Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation

v3.23.1
Stock-Based Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Stock-based Compensation Stock-based Compensation
Equity Compensation Plans
In November 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2016 Stock Option and Grant Plan (“2016 Plan”) under which officers, employees, directors, consultants and other key persons of the Company or its affiliates may be granted
incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units. On August 10, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors amended the 2016 Plan to provide that no new awards could be granted under the 2016 Plan.
Under the 2016 Plan, stock options are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors on the date of grant. Options generally have contractual terms of ten years. Incentive stock options (ISO) may only be granted to employees, whereas all other stock awards may be granted to employees, directors, consultants and other key persons.
Outstanding options generally vest over six years, contain a one year cliff, are exercisable immediately and, upon early exercise, are subject to repurchase by the Company at the original exercise price. If an ISO is granted to an optionee who, at the time of grant, owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of capital stock, the term of the ISO is five years. Options issued under the 2016 Plan must be priced at no less than the fair value of the shares on the date of the grant provided, however, that the exercise price of an option granted to a 10% stockholder is not less than 110% of the fair value of the shares on the date of grant. The Board of Directors determines the exercisability provisions of a stock option agreement at its sole discretion.
On August 10, 2021, the Company adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Plan”). Under the 2021 Plan, the Company can grant incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards to employees, directors and consultants. The number of shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan will be increased on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning on January 1, 2022, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) a number of shares equal to four percent (4%) of the total number of shares of all classes of common stock of the Company outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, or (ii) such number of shares determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. On January 1, 2023, the number of shares available for issuance under 2021 plan increased by 24,904,113 shares.
Restricted Stock Units
The summary of RSU activity is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
Number of Units
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Balances—December 31, 2022
28,537,127 $ 5.75  $ 95,599 
Granted 1,973,570 $ 3.84   
Vested (5,839,302) $ 4.58   
Forfeited (815,705) $ 6.32   
Balances—March 31, 2023
23,855,690 $ 5.86  $ 103,534 
On December 16, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a performance-based bonus program under which RSUs were awarded in connection with the achievement of specified goals to be achieved in 2022 (“2022 Bonus Plan”). The RSUs awarded under 2022 Bonus Plan vested on January 1, 2023 and are included in Restricted Stock Units activity for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
On February 27, 2023, the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors ("Compensation Committee") approved a performance-based bonus program under which RSUs will be awarded in connection with the achievement of specified goals in 2023 ("2023 Bonus Plan"). The RSU awards will be granted when the achievement of each goal is approved by the Compensation Committee in 2023, and the RSUs will vest in equal installments in each of January, February, March and April 2024 provided the employee or consultant continues to be a service provider through the relevant vesting dates. The target bonus opportunity is equal to 30% of the employee’s base salary as of the applicable grant date, with stretch bonus goals that are one-third higher than the target amounts unless otherwise established by the Compensation Committee.
The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $3.3 million and $7.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 in relation to 2023 Bonus Plan and 2022 Bonus Plan, respectively. The Company considers the probability of achieving each of the performance goals at the end of each reporting period and recognizes expense over the requisite service period when achievement of the goal is determined to be probable, and adjusts the expense if the probability of achieving the goal later changes. In accordance with ASC 718 Compensation - Stock Compensation, awards under 2023 Bonus Plan and 2022 Bonus Plan are classified as a liability until such time that the respective milestones are
met, at which point the liability is reclassified to equity. If it is determined that the milestone cannot be met, the liability will be reversed.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
On August 10, 2021, the Company adopted the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2021 ESPP”). Under the 2021 ESPP, participating employees may be offered the option to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a purchase price which equals 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the enrollment date or on the exercise date, whichever is lower. The number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2021 ESPP will be increased on the first day of each fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2022, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) a number of shares of common stock equal to half percent (0.5%) of the total number of shares of all classes of common stock of the Company on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, or (ii) such number of shares determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. On January 1, 2023, the number of shares available for issuance under 2021 ESPP increased by 3,113,014 shares. The 2021 ESPP’s first offering and purchase periods began in November 2022 with the first purchase period ending in May 2023. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2023, no shares have been issued under the 2021 ESPP. The stock-based compensation expense recognized for the 2021 ESPP was $0.8 million and nil for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Stock-based Compensation Expense
The following sets forth the total stock-based compensation expense included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31,
2023 2022
Research and development expenses $ 13,044  $ 14,722 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 4,214  4,707 
Total stock-based compensation expense $ 17,258  $ 19,429 

Shares subject to repurchase
The Company allows certain option holders to exercise unvested options to purchase shares of common stock. Common shares received from such early exercises are subject to a right of repurchase at the original issuance price. The Company’s repurchase right with respect to these shares lapses as the shares vest. These awards are typically subject to a vesting period of six years. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 3,338,985 and 3,923,509 shares, respectively, were subject to repurchase at a weighted average price of $0.10 per share and $0.10 per share, respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, was recorded within the other non-current liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
In addition, upon completion of the Reverse Recapitalization 2,677,200 Series C Preferred shares which were subject to time-based vesting conditions were converted to restricted common shares. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the number of such shares that were subject to repurchase was 1,895,180 and 2,007,595, respectively.