What is Vest Fleece? A Comprehensive Legal Overview
Definition & Meaning
Vest fleece refers to a practice where company executives speed up the process of vesting employee stock options. This term was coined by Jack Ciesielski and is primarily associated with corporate finance and stock options. When vesting is accelerated, it can lead to a decrease in shareholders' ownership percentage while increasing the stake of option holders in the company.
Legal Use & context
This term is often encountered in corporate law and finance. It may be relevant during discussions about executive compensation, shareholder rights, and corporate governance. Understanding vest fleece is important for shareholders and employees alike, as it can affect the distribution of ownership and influence company decisions. Users can manage related legal matters through templates available on US Legal Forms, which can help in drafting agreements or understanding rights regarding stock options.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
For instance, if a CEO has stock options that normally vest over four years, they may negotiate with the board to accelerate the vesting to two years. This means the CEO would gain immediate ownership of the stock options, potentially impacting the company's equity structure. (hypothetical example)