Stock options for undiversified executives

We employ a certainly-equivalence framework to analyze the cost, value and pay/performance sensitivity of non-tradable options held by undiversified, risk-averse executives. We derive "executive value" lines, the risk-adjusted analogues to Black-Scholes lines. We show that distinguishing between "executive value" and "company cost" provides insight into many issues regarding stock option practice including: executive views about Black-Scholes values; tradeoffs between options, restricted stock and cash; exercise price policies; option repricings; early exercise policies and decisions; and the length of vesting periods. It also leads to reinterpretations of both cross-sectional facts and longitudinal trends in the level of executive compensation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.