At December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company had stock option and award plans, and a stock purchase plan.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the equity awards of SeaSpine (including stock options and restricted stock units) outstanding as of immediately prior to the closing of the Merger were converted into equity awards denominated in shares of Orthofix common stock. The Company issued options to purchase 1.9 million shares of Orthofix common stock and 0.5 million shares of time-based vesting restricted stock in connection with the conversion of such awards. The estimated fair value of the portion of the SeaSpine equity awards for which the required service period had been completed at the time of the closing of the Merger was treated as purchase consideration. The remaining estimated fair value is recorded as compensation expense over the remainder of the service period associated with the awards.

In addition, as part of the Merger, the Board of Directors determined to treat the transaction as a “Change in Control” under applicable agreements and equity plans. Thus, in January 2023, all outstanding and previously granted performance-based and market-based restricted stock units were converted to time-based restricted stock units.

The Board of Directors adopted the Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2012 LTIP”) on April 23, 2018, which was subsequently approved by shareholder ratification. The 2012 LTIP provides for the grant of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, stock awards (including restricted stock, unrestricted stock, and stock units), stock appreciation rights, performance-based awards, and other equity-based awards. All of the Company’s employees and the employees of the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible and may receive awards under the 2012 LTIP. In addition, the Company’s non-employee directors, consultants, and advisors who perform services for the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may receive awards under the 2012 LTIP. Awards granted under the 2012 LTIP expire no later than ten years after the date of grant. At December 31, 2023, the Company reserves a total of 11.3 million shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to the 2012 LTIP, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the 2012 LTIP. At December 31, 2023, there were 1.6 million options outstanding under the 2012 LTIP, of which 0.7 million were exercisable. In addition, there were 1.6 million restricted stock units outstanding, some of which contain performance-based vesting conditions, under the 2012 LTIP as of December 31, 2023.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company assumed awards outstanding under the SeaSpine Holdings Corporation Amended and Restated 2015 Incentive Award Plan Award Plan (the “SeaSpine 2015 Plan”). The SeaSpine 2015 Plan provides for the grant of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, stock awards (including restricted stock, unrestricted stock, and stock units), stock appreciation rights, performance-based awards and other equity-based awards. All of the Company’s employees and the employees of the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible and may receive awards under the SeaSpine 2015 Plan. In addition, the Company’s non-employee directors, consultants, and advisors who perform services for the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may receive awards under the SeaSpine 2015 Plan. At December 31, 2023, the Company reserves a total of 3.0 million shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to the SeaSpine 2015 Plan, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the SeaSpine 2015 Plan. At December 31, 2023, there were 1.0 million options outstanding under the SeaSpine 2015 Plan, of which 0.9 million were exercisable. In addition, there were 0.2 million restricted stock units outstanding, some of which contain performance-based vesting conditions, under the SeaSpine 2015 Plan as of December 31, 2023.

In August 2019, the Company appointed a new President of Global Spine, who was then subsequently promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer, a position held until the closing of the merger with SeaSpine on January 5, 2023. As an inducement to accept employment with the Company, the individual was awarded a grant of stock options to acquire up to less than 51 thousand shares

of common stock and an award of 15 thousand restricted stock units. As of December 31, 2023, there were 51 thousand options outstanding under this inducement, all of which were exercisable.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company assumed awards outstanding under the SeaSpine 2018 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan and the SeaSpine 2020 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan. As of December 31, 2023, there were 0.3 million options outstanding under these inducements, 0.2 million of which were exercisable, and 17 thousand unvested restricted stock units outstanding.

In January 2023, the Company granted options to acquire up to 0.9 million shares of common stock and awarded 0.5 million restricted stock units to SeaSpine employees as an inducement to continue employment with the Company. As of December 31, 2023, there were 0.3 million options outstanding under this inducement, none of which were exercisable, and 0.2 million unvested restricted stock units outstanding.

The Second Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Plan, as Amended (the “Stock Purchase Plan”) provides for the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock to eligible employees and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries that elect to participate in the plan and acquire shares of common stock through payroll deductions (including executive officers).

During each purchase period, eligible employees may designate between 1% and 25% of their compensation to be deducted for the purchase of common stock under the plan (or such other percentage in order to comply with regulations applicable to employees domiciled in or resident of a member state of the European Union). For eligible directors, the designated percentage will be applied to an amount equal to his or her director compensation paid in cash for the current plan period. The purchase price of the shares under the plan is equal to 85% of the fair market value on the first day of the plan period or, if lower, on the last day of the plan period.

Due to the compensatory nature of such plan, the Company records the related share-based compensation expense in the consolidated statement of operations. Compensation expense is estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model, with such value recognized as expense over the plan period. As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Stock Purchase Plan is 3.6 million. As of December 31, 2023, a total of 2.8 million shares had been issued pursuant to the Stock Purchase Plan.

