allow the recipient to buy company stock at a predetermined price, thus giving the incentive to maximize the stock price in order to increase the value of the stock option contract.

Not only has stock option compensation become increasingly prevalent to executives at most major listed companies, but also to employees at all levels of the firm, both big and small.

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However, along with the growth in popularity, stock option compensation also became a topic of contention, not only among the general public, but among lobbyists, legislators and academics. This thesis aims to provide a better understanding of stock option compensation practice, with a particular emphasis on the United States, where stock option compensation is most prevalent.

The thesis is divided into three chapters: the first chapter deals with establishing a foundational understanding of stock option practice and possible drivers through investigating the literature on the history of stock option compensation practice in the US.

The second chapter develops a holistic theoretical model of an optimal stock option compensation package to possibly explain some practice currently considered as excessive. Then lastly, the third chapter empirically tests the validity of possible drivers of executive stock option policy in recent times in an attempt to identify whether current practice is optimal or not.

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The first chapter is primarily a literature review, covering a series of events over the history of stock option compensation in the US, ranging from its early beginnings in the early twentieth century until the present day. The second chapter follows with a theoretical approach to understanding stock option compensation trends by analyzing the major benefits and costs associated with stock options. The model developed differs to most other existing optimization models as it does not focus on one set of benefits or factors, rather a more holistic approach is taken. Using a holistic approach, this model also helps explain how levels of compensation that are considered excessive under an optimisation model based only incentive benefits, can actually be optimal for the firm once other costs and benefits are incorporated.

The model also aims to provide an alternative explanation to the managerial power hypothesis to explain why the buoyancy of the market may be positively correlated with compensation levels. This is explained by the impact of the buoyancy of the market on the likelihood of stock option exercise, and the costs and benefits either unconditional, partially conditional or conditional on options being exercised. Although plan materials are not required to be translated into Spanish, it is recommended, to ensure that employees understand the terms of their awards.

Award materials should be addressed to individual employees in order to avoid securities law requirements. The employee is taxed on the spread upon exercise including personal assets tax, if applicable. Social insurance contributions are generally payable by the employee and employer when an option is exercised. The employer is also required to register any database that includes an employee's personal data with the Argentine privacy authorities.

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Benefits received from an option may be considered part of the employment relationship and included in a severance payment if options are repeatedly granted to an employee. Upon involuntary termination of employment, an employee may be entitled to continued vesting and other rights with respect to his or her option. In order to reduce the risk of employee claims, the award agreement signed by an employee should provide, among other things, that vesting of an option ceases upon termination of employment, and that the plan and any awards under it are discretionary.

Social insurance contributions are generally payable by the employee and employer when the shares are purchased. Benefits received from a purchase right may be considered part of the employment relationship and included in a severance payment if purchase rights are repeatedly granted to an employee. Upon involuntary termination of employment, an employee may be entitled to continued participation in the plan.

In order to reduce the risk of employee claims, the offer document signed by an employee should provide, among other things, that participation in the plan ceases upon termination of employment, and that the plan and any awards under it are discretionary. In light of restrictions on payroll deductions, alternative arrangements may be necessary for contributions to the plan.

The grant of stock options may trigger registration and disclosure requirements unless an exemption applies or specific relief is obtained. Where class order relief is relied upon, a filing must be made with the corporate regulator. Even if options are considered securities that require a prospectus, they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements eg , the person exemption or other exemptions.

However, non-transferable free offers of restricted stock or RSUs are not considered "transferable securities" subject to the EU Prospectus Directive. Even if stock options are considered securities that require a prospectus, they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements eg , the person exemption.


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The grant of options by entities incorporated abroad to the employees of Brazilian subsidiaries generally is not subject to securities law requirements. In most instances, there should be no securities law restrictions applicable to the offer of stock options due to available exemptions from the prospectus requirements. However, the issuer must ensure the requirements of applicable securities laws and exchange policies are satisfied, including the availability of a prospectus exemption.

As long as the offer of options constitutes a private offer, generally no affirmative securities law requirements are implicated. However, the Chinese securities laws are silent as to whether the offer of stock awards by overseas listed companies is subject to approval by CSRC, and there are no procedures for foreign issuers to obtain such approval. Although the CSRC has informally stated that the offer of options is not subject to securities law requirements, given the CSRC's guidance is informal and non-binding, a company offering stock options should nonetheless consider measures to reduce the risk eg , mandate cashless exercise in the event such an offer is deemed subject to CSRC approval.

As long as the award of stock options is not deemed to be a public offer, securities requirements generally do not apply. Awards addressed to individual employees should not be deemed public offers, and, therefore, said award shall not be addressed to more than determined employees. Generally, stock options are considered as transferable investment instruments. If no consideration is paid by the employee for restricted stock or RSUs, the award should be exempt from the prospectus requirements.

