I'm the guy in the article. So, I got a letter from the Skype HR folks indicating that if I were to persist on the path of exercising my options, then they would:
(1) exercise their right to repurchase the shares at grant-price, leaving me with net zero gain;
(2) demand tax withholding on the shares, valued at fair market value (substantially higher than grant price, given that the MSFT deal had already been announced)
The sum effect of 1 and 2 being net-zero gain on the shares, minus a large chunk of cash out of pocket tied up in a tax withholding account.
The sum effect of 1 and 2 being net-zero gain on the shares, minus a large chunk of cash out of pocket tied up in a tax withholding account.
Terrible.