9.  Stock-Based Compensation

 

2016 Equity Incentive Plan

 

On April 5, 2016, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) as the successor to the 2015 Omnibus Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The 2016 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders and became effective on May 18, 2016 (the “2016 Plan Effective Date”).

 

As of the 2016 Plan Effective Date, no additional grants will be made under the 2015 Plan or the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”), which was previously succeeded by the 2015 Plan effective October 13, 2015. Outstanding grants under the 2015 Plan and 2011 Plan will continue in effect according to their terms as in effect under the applicable plan.

 

Upon the 2016 Plan Effective Date, the 2016 Plan reserved and authorized up to 600,000 additional shares of common stock for issuance, as well as 464,476 unallocated shares remaining available for grant of new awards under the 2015 Plan. During the term of the 2016 Plan, the share reserve will automatically increase on the first trading day in January of each calendar year, beginning in 2017, by an amount equal to 4% of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on the last trading day in December of the prior calendar year. As of September 30, 2016, there were 691,987 shares available for future issuance under the 2016 Plan.

 

The estimated grant date fair market value of the Company’s stock‑based awards is amortized ratably over the employees’ service periods, which is the period in which the awards vest. Stock‑based compensation expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

 

 

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company modified stock options of its former chief executive officer by extending the life of the awards, which were set to expire in March 2016, to coincide with their original life. This modification resulted in the recording of $781,266 of compensation expense, which is included in general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 in the accompanying statement of operations.

 

A summary of option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

On April 5, 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved the 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP was approved by the Company’s stockholders and became effective on May 18, 2016 (the “ESPP Effective Date”).

 

Under the ESPP, eligible employees can purchase common stock through accumulated payroll deductions at such times as are established by the administrator. The ESPP is administered by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors. Under the ESPP, eligible employees may purchase stock at 85% of the lower of the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock (i) on the first day of an offering period or (ii) on the purchase date. Eligible employees may contribute up to 15% of their earnings during the offering period. The Company’s board of directors may establish a maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be purchased by any participant, or all participants in the aggregate, during each offering or offering period. Under the ESPP, a participant may not accrue rights to purchase more than $25,000 of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding.

 

Upon the ESPP Effective Date, the ESPP reserved and authorized up to 500,000 shares of common stock for issuance. On January 1 of each calendar year, the aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the ESPP shall automatically increase by a number equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, and (ii) 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, or (iii) a number of shares of the Company’s common stock as determined by the Company’s board of directors or compensation committee. As of September 30, 2016, 500,000 shares remained available for issuance.

 

In accordance with the guidance in ASC 718-50, Employee Share Purchase Plans (“ASC 718-50”), the ability to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at the lower of the offering date price or the purchase date price represents an option and, therefore, the ESPP is a compensatory plan under this guidance. Accordingly, stock-based compensation expense is determined based on the option’s grant-date fair value and is recognized over the requisite service period of the option. The Company used the Black-Scholes valuation model and recognized stock-based compensation expense of $36,690 and $43,213 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.