Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

11.Stock-Based Compensation

DISH Network’s Merger with EchoStar

Upon the completion of the Merger with EchoStar, EchoStar adopted all of DISH Network’s stock compensation plans. In addition, in connection with the Merger, EchoStar assumed the share reserve under each of the DISH Network Corporation 2019 Stock Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated DISH Network Corporation 2001 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan to employees and directors who were employed by, or provided services to, DISH Network immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger.

At the Effective Time, each DISH Network stock option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted automatically into an EchoStar stock option on substantially the same terms and conditions (including, if applicable, with respect to any performance-based vesting, subject to certain adjustments that may be made pursuant to the terms of the Amended Merger Agreement and to the extent necessary to reflect the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Amended Merger Agreement), with respect to a number of shares of EchoStar Class A Common Stock equal to (i) the number of shares of DISH Network Common Stock subject to the corresponding DISH Network stock option immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio (with the resulting number rounded down to the nearest whole share), at an exercise price (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to the exercise price of the corresponding DISH Network stock option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio.

At the Effective Time, each DISH Network restricted stock unit award outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted automatically into an EchoStar restricted stock unit award on substantially the same terms and conditions, with respect to a number of shares of EchoStar Class A Common Stock equal to (i) the number of shares of DISH Network Common Stock subject to the corresponding DISH Network restricted stock unit award immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio (with the resulting number rounded to the nearest whole share).

Stock Incentive Plans

All information below includes the Merger conversion discussed above.

EchoStar maintains stock incentive plans to attract and retain officers, directors and key employees. Our employees participate in the EchoStar stock incentive plans. Stock awards under these plans include both performance and non-performance based stock incentives. Many of our employees work on projects associated with our business and projects associated with EchoStar’s business and other operations of EchoStar. Stock options, restricted stock units and non-cash stock-based compensation expense are included below only for employees who devote 50% or more of their time to our business. For each employee, a change in status in relation to the 50% threshold is reflected as a transfer to or from another EchoStar subsidiary that is not part of DISH DBS. As of December 31, 2023, EchoStar had outstanding under these plans stock options to acquire 3.3 million shares of EchoStar’s Class A common stock and 4 thousand restricted stock units and awards associated with our employees. Stock options granted on or prior to December 31, 2023 were granted with exercise prices equal to or greater than the market value of EchoStar’s Class A common stock at the date of grant and with a maximum term of approximately ten years. EchoStar accounts for forfeitures as they are incurred. While historically EchoStar has issued stock awards subject to vesting, typically at the rate of 20% per year, certain stock awards have been granted with immediate vesting and certain other stock awards vest only upon the achievement of certain EchoStar-specific subscriber, operational and/or financial goals. As of December 31, 2023, EchoStar had 17.2 million shares of its Class A common stock available for future grant under the DISH Network stock incentive plans.

Exchange offer. On June 24, 2022, DISH Network commenced a tender offer to eligible employees (which excludes DISH Network’s co-founders and the independent members of DISH Network’s Board of Directors, at that time) to exchange eligible stock options (which excludes DISH Network’s Ergen 2020 Performance Award) for new options as detailed in its Schedule TO filed June 23, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Exchange Offer”), to, among other things, further align employee incentives with the current market. The Exchange Offer expired on July 22, 2022. As a result of the Exchange Offer, the exercise price of approximately 9 million stock options associated with our employees, affecting approximately 500 eligible employees, was adjusted during the third quarter of 2022 to $20.00.

Stock Award Activity

EchoStar stock option activity associated with our employees was as follows:

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2023
	Options	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Aggregate intrinsic value (In thousands)		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
Total options outstanding, beginning of period	3,877,308	$	72.53
Granted	355,652	$	34.42
Exercised	—	$	—
Forfeited, cancelled and transferred (1)(2)	(944,927)	$	81.57
Total options outstanding, end of period	3,288,033	$	65.81	$	—	6.94
Performance-based options outstanding, end of period (3)	815,370	$	96.55
Exercisable at end of period	1,326,093	$	59.06	$	—	6.24

(1) Includes the cancellation of the 2013 LTIP. See discussion below.

(2) Certain of these stock options include options that were granted to individuals who transferred to and/or from another EchoStar subsidiary not a part of DISH DBS.

