Stock-based Compensation and Common Stock

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Stock-based Compensation and Common Stock

12. Stock-based Compensation and Common Stock

Stock-based Compensation

Employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company participate in the 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and are granted Nxu stock-based awards, which include restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and stock options.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company granted RSUs that vest over various periods, ranging from immediate to increments over a period of three years. The Company has generally accounted for RSUs as liability classified awards; the awards are granted at a fixed dollar amount settled in a variable number of shares, as such, the fair value approximates the fixed dollar amount at inception. As such, the RSUs will be measured at fair value at the grant date and remeasured at the end of each reporting period until fully vested. RSUs granted and classified as equity awards are measured at fair value based on the closing price of the company’s common stock on the grant date. Compensation cost for RSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. In accordance with ASC 718-10-35-8, the amount of compensation cost recognized will at least equal the portion of the grant-date value of the award that is vested at that date.

Compensation expense for stock option awards was determined by applying the Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the appraised value of the underlying share price for each stock on the grant date. Calculating the fair value of stock option awards requires the input of subjective assumptions such as the expected average life of the award (in years), the expected rate of volatility, the risk free interest rate and the expected dividend yield. Other reasonable assumptions could provide differing results.

A summary of stock-based compensation recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022		2023			2022
Restricted stock units (classified as liabilities)	$	1,751		$	—	$	3,042		$	—
Restricted stock units (classified as equity)		758			110		1,037			410
Stock options		2,352			10,053		12,399			33,960
Total stock-based compensation		4,861			10,163		16,478			34,370
Stock-based compensation capitalized to property and equipment		(172	)		—		(172	)		—
Stock-based compensation, net of capitalized amount	$	4,689		$	10,163	$	16,306		$	34,370

As of September 30, 2023, the total unrecognized compensation related to outstanding stock option awards and restricted stock units was $18.6 million, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.0 years. Total unrecognized stock-based compensation will be adjusted for actual forfeitures.

2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan

On May 12, 2023, the Company adopted the 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The purposes of the Plan are to a) encourage the growth of the Company through short and long-term incentives that are consistent with the Company’s objectives; (b) give participants an incentive for excellence in individual performance; (c) promote teamwork among participants; and (d) give the Company a significant advantage in attracting and retaining key employees, directors and consultants. To accomplish such purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant (i) Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Restricted Shares, (iv) Restricted Stock Units, (v) Performance-Based Awards (including performance-based Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units), (vi) Other Share-Based Awards, (vii) Other Cash-Based Awards or (viii) any combination of the foregoing. The Plan was originally adopted in connection with the consummation of the Company’s Reorganization Merger as contemplated by that certain agreement and plan of merger, dated as of April 14, 2023, by and among the Company, Atlis Motor Vehicles Inc., and such other parties to the agreement.

With respect to awards granted under the Plan and in accordance with the Plan, the Company's Board of Directors (or the “Administrator”) is authorized to deliver an aggregate of 350 million shares of Common Stock to be reserved and available for issuance under the Plan (the “Initial Share Limit”), which includes (i) 250 million shares of Common Stock available for new issuances under the Plan and (ii) 100 million shares of Common Stock relating to a portion of outstanding stock options and restricted stock units assumed by the Company in connection with the Reorganization Merger; provided, that the total number of shares of Common Stock that will be reserved, and that may be issued, under the Plan will automatically increase on the first trading day of each calendar year, beginning with calendar year 2024, by a number of Common Shares equal to five percent (5%) of the total number of Outstanding Shares on the last day of the prior calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may act prior to January 1 of a given year to provide that there will be no such increase in the share reserve for that year or that the increase in the share reserve for such year will be a lesser number of Common Shares than provided herein.

Common Stock

Organizational Structure

As described in Note 1 - Organization and Basis of Presentation, on May 12, 2023, Atlis Motor Vehicles Inc. (“Atlis”) completed its Reorganization Merger to Nxu, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Company” or “Nxu”). At the effective time of the Reorganization Merger, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Atlis’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Atlis Class A Common Stock”) were converted automatically on a one-for-one basis into shares of Nxu’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Nxu Class A Common Stock”) and all of the issued and outstanding shares of Atlis’s Class D common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Atlis Class D Common Stock” and, together with Atlis Class A Common Stock, “Atlis Common Stock”) were converted automatically on a one-for-one basis into shares of Nxu’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Nxu Class B Common Stock” and, together with Nxu Class A Common Stock, “Nxu Common Stock”), and, as a result, the current stockholders of Atlis automatically became stockholders of Nxu, holding the same number and percentage of shares of Nxu Common Stock as they held of Atlis Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Reorganization Merger.

Issuance and conversion of shares of common stock pursuant to the Reorganization Merger are considered transactions between entities under common control. As a result, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for periods prior to these transactions have been adjusted to combine the previously separate entities for presentation purposes.

