minimize any ordinary compensation income resulting from exercise of the option; and start the capital gains holding period for the stock underlying the option before the option would otherwise vest.

Microsoft has begun signing up employees for a program that lets workers trade in their "underwater" stock options for cash. The program, which Microsoft announced in July as part of a sweeping change ...

In this four-part series, we explore several of the most commonly-considered option program enhancements emerging companies may consider as they strive to make their stock option programs as ...