(3) These stock options are included in the caption “Total options outstanding, end of period.” See discussion of the 2017 LTIP, 2019 LTIP, 2022 Incentive Plan and Other Employee Performance Awards below.

We realized tax benefits from stock awards exercised as follows:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(In thousands)
Tax benefit from stock awards exercised	$	871	$	206	$	3,815

EchoStar restricted stock unit and award activity associated with our employees was as follows:

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2023
	Restricted Stock Units/Awards		Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Total restricted stock units/awards outstanding, beginning of period	379,073	$	100.69
Granted	5,534	$	17.18
Vested	(208,520)	$	92.71
Forfeited, cancelled and transferred (1)	(172,109)	$	107.22
Total restricted stock units/awards outstanding, end of period	3,978	$	120.95

(1) Certain of these restricted stock units/awards include restricted stock units/awards that were granted to individuals who transferred to and/or from another EchoStar subsidiary not a part of DISH DBS.

The following table summarizes additional information about EchoStar stock options and restricted stock units and awards associated with our employees:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Stock options:
Weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted	$	34.42	$	66.92	$	115.57
Intrinsic value of options exercised (1)	$	—	$	61	$	6,370
Restricted stock units and awards:
Weighted-average grant date fair value of units and awards granted	$	17.18	$	84.56	$	120.84
Fair value of units and rewards vested (1)	$	4,030	$	874	$	262

(1) Intrinsic value and fair value is based on the closing market price of EchoStar’s Class A Common Stock on December 31, 2023.

Long-Term Performance-Based Plans

2013 LTIP. During 2013, EchoStar adopted a long-term, performance-based stock incentive plan (the “2013 LTIP”). The 2013 LTIP provides stock options and restricted stock units in combination, which vest based on certain EchoStar-specific subscriber and financial performance conditions. Exercise of the stock awards is contingent on achieving these performance conditions by September 30, 2022. This plan expired on January 1, 2023 which resulted in the cancellation of 190,149 stock options and 135,344 restricted stock units and awards.

2017 LTIP. On December 2, 2016, EchoStar adopted a long-term, performance-based stock incentive plan (the “2017 LTIP”). The 2017 LTIP provided stock options, which were subject to vesting based on certain EchoStar-specific subscriber and financial performance conditions. Awards were initially granted under the 2017 LTIP as of January 1, 2017. Exercise of the stock awards was contingent on achieving these performance conditions by December 31, 2020, however, none of the performance conditions were achieved. This plan will expire on January 1, 2027 which as of December 31, 2023, would result in the cancellation of 318,539 stock options.

2019 LTIP.  On August 17, 2018, EchoStar adopted a long-term, performance-based stock incentive plan (the “2019 LTIP”).  The 2019 LTIP provides stock options, which vest based on certain EchoStar-specific subscriber, operational and/or financial performance conditions.  Vesting of the stock awards is contingent on achieving these conditions by December 31, 2023.

Although no awards vest until EchoStar attains the performance conditions described above, compensation related to the 2019 LTIP will be recorded based on EchoStar’s assessment of the probability of meeting the performance conditions. If the performance conditions are probable of being achieved, we will begin recognizing the associated non-cash, stock-based compensation expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) over the estimated period to achieve the performance condition.

During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, EchoStar determined that 85%, 89% and 90%, respectively, of the 2019 LTIP performance conditions were probable of achievement. As a result, non-cash, stock-based compensation expense was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, as indicated in the table below titled “Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized.” As of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, approximately 78%, 75% and 69%, respectively, of the 2019 LTIP awards had vested. No additional awards will vest in future periods for the 2019 LTIP.

2022 Incentive Plan. On December 30, 2021, EchoStar adopted a performance-based incentive plan (the “2022 Incentive Plan”).  The 2022 Incentive Plan provides stock options, which vest based on certain EchoStar-specific operational and/or financial performance conditions. Awards were initially granted under the 2022 Incentive Plan as of February 1, 2022. Exercise of the stock awards is contingent on achieving these conditions by December 31, 2026.

Although no awards vest until EchoStar attains the performance conditions described above, compensation related to the 2022 Incentive Plan will be recorded based on EchoStar’s assessment of the probability of meeting the performance conditions. If the performance conditions are probable of being achieved, we will begin recognizing the associated non-cash, stock-based compensation expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) over the estimated period to achieve the performance condition.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, EchoStar determined that 100% of the 2022 Incentive Plan performance conditions were probable of achievement. As a result, non-cash, stock-based compensation expense was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023 as indicated in the table below titled “Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized.” As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately 17% and 33%, respectively, of the 2022 Incentive Plan awards had vested.

