Options Backdating Reloaded

Looks like the WSJ managed to purchase some more computer time for their options backdating algorithm and in this mornings paper they name the new five lucky winners - click on the graphic to the right.

This issue is of interest to me since I spent over 10 years at Vitesse Semiconductor (VTSS), a company that has been roiled by this issue in the last month. It’s also one of many reasons why incentive options should always be accounted as an expense and included in pro-forma results.

The new article focuses (like the first one did) on how CEO’s used backdating to ensure low strike prices and lock in monetary gains. Without a doubt, this was p