Share Based Compensation |
8 Share Based Compensation Stock Options Under the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, or the “2019 Plan”, and the Company’s Stock Option Plan, or the “2011 Plan”, unless otherwise decided by the Board of Directors, options vest and are exercisable as follows: 25% vest and are exercisable on the one year anniversary of the grant date and one thirty-sixth (1/36th) of the remaining options vest and are exercisable each month thereafter, such that options are vested in full on four-year anniversary of the grant date. On January 1, 2024, the number of the Company’s common shares reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan automatically increased by 1,339,324 common shares. In addition, 125,323 options have been forfeited under the 2011 Plan since the adoption of the 2019 Plan and have become available for issuance under the 2019 Plan. Further, since the adoption of the plan, 561,000 of previously issued options were cancelled and were made available for future grants. As of September 30, 2024, there were 9,522,270 common shares available for issuance under the 2019 Plan, of which 1,015,575 common shares were available for future grants. On November 10, 2021, the Company established a 2021 Inducement Plan, or the “Inducement Plan”, through the granting of awards. This 2021 Inducement Plan is intended to help the Company provide an inducement for certain individuals to enter employment with the Company, incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and a means by which employees may benefit from increases in value of the common shares. As of September 30, 2024, there were 1,000,000 shares available for issuance under the 2021 Inducement Plan, of which 504,000 shares were available for future grants. The total outstanding and exercisable standard options from the 2011 Plan, 2019 Plan and Inducement Plan as of and for the nine-month period ending September 30 were as follows (excluding performance stock options and performance share units): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2024 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Weighted | | | Number | | | | average | | | of shares | | | | exercise | | | 2019 Plan | | Inducement Plan | | 2011 Plan | | Total | | price | Outstanding at beginning of period - 2011 Plan | | | — | | — | | | 1,694,233 | | 1,694,233 | | $ | 2.09 | Outstanding at beginning of period - 2019 Plan | | | 6,406,897 | | — | | | — | | 6,406,897 | | | 5.82 | Outstanding at beginning of period - Inducement Plan | | | — | | 625,000 | | | — | | 625,000 | | | 5.74 | Granted - 2019 Plan | | | 635,000 | | — | | | — | | 635,000 | | | 1.48 | Exercised - 2011 Plan | | | — | | — | | | (24,400) | | (24,400) | | | 1.19 | Forfeited - Inducement Plan | | | — | | (98,250) | | | — | | (98,250) | | | 4.33 | Forfeited - 2019 Plan | | | (386,053) | | — | | | — | | (386,053) | | | 4.42 | Expired - 2019 Plan | | | (68,238) | | — | | | — | | (68,238) | | | 7.42 | Expired - 2011 Plan | | | — | | — | | | (11,272) | | (11,272) | | | 4.01 | Expired - Inducement Plan | | | — | | (30,750) | | | — | | (30,750) | | | 6.22 | Outstanding at end of period | | | 6,587,606 | | 496,000 | | | 1,658,561 | | 8,742,167 | | $ | 4.86 | Outstanding at end of period - Weighted average exercise price | | $ | 5.47 | $ | 5.99 | | $ | 2.09 | | | | | | Exercisable at end of period | | | 4,430,367 | | 273,396 | | | 1,658,561 | | 6,362,324 | | $ | 5.20 | Exercisable at end of period - Weighted average exercise price | | $ | 6.29 | $ | 6.45 | | $ | 2.09 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Weighted | | | Number | | | | average | | | of shares | | | | exercise | | | 2019 Plan | | Inducement Plan | | 2011 Plan | | Total | | price | Outstanding at beginning of period - 2011 Plan | | | — | | — | | | 1,802,672 | | 1,802,672 | | $ | 2.05 | Outstanding at beginning of period - 2019 Plan | | | 5,314,312 | | — | | | — | | 5,314,312 | | | 8.35 | Outstanding at beginning of period - Inducement Plan | | | — | | 503,000 | | | — | | 503,000 | | | 6.41 | Granted - 2019 Plan | | | 1,867,400 | | — | | | — | | 1,867,400 | | | 3.62 | Exercised - 2019 Plan | | | (7,000) | | — | | | — | | (7,000) | | | 3.74 | Exercised - 2011 Plan | | | — | | — | | | (105,779) | | (105,779) | | | 1.52 | Forfeited - 2019 Plan | | | (87,861) | | — | | | — | | (87,861) | | | 6.28 | Expired - 2019 Plan | | | (58,617) | | — | | | — | | (58,617) | | | 11.52 | Expired - 2011 Plan | | | — | | — | | | (343) | | (343) | | | 0.92 | Cancelled - 2019 Plan | | | (561,000) | | — | | | — | | (561,000) | | | 21.73 | Outstanding at end of period | | | 6,467,234 | | 503,000 | | | 1,696,550 | | 8,666,784 | | $ | 5.13 | Outstanding at end of period - Weighted average exercise price | | $ | 5.83 | $ | 6.41 | | $ | 2.08 | | | | | | Exercisable at end of period | | | 2,972,614 | | 190,396 | | | 1,696,550 | | 4,859,560 | | $ | 5.25 | Exercisable at end of period - Weighted average exercise price | | $ | 6.98 | $ | 6.42 | | $ | 2.08 | | | | | |
