Sorry to belabour on the issue.

These options are shares set aside in treasury for the employees or officers. They are not "outstanding and issued" shares and would not have a value in the company's books, not until the employee or officer exercise his or her right to acquire them. Since they are not granted for free, they have to be paid for at the exercise price and the money received goes to the company. (Sorry for clogging the board, I will make this my last post on the topic.)