Shares

Davidsim

Hi all,

I was an early employee of a company which has grown over the years. Part of my job offer was membership of a 'share option scheme' for which I have a 'certificate'. I took the value of it with a pinch of salt given at the time, especially since the conversion to actual shares was conditional on a sale of the company. Now we are entering a period where this is a real possibility, although it is likely more of a merger with a larger (but not huge) US company.

I want to understand my choices if any here when the sale goes ahead. It is proposed the share conversion will happen and ultimately I will end up with a very small share in the overall company taking us over.

I'm not thinking of leaving the company but I want to know if it is likely that I willI have any other financial choices such as selling my shares to the other shareholders or the company prior to or just after the sale. Also I would like to know if I did leave what the likelihood is that my shares are effictively worthless since the company might have 'bad leaver' clauses requiring me to sell my shares back at a negligible value.

Basically I'm trying to find out if in the short to medium term there is any value I can unlock from this benefit or if it is all pretty much worthless.

I appreciate this is a fairly complex legal and financial situation but any advice - even what sort of professional advisers to turn to would be a great help.