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Exercise Stock Options for Employees

Convert vested options into shares by processing an exercise transaction. Options can only be exercised by admin users in your Cake account.

What exercising means

  • Exercise: Converting a vested option into a share by paying the exercise price

  • Exercise Price: The amount the employee pays to convert their options

  • Exercise Period: The timeframe when options can be exercised after vesting

  • Post-termination Exercise Period: The limited time period after leaving the company when vested options can still be exercised

Method 1: From Incentive Plans

  1. Go to Incentive Plans → Options (or Stock Options) from the main menu

  2. Click 'View pool' on the relevant option plan

  3. Find the option holder in the Offer List and click 'Offer actions', then select 'Exercise options' from the dropdown

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  4. Enter exercise details:

    • Exercise date

    • Number of options to exercise

  5. Optional:

    • Check 'Automatically issue share certificate' if you want the certificate generated immediately

    • Check 'Exercise into Bare trust' if applicable

  6. Click 'Exercise' to process the transaction

You'll see the options converted to shares in your cap table, and the employee's holdings will be updated accordingly.

Method 2: From Cap Table

  1. Go to Ownership → Cap Table → Option holders from the main menu

  2. Click 'More' in the top right corner, then select 'Exercise Options' from the dropdown

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  3. Search for the relevant option holder

  4. Select the pool and offer you want to exercise

  5. Enter exercise details:

    • Exercise date

    • Number of options to exercise

  6. Optional:

    • Check 'Automatically issue share certificate' if you want the certificate generated immediately

    • Check 'Exercise into Bare trust' if shares will be held via an employee bare trust. Select the holding company from the dropdown

  7. Click 'Exercise' to complete the transaction

You'll see the options converted to shares in your cap table, and the employee's holdings will be updated accordingly.


Still need help? Contact our support team through the chat for assistance with option exercises.