What are the options when valuing share-based compensation?

Description

Abstract: Recently, employee stock options (ESOs) have lost some of their allure as a compensation tool. New mandatory expensing of ESOs highlights the importance of choosing an appropriate option-pricing model as well as the challenge of valuing these options in closely held companies. This article explains that selecting the wrong model can significantly distort stock option value and, therefore, the company’s reported net income. The article points out that the traditional Black-Scholes approach may not adequately reflect outstanding ESOs’ impact on the value of a closely held company.