Of course, the scenarios are limited only by creativity. I could see sign-on bonuses, options/warrants in the new company, excessive salaries and performance bonuses, etc. But I think there is something clean and probably a tax advantage to making everyone whole at time of sale. Plus that makes for good will among key players, they got paid what they deserved for the past efforts and it can now be put behind them while the technology and the people behind it are fully embraced and engulfed by the new entity.
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