STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Note 7

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Equity [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Note 7

7. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
Cost of service revenue	$	263	$	160	$	482	$	275
Cost of product revenue		-		-		-		-
Research and development		726		315		1,257		629
Sales and marketing		1,422		910		2,619		1,654
General and administrative		1,106		623		2,181		1,297
Total stock-based compensation expense
related to employee stock options and
employee stock purchases, pre-tax		3,517		2,008		6,539		3,855
Tax benefit		-		-		-		-
Stock-based compensation expense
related to employee stock options and
employee stock purchases, net of tax	$	3,517	$	2,008	$	6,539	$	3,855

Stock Options, Stock Purchase Right and Restricted Stock Unit Activity

Stock Option activity under all the Company's stock option plans for the six months ended September 30, 2015, is summarized as follows:

			Weighted Average
	Number of		Exercise Price
	Shares		Per Share
Outstanding at March 31, 2015	5,327,907	$	5.19
Granted	640,504		8.36
Exercised	(429,924)		2.06
Canceled/Forfeited	(8,167)		6.78
Outstanding at September 30, 2015	5,530,320	$	5.80
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2015	5,530,320	$	5.80
Exercisable at September 30, 2015	3,166,470	$	4.02

Stock Purchase Right activity for the six months ended September 30, 2015, is summarized as follows:

			Weighted	Weighted
			Average	Average
			Grant-Date	Remaining
	Number of		Fair Market	Contractual
	Shares		Value	Term (in Years)
Balance at March 31, 2015	223,835	$	5.92	1.50
Granted	-		-
Vested	(97,119)		5.30
Forfeited	(6,125)		7.34
Balance at September 30, 2015	120,591	$	6.35	1.23

Restricted Stock Unit activity for the six months ended September 30, 2015, is summarized as follows:

				Weighted
			Weighted	Average
			Average	Remaining
	Number of		Grant Date	Contractual
	Shares		Fair Value	Term (in Years)
Balance at March 31, 2015	2,698,686	$	7.33	1.88
Granted	2,288,642		8.57
Vested	(166,692)		8.86
Forfeited	(79,757)		8.18
Balance at September 30, 2015	4,740,879	$	7.86	1.89

The following table summarizes stock options outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2015:

	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
			Weighted	Weighted					Weighted
			Average	Average					Average
			Exercise	Remaining		Aggregate			Exercise		Aggregate
			Price	Contractual		Intrinsic			Price		Intrinsic
	Shares		Per Share	Life (Years)		Value	Shares		Per Share		Value
$ 0.55 to $ 1.27	1,303,775	$	1.14	2.2	$	9,301,445	1,303,775	$	1.14	$	9,301,445
$ 1.33 to $ 5.87	1,241,055	$	4.03	4.8		5,265,678	1,096,699	$	3.81		4,894,609
$ 6.86 to $ 8.15	1,338,508	$	7.38	9.3		1,192,736	154,763	$	7.00		196,205
$ 8.54 to $ 9.74	1,496,982	$	9.39	8.4		-	547,171	$	9.63		-
$ 10.97 to $ 11.26	150,000	$	11.11	8.3		-	64,062	$	11.10		-
	5,530,320				$	15,759,859	3,166,470			$	14,392,259

As of September 30, 2015, there was $38.1 million of unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options and awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.67 years.

Assumptions Used to Calculate Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The fair value of each of the Company's option grants has been estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model with the following assumptions:

		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
Expected volatility		53%		58%		53%		58%
Expected dividend yield		-		-		-		-
Risk-free interest rate		1.59%		1.74%		1.59%		1.72%
Weighted average expected option term		5.57 years		5.30 years		5.46 years		5.20 years
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	4.00	$	3.90	$	4.06	$	3.91

The estimated fair value of options granted under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan was estimated at the date of grant using Black-Scholes pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
Expected volatility		45%		46%		45%		46%
Expected dividend yield		-		-		-		-
Risk-free interest rate		0.30%		0.09%		0.30%		0.09%
Weighted average expected ESPP option term		0.75 years		0.75 years		0.75 years		0.75 years
Weighted average fair value of
ESPP options granted	$	2.78	$	2.46	$	2.78	$	2.46

As of September 30, 2015, there were approximately $0.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to employee stock purchases. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.5 years.

Performance Stock Units

During the three months ended September 30, 2015, the Company issued restricted performance stock units (PSUs) to a group of executives with vesting that is contingent on both market performance and continued service. These PSUs vest (1) 50% on September 22, 2017 and (2) 50% on September 27, 2018, in each case subject to performance of the Company's common stock relative to the Russell 2000 Index during the period from grant date through such vesting date. A 2x multiplier will be applied to the total shareholder returns (TSR) for each 1% of positive or negative relative TSR, and the number of shares earned will increase or decrease by 2% of the target numbers. In the event 8x8's common stock performance is below negative 30%, relative to the benchmark, no shares will be issued.

To value these market-based restricted performance stock units under the Equity Compensation Plans, the Company used a Monte Carlo simulation model on the date of grant. Fair value determined using the Monte Carlo simulation model varies based on the assumptions used for the expected stock price volatility, the correlation coefficient between the Company and the NASDAQ Composite Index, risk free interest rates, and future dividend payments.

Stock Repurchases

In February 2015, the Company's board of directors authorized the Company to purchase up to $20.0 million of its common stock from time to time until February 29, 2016 (the "Repurchase Plan"). Share repurchases, if any, will be funded with available cash. Repurchases under the Repurchase Plan may be made through open market purchases at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing, volume and nature of share repurchases are subject to market prices and conditions, applicable securities laws and other factors, and are at the discretion of the Company's management. Share repurchases under the Repurchase Plan may be commenced, suspended or discontinued at any time. The remaining authorized repurchase amount at September 30, 2015 was approximately $5.1 million.

The stock repurchase activity for the three months ended and as of September 30, 2015, is summarized as follows:

	Shares		Weighted Average		Amount
	Repurchased		Per Share		Repurchased(1)
Balance as of June 30, 2015	574,467	$	7.38	$	4,239,216
Purchase of common stock under Repurchase Plan	1,326,294		8.01		10,619,707
Balance as of September 30, 2015	1,900,761	$	7.82	$	14,858,923
(1) Amount excludes commission fees.