Glossary - 409A

As a general rule, all stock option grants need to have an exercise price at or above the fair market value of the company’s common stock on the date such grant is made. This requirement, and its many related complexities, generally comes from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the related Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regulations (collectively, “Section 409A”). Section 409A was enacted several years ago in response to perceived abuse of deferred compensation arrangements brought to light during various high-profile corporate scandals.