Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

4. 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 and Long-Term Incentive Plan

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.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we recognized $13,000 and $48,000 and $5,000 and $89,000, respectively, of stock-based compensation for the amortization of the fair value of stock awards issued under the 2020 LTIP and 2020 Plan over the respective lock-up periods.

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

	Number of Options Outstanding			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2023		2,500		$	14.40
Expired		(2,500	)		14.40
Outstanding at September 30, 2023		-		$	-

As of September 30, 2023 we had no outstanding options.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we recorded no compensation expense related to the vesting of stock options.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we did not grant any options to purchase shares of our common stock to employees or members of our board of directors.

Stock options granted under the 2006, 2015 and 2020 Plans are exercisable over a maximum term of 10 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.