Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock Incentive Plan

v3.21.2
Stock Incentive Plan
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Stock Incentive Plan Stock Incentive PlansThe Company maintains two share-based incentive plans: the Axogen 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2019 Plan”) and the Axogen 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2017 ESPP”).
Overview of Equity Incentive Plan
At the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on August 14, 2019, the shareholders approved the Axogen 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which allows for the award of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, PSUs and RSUs to employees, directors and consultants. Awards under the 2019 Plan are priced at, or above, the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2019 Plan is (a) 3,385,482 shares, comprised of (i) 3,000,000 new authorized shares and (ii) 385,482 unallocated shares of common stock available for issuance as of August 14, 2019 pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “2010 Plan”), that were not then subject to outstanding awards; plus (b) shares under the 2010 Plan and the 2019 Plan that are cancelled, forfeited, expired, unearned or settled in cash, in any such case that does not result in the issuance of common stock. Following shareholder approval of the 2019 Plan, no future awards will be made under the 2010 Plan. At the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 10, 2021, the shareholders approved an additional 2,500,000 shares to be allocated for issuance under the 2019 Plan. As of September 30, 2021, 2,924,078 shares of common stock were available for issuance under the 2019 Plan.
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense, which consisted of compensation expense related to employee stock options, PSUs and RSUs based on the value of share-based payment awards that are ultimately expected to vest during the period and stock-based compensation expense related to the 2017 ESPP, of approximately $2,911 and $2,947 for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and approximately $9,410 and $5,725 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Stock Options
The options granted to employees prior to July 1, 2017 typically vest 25% 1 year after the grant date and 12.5% every six months thereafter for the remaining three-year period until fully vested after four years. The options granted to employees after July 1, 2017 typically vest 50% two years after the grant date and 12.5% every six months thereafter for the remaining two-year period until fully vested after four years. The options granted to directors and certain options granted from time to time to certain executive officers have vested ratably over three years or 25% per quarter over one year. Options typically have terms ranging from seven to ten years.
The Company estimates the fair value of each option award issued under such plans on the date of grant using a Multiple Point Black-Scholes option-pricing model which uses a weighted average of historical volatility and peer company volatility. The Company determines the expected life of each award giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules and post-vesting forfeitures. The Company uses the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury issues with an equivalent remaining term approximately equal to the expected life of the award.
A summary of the stock option activity is as follows:
Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding, December 31, 2020 3,516,484  $12.79  5.93 $ 25,718 
Granted 629,348  $20.20 
Exercised (698,150) $5.74 
Cancelled (173,001) $16.75 
Outstanding, September 30, 2021 3,274,681  $15.46  6.59 $ 12,878 
Exercisable, September 30, 2021 1,890,173  $14.42  5.05 $ 9,324 

The Company used the following weighted-average assumptions for options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2021:
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2021
Expected term (in years) 5.88
Expected volatility 58.41   %
Risk free rate 1.01   %
Expected dividends —   %
Restricted and Performance Stock Units
RSUs granted to employees have a requisite service period of four years. The RSUs granted to directors and certain RSUs granted from time to time to certain executive officers have vested ratably over three years or over one year. The Company expenses the fair value of RSUs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. PSUs generally have a requisite service period of three years and are subject to graded vesting conditions based on revenue goals of the Company. The Company expenses their fair value over the requisite service period.
A summary of the status of non-vested RSUs/PSUs as of September 30, 2021 and the changes during the nine months then ended are presented below:
Outstanding Stock Units
Stock Units Weighted-Average Fair Value at Date of Grant per Share Weighted Average Remaining Vesting Life Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Unvested, December 31, 2020 1,782,905  $ 15.23  1.83 $ 31,825 
Granted 863,014  $ 20.56 
Released (206,193) $ 16.68 
Forfeited (250,710) $ 16.22 
Unvested, September 30, 2021 2,189,016  $ 17.08  1.69 $ 34,586 
Performance Stock Units
The Company estimates the fair value of the PSUs based on its closing stock price at the time of grant and its estimate of achieving such performance target and records compensation expense as the milestones are achieved. Over the performance period, the number of shares of common stock that will ultimately vest and be issued and the related compensation expense will be adjusted based upon the Company’s estimate of achieving such performance target. The number of shares delivered to recipients and the related compensation cost recognized as an expense will be based on the actual performance metrics as set forth in the applicable PSU award agreement. The amount actually awarded will be based upon achievement of the performance measures.
At September 30, 2021, the total future stock compensation expense related to non-vested performance awards at maximum target payout is expected to be approximately $6,240.
On March, 8, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved PSUs that were tied to 2022 revenue, the “2021 PSU award.” The 2021 PSU award consists of a targeted award of 332,200 shares with a payout ranging from 0% to 200% upon achievement of specific revenue goals.
On July 17, 2020, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved PSU awards of 144,300 tied to the 2020 revenue. These awards were granted in mid-year with certain revenue targets adjusted for the impact of COVID-19. The 2020 PSUs granted in July reached 110% achievement of revenue targets.
On February 21, 2020, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved PSUs that were tied to 2021 revenue, the "2020 PSU award". The 2020 PSU award consists of a targeted award of 348,000 shares. In June 2020, the Company concluded that the performance metrics relating to the 2020 PSU grant with performance metrics tied to 2021 revenue were no longer probable and therefore stock compensation expense related to these grants of $340 was reversed. Subsequently, in the fourth quarter of 2020, it became probable that the Company would achieve 50% of these performance metrics and therefore adjusted stock compensation expense. In the third quarter of 2021, it was determined that the performance metrics tied to 2021 revenue were no longer probable; therefore stock compensation expense related to these grants of $804 was reversed.
In February 2020, the Company issued PSUs relating to a 2017 grant with performance metrics tied to 2019 revenue.  The award was issued at 72.3% of achievement and therefore, 27.7% of the stock compensation expense, or $536 relating to this grant was forfeited or reversed in the first quarter of 2020. Previously, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted PSUs that were tied to 2020 revenue in 2018. As a result of COVID-19, it was determined these PSU grants would not be awarded and therefore stock compensation expense related to these grants of $1,161 was forfeited in the prior year.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company also maintains the Axogen 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which allows eligible employees to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock through payroll deductions at a discount to market price. A total of 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for issuance under the 2017 ESPP, and as of September 30, 2021, 272,489 shares remain available for issuance.