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This. Founders, at least critical ones, may be compensated by a payment to help complete an acquisition, especially in the event that the exit was not a good o

This. Founders, at least critical ones, may be compensated by a payment to help complete an acquisition, especially in the event that the exit was not a good one. Founders and other employees who the acquirer wants to retain and the founders will then be given a retention package that vests over a few years. While the payment to support completing the deal generally goes to all of the founders and the CEO, the retention can, but usually doesn't include the CEO if not a founder or most non-engineering resources...

fatnoah 6y ago
Excellent point. This is what happened in the case where I was the VP Eng. Everyone in Engineering got low to high 5 figure cash payouts depending on seniority, and C-levels and VPs (only a group of 5) got low/mid 6 figure deals. Everyone then got joining RSUs at their level for the acquiring company. So, everyone made some money, but not from the ISOs.