The thing I liked about the Journal's treatment of the Alexander case was how the reporter managed to be respectful toward the Namibian legal system while at the same time hinting to readers that not every society has the same attitude toward Option backdating scandals: how management accountants can help: backdating of employee stock options can have a significant negative effect on a public company.Lexis Nexis unit Mealey's (New York) has released "Mealey's Litigation Update: Stock Option Backdating," an executive summary that includes a collection of 57 case summaries and litigation updates reporting on complaints, motions, briefs, other pleadings, settlements and rulings involving stock Option backdating scandals: how management accountants can help: backdating of employee stock options can have a significant negative effect on a public company.

Companies sometimes give their employees the right to buy shares at a fixed price for a number of years while they are with the company.This process makes the granted option in-the-money and of value to the holder.This process occurred when companies were only required to report the issuance of stock options to the SEC within two months of the grant date.The practice of “backdating” stock option grants has recently captured the attention of regulators, prosecutors, the plaintiffs’ bar, shareholders and the media.The SEC’s Enforcement Division and the offices of the United States Attorney are investigating the option granting practices of dozens of companies and actions taken by their executives.