Vesting
Vesting refers to the process by which employees earn the right to own the grants allocated to them as part of the plan. In simpler terms, vesting is the mechanism that determines when employees actually gain ownership of the grants.
Time-based vesting conditions
Time-based vesting means that employees become eligible to exercise a portion of their stock options over time,
typically in equal installments on a regular basis.
Example: An ESOP might have a four-year time-based vesting schedule with a one-year cliff. This means that employees
must work for the company for one year to become eligible for any options, and after that, they vest 25% of their
options each year. If an employee leaves before one year, they receive no options; if they leave after one year but
before four years, they keep the vested portion.
Cliff vesting conditions
Cliff vesting involves a single, specific vesting date on which employees become eligible for a percentage of their
options. Until that date, they have no vested options.
Example: An ESOP might have a three-year cliff vesting schedule. This means employees must remain with the company for
three years before any of their options vest. After the third year, all options granted on the grant date become fully
vested.
Performance-based vesting conditions
Performance-based vesting ties the vesting of options to the achievement of predetermined performance goals or
milestones. Vesting occurs when specific targets are met.
Example: A company might grant options to its employees based on achieving a certain revenue target or hitting a
particular market share percentage. If the company reaches these goals within a specified timeframe, the options vest;
otherwise, they may be forfeited.
Milestone vesting conditions
Milestone vesting is similar to performance-based vesting but focuses on specific company milestones or events rather
than financial metrics.
Example: An ESOP might include milestones such as achieving a successful product launch, reaching a certain customer
acquisition number, or expanding into a new market. When these milestones are reached, the associated options vest.
Graded vesting
Graded vesting combines both time-based and cliff vesting elements. Employees become eligible to exercise a portion of
their options over time. Unlike traditional time-based vesting, they have some vesting even before the cliff date.
Example: A company may have a graded vesting schedule with a four-year term and a one-year cliff. In this case,
employees might vest 25% of their options after one year and an additional 2.08% (25% divided by 12 months) each month
thereafter.
Graded vesting is often combined with cliff period, when 25% of a grant vest after 1 year and the remaining 75% in
quarterly tranches of 3 years following the cliff period.
Rateable/linear vesting conditions
Ratable vesting involves a straight-line approach, with options vesting incrementally on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Example: An ESOP with ratable vesting may grant options over four years with 25% vesting each year. This means that for
each month an employee remains with the company, they earn 1/48th (25% divided by 12 months) of their options.
Immediate vesting
Some ESOPs have immediate vesting. This means that all options are fully vested upon grant, and employees can exercise
them immediately.
Example: A startup might choose immediate vesting for its small team of early employees as an incentive to join the
company.