March, 2023
We’re going to see a lot of companies have the same issue as options/RSUs will begin expiring before a liquidation event. Company can let them expire, where downside would be attrition and a demoralised workforce.
Or find a way to help employees exercise by aiding their ability to pay the strike price and tax bill. One way to do that would be to facilitate a secondary transaction between the employees exercising the options and investors at a price per share acceptable to the investors.
The idea is that employees will sell just the number of newly acquired shares whose value is equal to the strike price + tax bill of the entire options exercise which was up for expiry. However, it’s necessary for company and investors to agree on a PPS which could be below FMV.