
The academic literature generally concludes that the Black-Scholes model overstates the value of employee stock options (ESOs). In particular, because ESOs cannot be traded, employee risk aversion often elicits premature exercise. As a result, the ESO is less valuable than a traded option. An important factor affecting ESO values has been overlooked in reaching this conclusion. This is the implicit repricing provision in ESOs, whereby the ESO exercise price resets to a lower level if the stock price falls. We develop a new valuation model for pricing ESOs. Our valuation model incorporates explicit repricing rules. Simulations based on various repricing rules suggest that the Black-Scholes model typically understates ESO value. Without a repricing provision, the Black-Scholes model will overstate ESO value, because risk aversion still has a significant effect on ESO value.
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| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