Other Employee Performance Awards. In addition to the above long-term, performance stock incentive plans, EchoStar has other stock awards that vest based on certain other EchoStar-specific subscriber, operational and/or financial performance conditions. Exercise of these stock awards is contingent on achieving certain performance conditions.

Additional compensation related to these awards will be recorded based on EchoStar’s assessment of the probability of meeting the remaining performance conditions. If the remaining performance conditions are probable of being achieved, we will begin recognizing the associated non-cash, stock-based compensation expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) over the estimated period to achieve the performance condition. See the table below titled “Estimated Remaining Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense.”

Although no awards vest until the performance conditions are attained, EchoStar determined that certain performance conditions described above were probable of achievement and, as a result, we recorded non-cash, stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, as indicated in the table below titled “Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized.”

The non-cash, stock-based compensation expense associated with these awards for our employees was as follows:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized (1)	2023		2022		2021
	(In thousands)
2022 Incentive Plan	$	5,573	$	15,024	$	—
2019 LTIP		(1,631)		(131)		370
2013 LTIP		—		—		(10,550)
Other employee performance awards		281		3,711		7,827
Total non-cash, stock-based compensation expense recognized for performance-based awards	$	4,223	$	18,604	$	(2,353)

(1) “Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized” includes actual forfeitures.

Estimated Remaining Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense	2022 Incentive Plan		2019 LTIP		Other Employee Performance Awards
	(In thousands)
Expense estimated to be recognized during 2024	$	1,714	$	—	$	—
Estimated contingent expense subsequent to 2024		902		—		—
Total estimated remaining expense over the term of the plan	$	2,616	$	—	$	—

Given the competitive nature of EchoStar’s business, small variations in subscriber churn, gross new subscriber activation rates and certain other factors can significantly impact subscriber growth. Consequently, while it was determined that achievement of certain other EchoStar-specific subscriber, operational and/or financial performance conditions were not probable as of December 31, 2023, that assessment could change in the future.

Of the 3.3 million stock options and 4 thousand restricted stock units and awards outstanding under the EchoStar stock incentive plans associated with our employees as of December 31, 2023, the following awards were outstanding pursuant to the performance-based stock incentive plans:

	As of December 31, 2023
Performance-Based Stock Options	Number of Awards	Weighted- Average Grant Price
2022 Incentive Plan	303,379	$	51.17
2019 LTIP	193,452	$	59.16
2017 LTIP	318,539	$	162.47
Total	815,370	$	96.55

Stock-Based Compensation

Total non-cash, stock-based compensation expense for all of our employees is shown in the following table for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 and was allocated to the same expense categories as the base compensation for such employees:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(In thousands)
Cost of services	$	2,240	$	5,817	$	4,170
Selling, general and administrative		12,018		34,915		7,660
Total non-cash, stock based compensation	$	14,258	$	40,732	$	11,830

As of December 31, 2023, our total unrecognized compensation cost related to the non-performance based unvested stock awards was $24 million and will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 8.6 years. Share-based compensation expense is recognized based on stock awards ultimately expected to vest.

Valuation

The fair value of each stock option granted for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was estimated at the date of the grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
Stock Options	2023							2022							2021
Risk-free interest rate		3.58	%	-		4.61	%		1.35	%	-		4.02	%		0.48	%	-		1.11	%
Volatility factor		34.30	%	-		41.25	%		32.67	%	-		34.84	%		29.91	%	-		34.51	%
Expected term of options in years		4.1		-		6.6			4.1		-		6.0			4.0		-		5.9
Fair value of options granted	$	7.40		-	$	7.77		$	5.97		-	$	9.27		$	6.20		-	$	8.32

While EchoStar currently does not intend to declare dividends on its Class A common stock, EchoStar may elect to do so from time to time. Accordingly, the dividend yield percentage used in the Black-Scholes option valuation model was set at zero for all periods. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded stock options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Consequently, our estimate of fair value may differ from other valuation models. Further, the Black-Scholes option valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. Changes in these subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.

We will continue to evaluate the assumptions used to derive the estimated fair value of EchoStar’s stock options as new events or changes in circumstances become known.