Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stock Based Compensation

v2.4.1.9
Stock Based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
Note 9 – Stock Based Compensation
 
Equity Incentive Plans
 
2013 Equity Incentive Plan
 
In December 2013 the Company’s board and stockholders approved the “2013 Equity Incentive Plan”, providing for the issuance of equity based instruments covering up to an initial total of 1,042,167 shares of common stock. Effective on March 27, 2014, the aggregate total shares which may be issued under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan were increased to 2,335,967, as described below.
 
Effective on March 10, 2014, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the First Amendment to the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan which provided for an increase in the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan to equal 18% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately following the completion of the IPO (assuming for this purpose the issuance of all shares issuable under the Company’s equity plans, the conversion into common stock of all outstanding securities that are convertible by their terms into common stock and the exercise of all options and warrants exercisable for shares of common stock and including shares and warrants issued to the underwriters for such IPO upon exercise of its over-allotment options).
 
As of December 31, 2014, 531,661 shares of common stock remain eligible to be issued through equity based instruments under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
2014 Non-Employee Equity Compensation Plan
 
On March 6, 2014, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the 2014 Non-Employee Equity Compensation Plan for the issuance of equity based instruments covering up to 250,000 shares of common stock to directors and other non-employees.
 
As of December 31, 2014, 211,184 shares of common stock remains eligible to be issued through equity based instruments under the 2014 Non-Employee Equity Compensation Plan.
   
Option Valuation
 
The Company has computed the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Option forfeitures are estimated at the time of valuation and reduce expense ratably over the vesting period. This estimate will be adjusted periodically based on the extent to which actual option forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from the previous estimate, when it is material. The expected term used for options issued to non-employees is the contractual life and the expected term used for options issued to employees is the estimated period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The Company utilizes the “simplified” method to develop an estimate of the expected term of “plain vanilla” employee option grants. Since the Company’s stock has not been publicly traded for a sufficiently long period of time, the Company is utilizing an expected volatility figure based on a review of the historical volatilities, over a period of time, equivalent to the expected life of the instrument being valued, of similarly positioned public companies within its industry. The risk-free interest rate was determined from the implied yields from U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with a remaining term consistent with the expected term of the instrument being valued.
 
Stock Options
 
On December 12, 2013, Mr. Rizzone, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, was granted an option under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 275,689 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $1.68 per share, with a term of ten years and which vests 1/48 for each completed month of service and for purposes of vesting only, the first completed month of service was determined to be October 2013. The option has a grant date fair value of $258,373 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
 
On January 7, 2014, the Company’s board of directors granted to various employees and consultants from the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan stock options to purchase an aggregate of 537,845 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.49 per share and having a term of ten years. Included in these grants were 57,644 options to Michael Leabman, Chief Technical Officer, pursuant to his employment contract, 80,201 options to George Holmes, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and 319,799 options to other employees and consultants. The option awards granted to Mr. Leabman vested 3/48ths on the date of grant, and will vest 1/48th monthly over the following 45 months. The option award granted to Mr. Holmes vested 25% on October 1, 2014 and then continues to vest 1/48th of the initial award monthly for the subsequent 36 months. Option awards granted to all other employees and consultants cliff vest 25% of the award on the later of the first anniversary of the date they started working for the Company or October 1, 2014 and then will vest 1/48th of the initial award monthly for the following 36 months. The options had an aggregate grant date fair value of $762,699 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
 
On February 27, 2014, the Company granted non-qualified stock options for the purchase of 25,979 shares of the Company’s common stock each to two new independent directors of the Company as part of their compensation for serving on the Company’s board of directors. The options have an exercise price of $3.63 per share and have a term of ten years. The Options vest 25% on March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014. The options had an aggregate grant date fair value of $100,000 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
 
On March 15, 2014 and March 20, 2014, the Company granted non-qualified stock options from the 2014 Non-Employee Equity Compensation Plan for the purchase of an aggregate of 34,781 shares of the Company’s common stock to two new independent directors of the Company as part of their compensation for serving on the Company’s board of directors. The options have a weighted average exercise price of $5.45 per share and have a term of ten years. The Options vest 25% on March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014. The options had an aggregate grant date fair value of $100,000 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
    
