Stock Options

Valuation of Modified Awards

Modifications are among the most challenging areas of equity compensation award (re)design, valuation, and accounting. Every modification is unique to the company doing it and the problem(s) they’re trying to solve. The technical aspects are also challenging. A slight misstep in the valuation methodology can cause major cost surprises, many of which will show up in the proxy.

Services

Whether you have a small modification affecting a single employee or enormous modifications driven by corporate control transactions, Equity Methods can help you in the following areas:

  • Model contemplated modifications before the business decision is finalized, helping to set stakeholder expectations about accounting cost while proactively identifying pitfalls that lead to unfavorable outcomes
  • Determine fair value and incremental expense impact for awards modified as part of a termination, such as accelerations, extensions to exercise windows, and continuation of vesting
  • Capture the impact of changes to performance targets, whether based on total shareholder return (TSR) or other metrics
  • Model repricings and option exchanges ahead of such major transactions in order to minimize incremental compensation cost and align expectations between HR, finance, legal, and participants
  • Value awards converted as part of major corporate transactions, including acquisitions, mergers, spin-offs, and special dividends
  • Perform custom modeling and valuation for any unique modifications contemplated or enacted, tailored to your specific situation

Anticipate the effects of modifications while getting the final valuation and accounting right the first time.

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Meet Our Experts

Nathan O’Connor

Managing Director

David Outlaw, CEP

Managing Director, Valuation & HR Advisory Services

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