Share-based compensation expense is recorded in the same line of the consolidated statements of operations as the employee’s cash compensation. The following tables present the detail of share-based compensation expense by line item in the consolidated statements of income as well as by award type, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:


	Year Ended December 31,
(U.S. Dollars, in thousands)	2023		2022		2021
Cost of sales	$	1,901	$	826	$	779
Sales and marketing		8,174		3,865		3,385
General and administrative		21,743		12,917		10,289
Research and development		3,889		835		979
Total	$	35,707	$	18,443	$	15,432


	Year Ended December 31,
(U.S. Dollars, in thousands)	2023		2022		2021
Stock options	$	6,130	$	1,114	$	1,893
Time-based restricted stock awards and stock units		27,290		9,452		7,437
Performance-based / Market-based restricted stock units		227		6,425		4,414
Stock purchase plan		2,060		1,452		1,688
Total	$	35,707	$	18,443	$	15,432

The income tax benefit related to this expense was $5.8 million, $3.3 million, and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

The fair value of time-based stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, with such value recognized as expense over the service period, which is typically three to four years, net of actual forfeitures. A summary of the Company’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of the stock options granted during each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, is shown in the following table. The Company did not grant any time-based stock options in 2022.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
Assumptions:
Expected term (in years)		6.0		—	6.0
Expected volatility	36.8% – 42.3%			—	34.4% – 34.8%
Risk free interest rate	3.38% – 4.61%			—	0.83% – 1.25%
Dividend yield		—		—		—
Weighted average grant date fair value	$	8.43	$	—	$	12.33

The expected term of the options granted is estimated based on a number of factors, including the vesting and expiration terms of the award, historical employee exercise behavior for both options that are currently outstanding and options that have been exercised or are expired, and an employee’s average length of service. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The risk-free interest rate is determined based upon a constant U.S. Treasury security rate with a contractual life that approximates the expected term of the option.

Summaries of the status of the Company’s stock option plans as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2023, are presented below:


(In thousands)	Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2022		1,299		$	39.29
Assumed SeaSpine awards		1,890		$	36.05
Granted		1,837		$	19.92
Exercised		-		$	-
Forfeited or expired		(1,803	)	$	31.62
Outstanding at December 31, 2023		3,223		$	30.64		4.97
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2023		3,223		$	30.64		4.97
Exercisable at December 31, 2023		1,828		$	36.78		2.68

As of December 31, 2023, the unamortized compensation expense relating to options granted and expected to be recognized was $4.8 million. This amount is expected to be recognized through December 2027 over a weighted average period of approximately 1.2 years. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $0.0 million, $0.0 million, and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we did not receive any cash from stock option exercises, and thus did not realize any tax benefit for the tax deductions from stock option exercises. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable as of December 31, 2023, is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying options and the market price of the Company’s common stock for options that had exercise prices lower than $13.48, the closing price of the Company’s stock on December 31, 2023. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding was $0.1 million as of December 31, 2023. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable was $0.0 million as of that date.

Compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards and stock units, which represents the fair value of the stock measured at the market price at the date of grant, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, which is typically three to four years, net of actual forfeitures.

The aggregate fair value of time-based restricted stock awards and stock units that vested during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, was $17.2 million, $5.2 million, and $9.0 million, respectively. Unamortized compensation expense related to time-based restricted stock awards and stock units amounted to $22.6 million at December 31, 2023. This amount is expected to be

recognized through December 2026 over a weighted average period of approximately 1.6 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of time-based restricted stock awards and stock units outstanding was $27.5 million as of December 31, 2023.

Certain of the Company's outstanding restricted stock units contain performance-based vested conditions or market-based vesting conditions. As previously discussed, all outstanding performance-based and market-based restricted stock units were converted to time-based restricted stock units in January 2023 upon completion of the Merger based on the Board of Directors' determination to treat the transaction as a "Change in Control" under applicable agreements and equity plans.

The fair value of performance-based restricted stock units is calculated based upon the closing stock price at the date of grant. Such value is recognized as expense over the requisite service period beginning in the period in which they are deemed probable to vest, net of actual forfeitures. Vesting probability is assessed based upon forecasted financial metrics or applicable milestones associated with the applicable grant.

The fair value of market-based restricted stock units is determined at the date of the grant using the Monte Carlo valuation methodology, with any discounts for post-vesting restrictions estimated using the Chaffe Model. The Monte Carlo methodology incorporates into the valuation the possibility that the market condition may not be satisfied. Such value is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, net of actual forfeitures.

The fair value of performance-based and/or market-based restricted stock units that vested and settled during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, totaled $0.0 million, $0.0 million, and $0.0 million, respectively. Unamortized compensation expense for performance-based and/or market-based restricted stock units totaled less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2023, and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.0 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of performance-based restricted stock units outstanding was $0.1 million as of December 31, 2023.

A summary of the status of our time-based and performance-based and/or market-based restricted stock units as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2023, are presented below:


	Time-based Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Units					Performance-based and/or Market-based Restricted Stock Units
(In thousands)	Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2022		847		$	34.18		516		$	40.29
Assumed SeaSpine awards		490		$	22.76		—		$	—
Conversion of performance-based and market-based stock units to time-based stock units		516		$	40.29		(516	)	$	40.29
Granted		1,496		$	18.51		13		$	20.10
Vested and settled		(749	)	$	29.04		(4	)	$	22.76
Cancelled		(560	)	$	21.12		—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2023		2,040		$	26.96		9		$	22.69