Stock-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

9. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Incentive Plan

The Company’s stock-incentive program is a long-term retention program that is intended to attract, retain and provide incentives for talented employees, officers and directors, and to align stockholder and employee interests. Currently, the Company is able to grant options, SARs and restricted shares from the Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan, (the “Amended 2004 Plan”). Unless earlier terminated by action of its Board of Directors, the Amended 2004 Plan will remain in effect until such time as no stock remains available for delivery and the Company has no further rights or obligations under the Amended 2004 Plan with respect to outstanding awards thereunder.

Historically, stock options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the market value of the common stock on the date of grant, expire 10 years from the date they are granted, and generally vested over a one to three-year period for employees and members of the Board of Directors. Upon exercise, new shares will be issued by the Company. The Company granted stock options in 2017 which vest monthly over a one-year period. SARs are generally granted with a grant price equal to the market value of the common stock on the date of grant, vest one-third each year on the anniversary of the date of grant and expire five years from the date of grant. The restricted shares and restricted stock units granted to employees generally have a three-year graded vesting period and are subject to accelerated vesting and forfeiture under certain circumstances. Restricted shares and restricted stock units granted to board members generally have a three-year graded vesting period and are subject to accelerated vesting and forfeiture under certain circumstances.

During March 2019, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other executives were granted incentive stock options to purchase an aggregate of 1,105,440 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $0.98 per share and 276,360 RSUs, subject generally to the executive’s or board member’s, as applicable, continued service with the Company, which vest one-third each year over a period of three years.

The following table provides the weighted average assumptions used in determining the fair value of the stock option awards granted during the three month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

	March 31, 2019		March 31, 2018
		(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Risk-free interest rate		2.51%		2.65%
Expected life		6.0 years		6.0 years
Expected volatility		127.81%		126.93%
Dividend yield		-		-

The Company recognized approximately $0.5 million and $0.6 million of stock-based compensation expense during the three month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.