Pursuant to the Company's Reorganization Merger, each share of Atlis Motor Vehicles, Inc Class A common stock was converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Nxu, Inc. Class A common stock and each share of Atlis Motor Vehicles, Inc Class D common stock was converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Nxu, Inc. Class B common stock. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, and the voting rights described below, shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock shall have the same rights, privileges and powers, rank equally, share ratably and be identical in all respects and as to all matters. The voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, powers and preferences of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of the holders of the preferred stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) upon any issuance of the preferred stock of any series.

In addition, at the effective time of the Reorganization Merger, (i) each outstanding option to purchase shares of Atlis Class A Common Stock (“Atlis Option”), whether vested or unvested, automatically converted into an option to purchase shares of Nxu Class A Common Stock (a “Nxu Option”) and (ii) each outstanding Atlis restricted share unit (an “Atlis Restricted Share”), whether vested or unvested, automatically converted into a restricted stock unit of Nxu (a “Nxu RSU”). Each Nxu Option is subject to terms and conditions consistent with the Employee Stock Option Plan and the applicable Atlis Option award agreement as in effect immediately prior to the effective time. Each Nxu RSU is subject to terms and conditions consistent with the applicable Atlis Restricted Share award agreement as in effect immediately prior to the effective time.

At the effective time of the Reorganization Merger, (i) each outstanding Senior Secured Original Issue 10% Discount Convertible Promissory Note (an “Atlis Note”) convertible into shares of Atlis Class A Common Stock automatically converted into a Senior Secured Original Issue 10% Discount Convertible Promissory Note convertible into shares of Nxu Class A Common Stock (a “Nxu Note”) and (ii) each outstanding warrant to purchase shares of Atlis Class A Common Stock (an “Atlis Warrant”) automatically converted into a warrant to purchase shares of Nxu Class A Common Stock (a “Nxu Warrant”). Each Nxu Note is subject to terms and conditions consistent with the applicable Atlis Note as in effect immediately prior to the effective time. Each Nxu Warrant is subject to terms and conditions consistent with the applicable Atlis Warrant as in effect immediately prior to the effective time.

In 2022, the Company issued Class B shares of common stock. These shares are not traded openly nor available for sale to the public. Class B shares are offered only to the (1) Chief Executive Officer and (2) President of the Company. At all meetings of stockholders and on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation generally, each holder of Class A common stock, as such, shall have the right to one (1) vote per share of Class A common stock held of record by such holder and each holder of Class B common stock, as such, shall have the right to ten (10) votes per share of Class B common stock held of record by such holder. The shares of Class B common stock are not entitled to receive any dividends or any distribution upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company. Class B shares are not convertible, are deemed to have no economic value, and upon a holder’s cessation of service to the Company, such holder shall, on the one-year anniversary of such cessation, surrender to the Company for no consideration all shares of Class B shares owned by such holder. Shares of Class B common stock were issued to the (1) Chief Executive Officer and (2) President in the amount of 31.1 million shares as of December 31, 2022.

Common Stock Offerings

On February 21, 2023, the Company completed a public offering of 8.3 million units at a public offering price of $1.56 per unit (the “February 2023 Offering”). Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock, Series A warrants to purchase 0.65 shares of Class A common stock (the “Series A Warrants”), and Series B warrants to purchase 0.75 shares of Class A common stock (the “Series B Warrants”). See Note 13 - Convertible Notes and Warrant Liability for more information regarding the Series A and Series B warrants. Proceeds from the offering, net of offering costs, were approximately $12.0 million.

On August 11, 2023, the Company completed a public offering of 16.7 million units at an offering price of $0.30 per unit (the “August 2023 Offering”). Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock (or a pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) and one common warrant, with each warrant exercisable for two shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $0.30 per share (the “August 2023 Warrants). See Note 13 - Convertible Notes and Warrant Liability for more information regarding the August 2023 warrants. Proceeds from the offering, net of offering costs, were approximately $4.5 million.

On September 27, 2022, a stock purchase agreement between the Company and GEM Global Yield LLC SCS and GEM Yield Bahamas Limited, respectively (together, “GEM Global”) became effective whereby GEM Global committed to purchase up to $300.0 million in shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for up to three years (the “GEM Stock Purchase Facility”). In connection with the GEM Stock Purchase Facility, GEM Global would earn a commitment fee proportionate to number of shares sold in the first year, or a $6.0 million commitment fee on September 27, 2023 if no shares were sold. As of September 27, 2023, the Company had not sold any shares under the GEM Stock Purchase Facility and, as such, registered 50.0 million Class A common shares, 34.0 million of which were immediately issuable to GEM Global for payment of the commitment fee. Additionally, in connection with the share registration, approximately 0.34 million warrants were issuable to GEM Global. As the shares had not been issued to GEM Global by September 30, 2023, the Company recorded a $6.0 million commitment fee liability within stockholders’ deficit and a corresponding offset in stockholder’s deficit which will offset any future sales on the facility in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. On October 2, 2023, the 34.0 million shares of Class A common stock and 0.34 million common stock warrants were issued to GEM Global.

The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Company has authority to issue is 5.0 billion shares, consisting of (1) 5.0 billion authorized shares of common stock, including (a) 4.0 billion authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, (b) 1.0 billion authorized shares of Class B common stock and (2) 10.0 million authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.