Nonparametric estimation of employee stock options

We proposed a new model to price employee stock options （ESOs）. The model is based on nonparametric statistical methods with market data. It incorporates the kernel estimator and employs a three-step method to modify Black- Scholes formula. The model overcomes the limits of Black-Scholes formula in handling option prices with varied volatility. It disposes the effects of ESOs self-characteristics such as non-tradability, the longer term for expiration, the eady exercise feature, the restriction on shorting selling and the employee＇s risk aversion on risk neutral pricing condition, and can be applied to ESOs valuation with the explanatory variable in no matter the certainty case or random case.

Employee Stock Options＂ Accounting for Optimal Hedging, Suboptimal Exercises, and Contractual Restrictions

Employee stock options （ESOs） have become an integral component of compensation in the US. In view of their significant cost to firms, the Financial Accounting Standards Board （FASB） has mandated expensing ESOs since 2004. The main difficulty of ESO valuation lies in the uncertain timing of exercises, and a number of contractual restrictions of ESOs further complicate the problem. We present a valuation framework that captures the main characteristics of ESOs. Specifically, we incorporate the holder＇s risk aversion, and hedging strategies that include both dynamic trading of a correlated asset and static positions in market-traded options. Their combined effect on ESO exercises and costs are evaluated along with common features like vesting periods, job termination risk and multiple exercises. This leads to the study of a joint stochastic control and optimal stopping problem. We find that ESO values are much less than the corresponding Black-Scholes prices due to early exercises, which arise from risk aversion and job termination risk; whereas static hedges induce holders to delay exercises and increase ESO costs.

An Empirical Test of Relation Between Executive Stock Options and Firm Performance

Numerous firms adopted executive stock options plan for their executives. This study examines empirically the hypothesis that stock options help to improve the firml＇s operating performance. The empirical tests reveal a positive relation between the stock options and performance; also indicate that there is a positive relation between quantity of manager＇s stock options and firm＇s size.

Executive Stock Option, Mediation of Agency Costs and Allocation of Power in Levered Firms

The relationship between options and agency costs in levered firms is studied by modeling the effect of executive stock options on the manager's investment strategy in levered firms. Stock options do not necessarily aggravate agency costs in levered firms. The corporate governance affects agency costs greatly. If debt-holders were entitled to design executive stock options together with stockholders, by allocating power properly between stockholders and debt-holders, firm value could be enhanced greatly. The following way of allocating power between the two parties is proposed: the exercise price should be the weighted average of the stockholders' and debt-holders' suggested exercise prices. The weight allocated to debt-holders is positively related to the amount of debts that debt-holders lend to stockholders.

The Adoption and Maintenance of Executive Stock Option Plan （ESOP）＂ Company Characteristics Evaluation in Indonesia

This paper investigates company characteristics associated with the adoption and maintenance of executive stock option plan （ESOP） proxied with the proportion of stock options. In order to develop and inform public policies of executive stock options, it is important to understand some of the factors that will drive a company＇s decision in order to adopt an ESOP. First, an analysis evaluates what kind of company＇s characteristics is associated with these plans. Second, an analysis examines the company characteristics that predict the adoption of such plans. This paper contributes to that stream of accounting research by identifying several factors to the adoption of ESOP. The study finds that intellectual capital （consisting of human capital efficiency （HCE）, structural capital efficiency （SCE）, and capital employed efficiency （CEE））, risk, and financial constraints （FC） affect the adoption and maintenance of stock option plans, these conditions will be increasingly supported in companies that experience relatively rapid growth. HCE, risk, and FC are significant predictors of the adoption and maintenance of ESOP. The companies who have some difficulties in observing human capital＇s behavior are more likely to adopt executive stock options, and based on our theoretical review, this is a rational course of action. Firms with higher levels of business risks are less likely to shift some of the risks to employees through stock-based compensation, whereas firms with higher variability in total shareholder returns are more likely to adopt executive stock options. Overall, our results suggest that higher monitoring costs prompt firms to adopt and maintain ESOP.

Web-Based Parallel Monte Carlo Simulation Platform for Financial Computation

Using Java, Java enabled Web and object-oriented programming technologies, a framework is designed to or ganize multicornputer system on lntranet quickly to complete Monte Carlo simulation parallelizing, The high-performance computing enviromnent is embedded in Web server so it can be accessed more easily. Adaptive parallelism and eager scheduling algorithm are used to realize load balancing, parallel processing and system fault-tolerance. Independent sequence pseudo-randorn number generator schemes to keep the parallel simulation availability. Three kinds of stock option pricing models as instances, ideal speedup and pricing results obtained on test bed. Now, as a Web service, a high-performance financial derivative security-pricing platform is set up for training and studying. The framework can also be used to develop other SPMD （single procedure multiple data） application. Robustness is still a major problem for further research.

Option Strike Price and Managerial Investment Decisions

The manager′s investment decisions is modeled when the manager is risk averse and has stock options as compensation. It is found that the strike price of options is crucial to the investment incentives of managers, and that the correct value, or interval of values, of managerial stock option strike price can bring stockholder and manager interests in agreement.

Does Accounting Choices Affect Financial Reporting Communication？ Some Critical Consideration

The aim of this work is to analyze the critical issues related to stock options accounting granted to employees. Given the different ways to collect stock option plans, it follows that according to the accounting treatment adopted, it changes the financial reporting of stock option plans, and thus the information communicated to stakeholders and markets in general. The examination of the accounting treatment of stock options starts from the study of legal changes relating to the stock options and various criteria suggested will be presented for the evaluation of the options and for detection of their cost in the financial statements of companies （Guay, Kothari, ＆ Sloan, 2003）. After the analysis of international accounting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） on the subject, specifically the ＂IFRS 2＂, we can state that they had a strong impact on Italian companies （Ciampaglia, 2008）. The central aspect of the study, however, consists of an analysis of the market effects of accounting for the cost associated with the issuance of stock option plans （Cerri ＆ Sottoriva, 2010）. Budgeted costs relating to the adoption of stock option plans granted to employees change the measures of economic performance of the enterprise, such as return on investment （ROI） and return on equity （ROE）, with significant effects on the evaluation of the economic capital of the company. A company that does not account for costs related to stock option plans recorded a best exercise, but it could distort the valuation of fmancial analysts （Tagliavini, 2000）. Finally, it can be observed that the proper accounting of costs associated with stock options is a prerequisite for the comparability of financial statements of companies that grant, and it is therefore necessary to adequately reflect the value of the company.

Extracting Information on Implied Volatilities and Discrete Dividends From American Option Prices

This paper deals with options on assets, such as stocks or indexes, which pay cash dividends. Pricing methods which consider discrete dividends are usually computationally expensive and become infeasible when one considers multiple dividends paid during the option lifetime. This is the case of long-term options and options on indexes. The first purpose of this paper is to assess efficient and accurate numerical procedures which yield consistent prices for both European and American options when the underlying asset pays discrete dividends. The authors then analyze some methodologies to extract information on implied volatilities and dividends from quoted option prices. Implied dividends can also be computed using a modified version of the well-known put-call parity relationship. This technique is straightforward, nevertheless, its use is limited to European options, and when dealing with equities, most traded options are of American type. As an alternative, the numerical inversion of pricing methods, such as efficient interpolated binomial method, can be used. This paper applies different procedures to obtain implied volatilities and dividends of listed stocks of the Italian derivatives market （IDEM）.