XML 33 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.0.814
Note 2 - Stock-Based Compensation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
Note 2 — Stock-Based Compensation
 
As of September 30, 2015, the Company had two stock-based employee compensation plans, the Stock Incentive Plan (“Incentive Plan”) and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), both which were amended and restated in March 2014 and approved by the Company’s stockholders in May 2014. Stock-based compensation expense of $7,773 ($7,553 of expense related to the Incentive Plan and $220 of expense related to the ESPP) was recognized during the first nine months of 2015, while $6,550 ($6,388 of expense related to the Incentive Plan and $162 of expense related to the ESPP) was recognized during the first nine months of 2014.
 
There was approximately $14,839 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option awards and restricted stock unit awards granted by the Company as of September 30, 2015. That cost is expected to be recognized as follows: $1,782 during the remainder of 2015, $5,632 in 2016, $4,627 in 2017, $2,508 in 2018 and $290 in 2019. In addition, the Company has approximately $11,982 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding performance-based stock options for which no compensation expense is recognized until “performance” has occurred and the award vests. At the time of vesting, compensation expense will be recognized.
 
Stock Incentive Plan
 
The Company grants stock option awards and restricted stock unit awards to its employees, directors, and consultants under the Incentive Plan. Under the Incentive Plan, stock option awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant. Since March 1, 2011, stock option awards granted to employees generally vest 25% each year until fully vested after four years. In January 2013, the Company made retention grants of stock option awards and restricted stock units. These awards vest 50% each year until fully vested after two years. In August 2013 and December 2014, the Company issued 1,032 and 1,250 performance-based stock options, respectively. These awards vest upon successful completion of specific development milestones. As of September 30, 2015, 75% of the August 2013 grants have vested based upon achievement of three milestones: (1) successful completion of the OPuS-1 clinical trial, for which vesting occurred in the second quarter of 2014, (2) FDA approval of RAPIVAB for which vesting occurred in the fourth quarter of 2014, and (3) initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of orally-administered BCX7353 in healthy volunteers, for which vesting occurred in the second quarter of 2015. Thus, as of September 30, 2015, 25% of the August 2013 performance-based grants and 100% of the December 2014 performance-based grants remain unvested and no compensation expense has been recognized for these portions of the previously issued performance-based grants. Stock option awards granted to non-employee directors of the Company generally vest monthly over one year. All stock option awards have contractual terms of 5 to 10 years. The vesting exercise provisions of all awards granted under the Incentive Plan are subject to acceleration in the event of certain stockholder-approved transactions, or upon the occurrence of a change in control as defined in the Incentive Plan.
 
Related activity under the Incentive Plan is as follows:
 
    Awards
Available
  Options
Outstanding
  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Balance December 31, 2014     2,362       9,605     $ 6.21  
Restricted stock unit awards granted     (155 )            
Restricted stock unit awards cancelled     1              
Stock option awards granted     (1,319 )     1,319       11.99  
Stock option awards exercised           (1,102 )     4.36  
Stock option awards cancelled     28       (28 )     9.05  
                         
Balance September 30, 2015     917       9,794     $ 7.19  
 
For stock option awards granted under the Incentive Plan during the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, the fair value was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions noted in the table below. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the awards granted during the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 was $8.15 and $8.19, respectively. The fair value of the stock option awards is amortized to expense over the vesting periods using a straight-line expense attribution method. The following table summarizes the key assumptions used by the Company to value the stock option awards granted during the first nine months of 2015 and 2014. The expected life is based on the average of the assumption that all outstanding stock option awards will be exercised at full vesting and the assumption that all outstanding stock option awards will be exercised at the midpoint of the current date (if already vested) or at full vesting (if not yet vested) and the full contractual term. The expected volatility represents the historical volatility on the Company’s publicly traded common stock. The Company has assumed no expected dividend yield, as dividends have never been paid to stock or option holders and will not be paid for the foreseeable future. The weighted average risk-free interest rate is the implied yield currently available on zero-coupon government issues with a remaining term equal to the expected term.
 
Weighted Average Assumptions for Stock Option Awards Granted to
Employees and Directors under the Incentive Plan
 
    2015   2014
Expected Life in Years     5.5       5.5  
Expected Volatility     83 %     87 %
Expected Dividend Yield     0.0 %     0.0 %
Risk-Free Interest Rate     1.5 %     1.6 %
 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
The Company has reserved a total of 1,475 shares of common stock to be purchased under the ESPP, of which 497 shares remain available for purchase at September 30, 2015. Eligible employees may authorize up to 15% of their salary to purchase common stock at the lower of 85% of the beginning or 85% of the ending price during six-month purchase intervals. No more than 3 shares may be purchased by any one employee at the six-month purchase dates and no employee may purchase stock having a fair market value at the commencement date of $25 or more in any one calendar year. The Company issued 41 shares during the first nine months of 2015 under the ESPP. Compensation expense for shares purchased under the ESPP related to the purchase discount and the “look-back” option were determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model.