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Double-Trigger RSUs and Stock Options in Private Companies: Key Tax and Other Considerations when Designing and Implementing Award Programs, Strategies to Consider for Expiring Awards, and More

Note: CPE credit is not offered on this program

A live 90-minute premium CLE video webinar with interactive Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
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Thursday, December 12, 2024

1:00pm-2:30pm EST, 10:00am-11:30am PST

Early Registration Discount Deadline, Friday, November 15, 2024

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE webinar will provide attorneys with an in-depth analysis of the requirements and considerations involved when designing double trigger restricted stock unit (RSU) and stock option programs for private companies, as well as potential solutions to consider when stock options and double trigger RSUs will expire before the company’s IPO (or other liquidity event).

Description

Double trigger RSUs and stock options are popular forms of equity compensation for private companies, each with advantages and disadvantages that impact private companies and their service providers. Executive compensation and benefits attorneys and other corporate counsel must have a clear understanding of the advantages, disadvantages and risks of each type of award, including the applicable federal tax rules underlying the award structure, when advising clients regarding the design and implementation of equity compensation plans and arrangements that provide for the grant of stock options and double trigger RSUs.

Double trigger RSUs represent a service provider’s contractual right to the delivery of a specified number of shares of stock, or the equivalent cash value, upon the satisfaction of both a continued employment or service requirement and the occurrence of the company's IPO (or other liquidity event) before the occurrence of a specified expiration date. The holder of RSUs has no voting rights (or other rights as a stockholder) until such shares are delivered.

Stock options represent the right to buy shares of stock at a specified price upon the achievement of vesting conditions and prior to the expiration of the option term. Similar to the holder of RSUs, an optionee has no voting rights (or other rights as a stockholder) until the option shares are purchased.

Listen as our panel discusses the challenges of incorporating double-trigger RSUs in compensation plans for private companies, available planning techniques, restrictions under Section 409A, and other critical structuring considerations.

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Outline

  1. Incorporating RSUs in compensation plans
  2. Double-trigger RSU characteristics and risks
  3. Tax issues
  4. Best practices for attorneys representing the employer or employee

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • What are the key items to consider when establishing a double trigger RSU program at a private company?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of stock options and double trigger RSUs in private companies?
  • What are the key tax issues and available planning techniques to consider when designing private company stock option and double trigger RSU programs?
  • What are the key provisions of award agreements for RSUs and stock options?
  • What solutions are available if stock options or RSUs will expire before a liquidity event has occurred?

Faculty

Brookfield, Heather
Heather Brookfield

Partner
Goodwin Procter

Ms. Brookfield is a partner in the firm’s Business Law department and ERISA/Executive Compensation practice. She...  |  Read More

Chasteen, Crescent
Crescent Moran Chasteen

Partner
Goodwin Procter

Ms. Chasteen is a partner in Goodwin’s ERISA and Executive Compensation practice. She advises a wide variety of...  |  Read More

Ghulamhussain, Sarah
Sarah Ghulamhussain

Partner
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Ms. Ghulamhussain's practice focuses on advising private and public companies on an...  |  Read More

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Early Discount (through 11/15/24)

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Early Discount (through 11/15/24)

You may pre-order a recording to listen at your convenience. Recordings are available 48 hours after the webinar. Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

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