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Phantom Stock Agreement
Free phantom stock agreement template — an employee receives a cash bonus tied to the company's share value, without receiving actual equity or ownership.
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This free phantom stock agreement covers 1. Grant of Phantom Units, 2. No Actual Equity, 3. Vesting Schedule, 4. Valuation, 5. Payment Event with 6 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for small businesses and individuals documenting a loan or expense putting financial terms in writing so both sides have a clear, shared record. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Phantom Stock Agreement
Company: [Company Name] · Participant: [Name] · Date: [Date]
1. Grant of Phantom Units
Company grants Participant [Number] phantom stock units, each representing the right to receive a cash payment equal to the appreciation in value of one share of Company's [common] stock from the grant date to the payout date, subject to vesting below.
2. No Actual Equity
Phantom units do not represent actual shares of stock, do not confer voting rights, dividend rights, or any ownership interest in Company, and are solely a contractual right to a future cash payment.
3. Vesting Schedule
Phantom units vest [Schedule — e.g. 25% after 1 year, then monthly over the following 3 years], subject to Participant's continued employment through each vesting date.
4. Valuation
Company's share value for purposes of this Agreement is determined by [an independent valuation performed annually / a formula based on [Metric] / a valuation triggered by a specific event, e.g. sale of the company].
5. Payment Event
Vested phantom units are paid out in cash upon [a change of control of Company / a specified date / Participant's termination other than for cause], based on the appreciation calculated at that time, less applicable withholdings.
6. Section 409A Compliance
This Agreement is intended to comply with, or be exempt from, Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, and payment timing will not be accelerated or deferred except as permitted under that section.
7. Forfeiture
Unvested phantom units are forfeited if Participant's employment ends before the applicable vesting date, except as otherwise stated (e.g. accelerated vesting upon a change of control).
Company: ______________________ Date: ____________ Participant: ______________________ Date: ____________
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Phantom stock lets a private company offer equity-like upside without diluting actual ownership or dealing with minority shareholder rights — but because it's a deferred compensation arrangement, it's subject to the same strict IRC Section 409A timing rules that govern other non-qualified deferred comp, and getting those wrong triggers real tax penalties.*
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What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 7 standard sections: 1. Grant of Phantom Units, 2. No Actual Equity, 3. Vesting Schedule, 4. Valuation, 5. Payment Event, 6. Section 409A Compliance, …
- 6 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Informal lending & reimbursements
Money changing hands between people or a business and its team, without a bank's paperwork.
FAQ
Is this phantom stock agreement template really free?
Yes, completely free — view, edit, and download this phantom stock agreement as a PDF without creating an account.
What does this phantom stock agreement cover?
This finance template includes 1. Grant of Phantom Units, 2. No Actual Equity, 3. Vesting Schedule, 4. Valuation. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. Financial documents like this can touch usury limits, lending disclosure rules, or tax treatment that vary by state and by amount — details a general template can't know. Have an accountant or attorney review the actual terms before money changes hands based on this.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 6 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free finance and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
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