SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Carry Unit Plan

Certain employees of the Company and its affiliates received awards of units in a carry unit plan of Neptune Management LP, an entity which has an ownership interest in the Company. The following table summarizes activity relating to these carry units:



	Number of Time Vesting Awards		Number of Performance Based Vesting Awards	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance, December 31, 2018	83,575,000		10,000,000	$	1.14
Vested	(21,918,750	)	—	0.79
Forfeited	(3,000,000	)	—	0.91
Balance, June 30, 2019	58,656,250		10,000,000	$	1.31

The weighted average fair value per unit was $3.17 and $1.95 as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 the Company recognized an expense of $7,861 and $14,334, respectively, related to the push down of share-based compensation related to the carry unit plan. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recognized an expense of $7,993 and $25,494 related to the push down of share-based compensation expense related to the carry unit plan.

Stock Option Plan

The following table summarizes activity related to the Company's employee stock options issued pursuant to the Altice USA 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "2017 LTIP"):



	Shares Under Option				Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
	Time Vesting		Performance Based Vesting		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (a)
Balance at December 31, 2018	11,230,168		73,639		$	17.50	9.47	$	—
Granted	2,489,542		—		22.45
Forfeited	(288,734	)	(16,736	)	17.63
Balance at June 30, 2019	13,430,976		56,903		18.41		9.11	80,126
Options exercisable at June 30, 2019	—		—		—		—	—


(a)	The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the Company's Class A common stock at the respective date.

The Company recognized share-based compensation expense related to employee stock options for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 of $7,817 and $15,134, respectively. The Company recognized share based compensation expense related to employee stock options for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 of $4,233 and $8,355, respectively.

In June 2019, the Company granted restricted stock awards to certain employees pursuant to the 2017 LTIP. In connection with these awards, the Company recorded share based compensation expense of $857.