On March 15, 2014, the Company’s board of directors granted to a single employee an option under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 80,201 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.99.  The option award granted to the employee has a ten year term and cliff vests 25% of the award on the anniversary of the employee’s date of hire and then will vest 1/48th of the initial award monthly during the following 36 months. The option had a grant date fair value of $229,365 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
 
On March 26, 2014, the Company’s board of directors granted to Mr. Rizzone, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, an option under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 496,546 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $6.00 per share, with a term of ten years and which vests 6/48 of the award on the grant date and 1/48 of the award on the last day of each of the subsequent 42 months. The option had a grant date fair value of $1,667,784 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
 
On March 26, 2014, the Company’s board of directors granted to Michael Leabman, Chief Technical Officer, pursuant to his employment contract a stock option under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 251,474 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.00.  The option award granted to Mr. Leabman has a ten year term and vests 6/48th of the award on the grant date and 1/48th of the award on the last day of each of the subsequent 42 months. The option had a grant date fair value of $844,643 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
 
On March 26, 2014, the Company’s board of directors granted to Mr. Holmes a stock option under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 89,672 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.00.  The option award granted to the consultant has a ten year term and vested 25% of the award on September 30, 2014 and continues to vest 1/48th of the award on the last day of each of the subsequent 36 months. The option had a grant date fair value of $303,869 utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
    
The Company estimated the fair value of stock options awarded during the year ended December 31, 2014 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair values of stock options granted were estimated using the following assumptions:
 
 
 
Option Grants
Awarded During the
Year Ended
December 31, 2014
Stock price
 
 
$2.49 to $6.00
Dividend yield
 
 
0%
Expected volatility
 
 
60%
Risk-free interest rate
 
 
1.30% to 2.03%
Expected life
 
 
3.75 to 6.25 years
 
As of December 31, 2014, the unamortized value of options held by employees was $2,611,490. As of December 31, 2014, the unamortized portion will be expensed over a weighted average period of 2.68 years.
   
Stock Option Award Activity
 
The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option activity during the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
Number of
Options
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life In
Years
 
Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding, January 1, 2014
 
 
275,689
 
$
1.68
 
$
-
 
 
-
 
$
-
 
Granted
 
 
1,542,477
 
 
4.63
 
 
2.60
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Exercised
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Forfeited
 
 
(211,091)
 
 
2.49
 
 
1.57
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Outstanding December 31, 2014
 
 
1,607,075
 
$
4.41
 
$
2.46
 
 
9.0
 
$
10,532,322
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable, January 1, 2014
 
 
17,231
 
$
1.68
 
$
-
 
 
-
 
$
-
 
Vested
 
 
533,067
 
 
4.41
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Exercised
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Forfeited
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Exercisable, December 31, 2014
 
 
550,298
 
$
4.33
 
$
2.41
 
 
9.1
 
$
3,649,854
 
 
The following table presents information related to stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2014:
 
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
 
Exercise Price
 
Outstanding
Number of
Options
 
Weighted Average
Remaining Life In
Years
 
Exercisable Number of
Options
 
$
1.68
 
 
275,689
 
 
8.9
 
 
86,153
 
 
2.49
 
 
326,754
 
 
9.0
 
 
115,627
 
 
3.63
 
 
51,958
 
 
9.2
 
 
51,958
 
 
4.99
 
 
99,214
 
 
9.2
 
 
19,013
 
 
6.00
 
 
853,460
 
 
9.2
 
 
277,547
 
 
 
 
 
1,607,075
 
 
9.1
 
 
550,298
 
 
Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)
 
On June 3, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company granted to a member of the Company’s advisory board, an RSU award under which the holder has the right to receive 4,035 shares of common stock. The award was granted under the 2014 Non-Employee Equity Compensation Plan. The RSU had a grant date fair value of $49,590 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. This RSU had 1,513 shares vested as of December 31, 2014 and vests 504 shares on each of the next five succeeding three month anniversaries of the grant date.
 
On July 14, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted to George Holmes an RSU under which the holder has the right to receive 44,836 shares of the Company’s common stock. The award was granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. The RSU had a grant date fair value of $593,180 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The award granted to Mr. Holmes vests 25% on March 28, 2015 and then 25% annually until fully vested. March 28, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the award, the shares not vested terminate upon separation from the Company.
 
