Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

8. Stock-Based Compensation

We have adopted equity incentive plans for which stock options and restricted stock awards are available for grants to employees, consultants and directors. Except for certain options granted to certain Swedish employees, all employee, consultant and director stock options granted under our stock option plans have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the grant date. There are no vesting provisions tied to performance conditions for any options. Vesting for all outstanding option grants is based solely on continued service as an employee, consultant or director. All of our outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards are classified as equity instruments.

Stock Options / Stock Awards

During the year ended December 31, 2020, our stockholders approved the 2020 Plan which replaced our 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), which in turn replaced our Neonode Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). Although no new awards may be made under the 2006 Plan or 2015 Plan, the 2015 Plan is still operative for awards previously granted under such plan. There are no awards outstanding under the 2006 Plan. Under the 2020 Plan, 750,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for awards, including nonqualified stock option grants and restricted stock grants to officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The terms of the awards granted under the 2020 Plan are set by our compensation committee at its discretion.

In 2020, we established the 2020 LTIP to provide eligible persons with the opportunity to acquire an equity interest, or otherwise increase their equity interest, in the Company as an incentive for them to remain in the service of the Company. Through the 2020 LTIP, eligible employees of Neonode may waive between 50% to 67% of future unearned bonuses that may be awarded to them under the Company’s annual bonus arrangement in exchange for the grant of shares of the Company’s common stock.

On December 29, 2020, we issued 37,288 shares of common stock to key employees pursuant to the 2020 LTIP. The shares were immediately vested but subject to a two-year lock-up period after issuance. In the event the participant’s employment with Neonode is terminated by the participant during the two-year lock-up period, the Company will repurchase the shares at a price equal to 30% of the lower of market value at issuance and termination date. Neonode has reported and paid Swedish social charges of $75,000 for the issued shares but only 30% of the stock-based compensation (totaling $77,000) was recognized immediately in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020, with the remainder to be recognized ratably over the two-year lock-up period.

On August 12, 2021, we issued 12,830 shares of common stock to a key employee pursuant to the 2020 LTIP. The shares were immediately vested but subject to a two-year lock-up period after issuance. In the event the participant’s employment with the Company is terminated by the participant during the two-year lock-up period, the Company will repurchase the shares at a price equal to 30% of the lower of market value at issuance and the termination date. The Company has reported and paid Swedish social charges of $21,000 for the issued shares but only 30% of the stock-based compensation (totaling $25,000) was recognized immediately in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, with the remainder to be recognized ratably over the two-year lock-up period.

On December 29, 2021, we issued 14,735 shares of common stock to key employees pursuant to the 2020 LTIP. The shares were immediately vested but subject to a two-year lock-up period after issuance. In the event the participant’s employment with Neonode is terminated by the participant during the two-year lock-up period, the Company will repurchase the shares at a price equal to 30% of the lower of market value at issuance and termination date. Neonode has reported and paid Swedish social charges of $46,000 for the issued shares but only 30% of the stock-based compensation (totaling $38,000) was recognized immediately in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, with the remainder to be recognized ratably over the two-year lock-up period.

On May 20, 2022, we issued 4,000 shares of common stock to a director pursuant to the 2020 Plan. The shares were immediately vested but subject to a two-year lock-up period after issuance. In the event the participant’s employment with the Company is terminated by the participant during the two-year lock-up period, the Company will repurchase the shares at a price equal to 30% of the lower of market value at issuance and the termination date. The Company has reported and paid Swedish social charges of $5,000 for the issued shares but only 30% of the stock-based compensation (totaling $5,000) was recognized immediately in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, with the remainder to be recognized ratably over the two-year lock-up period.

On September 15, 2022, we repurchased 10,252 shares of common stock from an employee who resigned during the two-year lock up period associated with such shares for $12,000, pursuant to the terms of the 2020 LTIP.

During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we recognized $122,000 and $157,000, respectively, of stock-based compensation for the amortization of the LTIP over the respective lock-up periods.

The following table summarizes information with respect to all options to purchase shares of common stock outstanding under the 2006 Plan, the 2015 Plan and the 2020 Plan at December 31, 2022:

Options Outstanding
Range of Exercise Price	Number Outstanding and Exercisable at 12/31/22		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)		Weighted Average Exercise Price
$ 0 - $ 15.00		2,500		0.59	$	14.40
		2,500		0.59	$	14.40

A summary of the combined activity under all of the stock option plans is set forth below:

	Options Outstanding
						Weighted-
						Average
				Weighted-		Remaining
				Average		Contractual		Aggregate
	Number of			Exercise		Life		Intrinsic
	Shares			Price		(in years)		Value
Options outstanding – January 1, 2021		10,500		$	29.61		1.40	$	-
Options granted		-			-				-
Options exercised		-			-				-
Options cancelled or expired		(1,000	)		62.10				-
Options outstanding – December 31, 2021		9,500		$	26.19		0.54		-
Options granted		-			-				-
Options exercised		-			-				-
Options cancelled or expired		(7,000	)		30.40				-
Options outstanding and vested – December 31, 2022		2,500		$	14.40		0.59	$	-

No stock options were granted during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded no stock-based compensation expense related to the vesting of stock options. The estimated fair value of the stock options will be calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model as of the grant date of the stock option.

Stock options granted under the 2006 and 2015 Plans are exercisable over a maximum term of ten years from the date of grant, vest in various installments over a one to four-year period and have exercise prices reflecting the market value of the shares of common stock on the date of grant.

Stock-Based Compensation

The stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 reflects the estimated fair value of the vested portion of common stock granted to directors and employees (in thousands):

	Years ended December 31,
	2022		2021
(In thousands)
Sales and marketing	$	8	$	50
General and administrative		114		107
Stock-based compensation expense	$	122	$	157

There is no remaining unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options as of December 31, 2022. Unrecognized compensation expense related to the 2020 LTIP as of December 31, 2022 was $60,000, which will be recognized over two years.