Even if options are considered securities that require a prospectus eg, an employee pays consideration , they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements eg , if is addressed to fewer than persons per country. Even if employee stock options are considered securities that require a prospectus, they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements if one or more prospectus exemptions apply eg, the person exemption. In order to avoid securities law requirements, the underlying shares must not be listed on the Egyptian Exchange.

Even if stock options are considered securities that require a prospectus, they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements eg, through the person exemption. As a general rule, non-transferable options are not considered transferable securities subject to the Prospectus Directive. Even if options are considered securities that require a prospectus, they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements eg, the person exemption.

Generally, options are considered transferable securities. Accordingly, unless an offer of options is otherwise exempt eg, the person exemption , a prospectus is required. The Greek Parliament has not enacted any law yet that transposes the regulation into the Greek legislation. Nonetheless, the Hellenic Capital Market Commission currently applies the provisions of the EU Prospectus Regulation, as in force, until such law is published. Even if options are considered securities that require a prospectus, they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements eg , the exemption concerning shares offered, allotted or to be allotted by an issuer to the members of its board of directors or to its employees or the person exemption.

Prior to the offer of such options to the designated recipients, an informative document with the basic principles of the relevant program should be submitted to the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. As a general rule, non-transferable options are not considered a security subject to the Prospectus Directive.

There generally are no affirmative securities requirements associated with the grant of stock options. A registration statement is required if the value of shares underlying options granted within a month period is IDR 1 billion or more and either:. Non-transferable options are not generally considered transferable securities subject to the EU Prospectus Directive. Even if options, by virtue of their particular features, are considered transferable securities, they may nonetheless be exempt from the prospectus requirements of Irish law if the relevant offer falls within a safe-harbor exemption eg , where such securities are offered to less than legal or natural persons in Ireland.

Under the provisions of the Irish Companies Law, directors may be subject to additional reporting requirements. Options are generally subject to securities restrictions. However, in most cases, exemptions are available. Generally, non-transferable options are considered a security subject to the Prospectus Directive. Accordingly, unless an offer of options is otherwise exempt eg, through the person exemption , a prospectus is required.

Unless the full cashless exercise method is required, an Italian financial intermediary must be engaged to advise optionees on their rights under the plan. Regardless of the total number of employees and total value of shares or units, offers to employees or directors who belong to issuing companies, wholly and directly owned first-tier subsidiaries or wholly and directly or indirectly owned second-tier subsidiaries are not subject to securities filing requirements.

In all other cases, securities filing requirements may be triggered depending on the number of offerees and the aggregate value of the shares. Offers to fewer than 50 employees are generally not subject to filing requirements. An annual report may also be required after the offering.

Generally, any person who intends to make available, offer for subscription or purchase, or issue an invitation to subscribe for or purchase unlisted capital market products which include securities that are not listed on the Malaysian stock exchange , is in principle, subject to the prior approval of the Securities Commission SC and prospectus registration requirements with the SC.

Nonetheless, such prior approval is not required if such offer for subscription or purchase of, or issuing of an invitation to subscribe or purchase of shares of a foreign corporation whose shares are listed on an exchange outside Malaysia is made pursuant to an employee share or employee share option scheme.

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Full prospectus registration is also not required if such offer for subscription or purchase, or invitation to subscribe for or purchase securities qualifies as an "excluded offer" or "excluded invitation" pursuant to the Capital Markets and Services Act However, where any information or material pertaining to the offer is distributed or issued to employees in Malaysia, such materials, constituting an information memorandum, should be filed with the SC within 7 days after its first issuance in Malaysia. Such materials include information describing the business and affairs of the employer issued in respect of the offer and any communications to the employee regarding the offer.

Offers of stock options will require compliance with securities law. Reduced compliance may be available under certain exemption provisions. If the employee share exemption can be used, compliance obligations are fairly light including providing the offeree with the prescribed warning statement and the financial statements of the offeror or a notice confirming the that the financial statements are available from the offeror on request. Alternative exemptions may be available under certain circumstances.

For listed companies, the grant of stock options to employees triggers registration and disclosure requirements with the Nigerian Stock Exchange NSE. A listed company in Nigeria may only reserve a maximum of 10 percent of its issued share capital for its employees. Where a proportion of the shares in a placement or public offer is reserved for employees, the company shall provide the stock exchange along with the General Undertaking, a list of members of staff who have been allotted shares, the number of such shares, the capacity in which they work for the company and the number of years of service with the company.

For non-listed entities, however, there are generally no restrictions on stock options save for the provision of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, which specifically dictates that a company may not purchase or otherwise acquire shares issued by it.

Securities restrictions typically apply; however, exemptions for restricted stock and RSUs are available. Offerings to fewer than 20 employees are exempt from securities registration requirements without any notice being required to be filed with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission. An exemption from registration requirements may be obtained for offerings to 20 or more employees where such offerings are considered of limited character. Holders of stock options do not have an actual ownership interest in the company at the time of issuance as such stock options do not grant.