They want to issue them "Out of the money" and then announce the news that brings them "In the money."

他们想发行价外期权,然后发布利好消息,使其变成价内期权

耶鲁公开课 - 金融市场课程节选

If they awarded options that were "In the money" -that means already exercisable at profit -then they would be subject to a tax liability immediately, so they don't want to do that.

如果这些奖励的股票期权是价内期权,这说明期权行权即可赢利,这些利润是要交税的,当然他们想避免交税

耶鲁公开课 - 金融市场课程节选