On July 14, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted to various employees and consultants, RSUs under which the holders have the right to receive 228,500 shares of the Company’s common stock. These awards were granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and the RSU’s had an aggregate grant date fair value of $3,023,055 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The awards granted vest 25% on March 28, 2015 and then 25% annually until fully vested on March 28, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, the shares not vested terminate upon separation from the Company.
 
On August 14, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted to various employees and consultants, RSUs under which the holders have the right to receive 86,823 shares of the Company’s common stock. These awards were granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and the RSU’s had an aggregate grant date fair value of $981,100 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The awards granted vest over four years beginning on the first anniversary of the employee’s date of hire. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, the shares not vested terminate upon separation from the Company.
 
In addition, on August 14, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted two inducement RSU awards to Cesar Johnston, the Company’s Senior Vice President of Engineering. Under the first award, Mr. Johnston has the right to receive 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and this award vests over four years beginning on the first anniversary of his employment start date of July 14, 2014. In addition, Mr. Johnston was granted 20,000 performance based RSU awards. On February 26, 2015, the compensation committee of the board of director determined that Mr. Johnston had successfully met all conditions provided for in the performance based RSU award. The RSU’s had an aggregate grant date fair value of $1,356,000 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The awards granted vest over four years beginning on the first anniversary of the employee’s date of hire. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, the shares not vested terminate upon separation from the Company.
 
On November 13, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted inducement RSU awards to various employees and consultants, under which the holders have the right to receive 261,686 shares of the Company’s common stock. These inducement awards were not granted under a plan. These RSUs had an aggregate grant date fair value of $2,266,201 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, the shares are not vested upon separation from the Company.
    
In addition, on November 13, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted to various employees and consultants, RSUs under which the holders have the right to receive 5,100 shares of the Company’s common stock. These awards were granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan as an incentive reward for being a named inventor on one or more of the Company’s patent applications, and the RSUs had an aggregate fair value of $44,166 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, the shares vested immediately upon grant and common stock delivery is one year from the related patent application date.
 
On December 24, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted inducement RSU awards to various employees and consultants, under which the holders have the right to receive 77,856 shares of the Company’s common stock. These inducement awards were not granted under a plan. These RSUs had an aggregate grant date fair value of $620,512 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The awards granted vest over four years beginning on the first anniversary of the employee’s date of hire. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, the shares not vested terminate upon separation from the Company.
 
On December 24, 2014, the compensation committee of the board of directors granted an RSU award to a consultant, under which the holder has the right to receive 5,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This award was granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and had a grant date fair value of $39,850 based upon the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The awards granted vest over four years beginning on the first anniversary of the employee’s date of hire. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, the shares not vested terminate upon separation from the Company.
 
The Company accounts for RSUs granted to consultants using the accounting guidance included in ASC 505-50 “Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees” (“ASC 505-50”). In accordance with ASC 505-50, the Company estimates the fair value of the unvested portion of the RSU award each reporting period using the closing price of the Company’s common stock.
 
At December 31, 2014, the unamortized value of the RSUs was $6,734,336. The unamortized amount will be expensed over a weighted average period of 3.47 years. A summary of the activity related to RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2014 is presented below:
 
 
 
Total
 
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair
Value
 
Total Grant
Date Fair Value
 
Nonvested at January 1, 2014
 
 
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
RSU Granted
 
 
837,672
 
 
10.75
 
 
9,006,874
 
RSUs vested
 
 
(6,349)
 
 
9.94
 
 
(63,116)
 
RSUs forfeited
 
 
(104,044)
 
 
12.57
 
 
(1,308,067)
 
Nonvested at December 31, 2014
 
 
727,279
 
 
10.50
 
$
7,635,691
 
Vested at December 31, 2014
 
 
6,349
 
$
9.94
 
$
63,116
 
  
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
 
The following tables summarize total stock based compensation costs recognized for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Stock options
 
$
1,333,943
 
$
16,148
 
RSUs
 
 
900,063
 
 
-
 
IR warrant
 
 
263,972
 
 
-
 
Shares issued to consultant for services rendered
 
 
50,000
 
 
-
 
Total
 
$
2,547,978
 
$
16,148
 
 
The total amount of stock-based compensation was reflected within the statements of operations as:
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Research and development
 
$
924,702
 
$
-
 
General and administrative
 
 
1,040,038
 
 
16,148
 
Sales and marketing
 
 
583,238
 
 
-
 
Total
 
$
2,547,978
 
$
16,148