Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

10.   Stock-Based Compensation

Exela 2018 Stock Incentive Plan

On January 17, 2018, Exela’s 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) became effective. The 2018 Plan provides for the grant of incentive and nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, and other stock-based compensation to eligible participants. The Company was initially authorized to issue up to 694 shares of Common Stock under the 2018 Plan. On June 27, 2022, the shareholders of the Company approved our Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan increasing the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance from an original 694 shares to 4,462.

Restricted Stock Unit

Restricted stock unit awards generally vest ratably over a one to two year period. Restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture if employment or service terminates prior to vesting and are expensed ratably over the vesting period.

A summary of restricted stock unit activities under the 2018 Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is summarized in the following table:

				Average
		Weighted		Remaining
	Number	Average Grant		Contractual Life
	of Units	Date Fair Value		(Years)
Outstanding Balance as of December 31, 2022	8	$	6,600.00	1.00
Granted	—		—
Forfeited	—		—
Vested	—		—
Outstanding Balance as of September 30, 2023	8	$	6,600.00	0.25

Options

Under the 2018 Plan, stock options are granted at a price per share not less than 100% of the fair market value per share of the underlying stock at the grant date. The vesting period for each option award is established on the grant date, and the options generally expire 10 years from the grant date. Options granted under the 2018 Plan generally

require no less than a two or four year ratable vesting period. Stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is summarized in the following table:

						Average
		Weighted		Weighted		Remaining
		Average Grant		Average		Vesting Period
	Outstanding	Date Fair Value		Exercise Price		(Years)
Outstanding Balance as of December 31, 2022	352	$	22,554.25	$	47,117.77	0.20
Granted	—		—
Exercised	—		—
Forfeited	(14)		27,703.04
Expired	—		—
Outstanding Balance as of September 30, 2023 (1)	338	$	22,347.33	$	46,554.52	0.03

(1) 329 of the outstanding options are exercisable as of September 30, 2023.

As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately less than $0.1 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock unit awards and stock option awards under the 2018 Plan, which will be recognized over the respective service period. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company recorded compensation expense of less than $0.1 million and net reversal of compensation expense of $0.1 million related to restricted stock unit awards and stock option awards under the 2018 Plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, due to forfeiture of options. The Company incurred total compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.6 million related to restricted stock unit awards and stock option awards under the 2018 Plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.

Market Performance Units

On September 14, 2021, the Company granted its Executive Chairman performance units with a market performance condition, which are notional units representing the right to receive one share of Common Stock (or the cash value of one share of Common Stock). At the election of the compensation committee of the Company, these performance units might be settled in cash or in shares of Common Stock.

Fifty percent of the performance units covered by the award will vest if, at any time during the period commencing September 14, 2021 and ending June 30, 2024, the volume weighted average of the reported closing price of the Common Stock is $40,000 per share or greater on (x) 60 consecutive trading days or (y) 90 non-consecutive trading days in any 180 day period (the “Tranche 1”). In addition, the remaining 50% of the performance units will vest if, at any time during the period commencing September 14, 2021 and ending June 30, 2025, the volume weighted average of the reported closing prices of the Common Stock is $80,000 per share or greater on (x) 60 consecutive trading days or (y) 90 non-consecutive trading days in any 180 day period (the “Tranche 2”). Any Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 units that are not earned by June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025, respectively, will be forfeited for no consideration and will no longer be eligible to vest. In addition, if a change in control occurs prior to the applicable expiration date, if the performance units are assumed by the acquirer, the units will remain outstanding and eligible to vest based solely on his continued service to the Company. If in connection with such change in control the performance units are not assumed by an acquirer, a number of performance units will vest based on the per share price paid in the transaction, with 0% vesting if the per share price is equal to or less than $8,000 per share, and 100% of the Tranche 1 vesting if the per share price is equal to or greater than $40,000 and 100% of the Tranche 2 vesting if the per share price is equal to or greater than $80,000, and a number of Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 vesting determined based on a straight line interpolation if the share price is between $8,000 and $40,000 or $80,000, respectively. In addition, if there is a change in control that is principally negotiated and approved by, and recommended to the Company’s shareholders by, a special committee of independent directors which committee does not include the Executive Chairman, and neither he nor any of his affiliates is directly or indirectly an equity holder of the acquiring Company, and the Tranche 1 are not assumed by an acquirer in connection with such transaction, all of his then unvested Tranche 1 will vest, and the Tranche 2 would be eligible for the pro rata vesting described above. The Executive Chairman will remain eligible to earn his performance units so long as he remains engaged with the Company in any capacity, including as a non-employee director.

The fair value per unit of the awards was determined to be $5,920 and $6,040 for Tranche 1 and Tranche 2, respectively, on the grant date by application of the Monte Carlo simulation model. On December 31, 2021, the

modification date fair value per unit of the awards was determined to be $1,760 and $1,880 for Tranche 1 and Tranche 2, respectively, by application of the Monte Carlo simulation model.

The following table summarizes the activity for the market performance restricted stock units for the nine months ended September 30, 2023:

				Weighted Average
		Weighted		Period Over
	Number	Average		Which Expected
	of Units	Fair Value		to be Recognized
Outstanding Balance as of December 31, 2022	2,125	$	1,820.00	2.98
Granted	—		—
Forfeited	—		—
Vested	—		—
Outstanding Balance as of September 30, 2023	2,125	$	1,820.00	2.98

As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $1.1 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested performance unit awards, which will be recognized over the requisite service period. We recognized $0.2 million and $0.7 million compensation expense associated with the performance unit award for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.