We present an algorithm that merges a certainty-equivalence framework with the least-squares Monte Carlo algorithm to obtain the executive stock option (ESO) value for a risk-averse and undiversified agent. We account for the difference between executive's value and firm cost of the ESO. We show...

We investigate the impact of independent valuation specialists on the downward bias of pre-initial public offering employee stock option valuations. Undervalued stock price estimates underlying firms' option grants produce option valuations that overstate earnings and provide employees with deep...

Employee stock option schemes have become increasingly prevalent over the past decade or so. This situation may, or may not, change due to recent accounting regulation that demands that stock options be expensed - quite simply because expensing reduces earnings. This must impact on the incentive...

Employee stock options (ESOs) are American-style call options that can be terminated early due to employment shock. This paper studies an ESO valuation framework that accounts for job termination risk and jumps in the company stock price. Under general Levy stock price dynamics, we show that a...

We analyze the American option valuation problem with the forward performance criterion introduced by Musiela and Zariphopoulou (2008). In this framework, utility evolves forward in time without reference to a specific future time horizon. Moreover, risk preferences change with stochastic market...

This paper develops a new pricing model for American-style indexed executive stock options. We rely on a basic model framework and an indexation scheme first proposed by Johnson and Tian (2000a) in their analysis of European-style indexed options. Our derivation of the valuation formula...

We consider the optimal exercise of a portfolio of American call options in an incomplete market. Options are written on a single underlying asset but may have different characteristics of strikes, maturities and vesting dates.Our motivation is to model the decision faced by an employee who is...

We propose a new framework to value employee stock options (ESOs) that captures multiple exercises of different quantities over time. We also model the ESO holder's job termination risk and incorporate its impact on the payoffs of both vested and unvested ESOs. Numerical methods based on Fourier...

This paper examines how forfeiture, vesting, and early exercise affect the value of employee stock options. The forfeiture and exogenous exercise of the options are modeled as two Poisson processes with constant intensity. Rational exercise by the employee due to the option's American feature is...

As of February 28, 2006, 958 publicly held companies accelerated the vesting of some or all of their employee stock options in advance of adopting SFAS 123 (R). We examine both the market reaction to these accelerations, as well as the determinants of the decision. Investors, in general, react...