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Simple math shows it was worth $100k per employee hired. There's clearly positive value thereNot…how capital structures work.
First any debt would be paid. Then preferred-stock liquidation preferences. Then the rest gets divided up among all stockholders, including those with common. (Though not conventionally among those with unexercised options.)
What’s telling, here, is that the shares had to be cancelled. That implies they were due a payout.