The weighted average remaining contractual life was 6.6 and 7.5 years for outstanding options as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual life was 6.0 and 6.4 years for vested options, as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. There was $6.5 million and $13.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to standard non-vested share options as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The share options are expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.6 years and 2.4 years as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Options granted are valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model also requires assumptions, including expected option life, volatility, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield, which greatly affect the calculated values. Amortization of the fair value of the options over vesting years has been expensed and credited to additional paid-in capital in shareholders’ equity. The non-vested options as of and for the nine-month period ending September 30 were as follows (excluding performance stock options and performance share units): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2024 | | | Number | | | | Weighted | | | of options | | | | average | | | 2019 Plan | | Inducement Plan | | 2011 Plan | | Total | | fair value | Non-vested share options at beginning of period - 2019 Plan | | | 3,178,475 | | | — | | | — | | 3,178,475 | | | 3.64 | Non-vested share options at beginning of period - Inducement Plan | | | — | | | 403,167 | | | — | | 403,167 | | | 4.07 | Granted - 2019 Plan | | | 635,000 | | | — | | | — | | 635,000 | | | 1.10 | Vested, outstanding 2019 Plan | | | (1,270,183) | | | — | | | — | | (1,270,183) | | | 3.62 | Vested, outstanding Inducement Plan | | | — | | | (82,313) | | | — | | (82,313) | | | 4.86 | Forfeited - Inducement Plan | | | — | | | (98,250) | | | — | | (98,250) | | | 3.31 | Forfeited - 2019 Plan | | | (386,053) | | | — | | | — | | (386,053) | | | 3.47 | Non-vested share options at end of period | | | 2,157,239 | | | 222,604 | | | — | | 2,379,843 | | $ | 3.04 | Non-vested share options at end of period - Weighted average fair value | | $ | 2.93 | | $ | 4.11 | | $ | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2023 | | | Number | | | | Weighted | | | of options | | | | average | | | 2019 Plan | | Inducement Plan | | 2011 Plan | | Total | | fair value | Non-vested share options at beginning of period - 2011 Plan | | | — | | | — | | | 2,126 | | 2,126 | | $ | 6.64 | Non-vested share options at beginning of period - 2019 Plan | | | 2,923,763 | | | — | | | — | | 2,923,763 | | | 5.30 | Non-vested share options at beginning of period - Inducement Plan | | | — | | | 503,000 | | | — | | 503,000 | | | 4.84 | Granted - 2019 Plan | | | 1,867,400 | | | — | | | — | | 1,867,400 | | | 2.87 | Vested, outstanding 2011 Plan | | | — | | | — | | | (2,126) | | (2,126) | | | 6.64 | Vested, outstanding 2019 Plan | | | (1,231,712) | | | — | | | — | | (1,231,712) | | | 6.09 | Vested, outstanding Inducement Plan | | | — | | | (190,396) | | | — | | (190,396) | | | 4.85 | Forfeited - 2019 Plan | | | (64,831) | | | — | | | — | | (64,831) | | | 4.08 | Non-vested share options at end of period | | | 3,494,620 | | | 312,604 | | | — | | 3,807,224 | | $ | 3.83 | Non-vested share options at end of period - Weighted average fair value | | $ | 3.74 | | $ | 4.84 | | $ | — | | | | | |
The fair value of standard options granted for the 2011 Plan, 2019 Plan and Inducement Plan were estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, resulting in the following weighted average assumptions for the options granted (excluding performance stock options and performance share units): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three months ended September 30, | | | Nine months ended September 30, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | Exercise price | $ | 1.48 | | $ | 3.14 | | | $ | 1.48 | | $ | 3.62 | | Share price | $ | 1.48 | | $ | 3.14 | | | $ | 1.48 | | $ | 3.62 | | Volatility | | 92 | % | | 98 | % | | | 92 | % | | 98 | % | Risk-free interest rate | | 3.77 | % | | 4.09 | % | | | 3.81 | % | | 3.92 | % | Expected life | | 5.31 | | | 6.08 years | | | | 5.37 | | | 6.00 years | | Dividend | | 0 | % | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % | | 0 | % |
Expected volatility is determined using comparable companies for which the information is publicly available. The risk-free interest rate is determined based on the U.S. sovereign rates benchmark in effect at the time of grant with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the option. Expected option life is determined based on the simplified method as the Company does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term. The simplified method is an average of the contractual term of the options and its ordinary vesting period. Dividend yield is based on the share option’s exercise price and expected annual dividend rate at the time of grant. Performance Stock Options On May 6, 2024, the Company, pursuant to the 2019 Plan, awarded 924,000 performance stock options to employees. The performance stock options were granted “at-the-money” and have a term of 10 years. The original grant-date fair value of each option was estimated on the date of grant using the same option valuation model used for the options outlined above. The original grant-date fair value of $1.4 million was determined using an expected volatility of 91%, term of 10 years, strike price of $1.74, and risk-free rate of 4.49%. Compensation expense for performance-based stock options is only recognized when management determines it is probable that the awards will vest. The vesting of the performance-based stock options is conditional upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or “FDA”, approval of etripamil. Subject to the optionholder’s continuous service as of each such date, 50% of the option shares will vest on the six-month anniversary of the approval date and the remaining 50% of the option shares will vest on the one-year anniversary of such approval date. The expense for the performance-based stock options is not recognized until the performance conditions are deemed probable of achievement. The Company did not record any expense related to the performance-based stock options during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 as the performance conditions were not deemed probable of being met. The weighted average grant date fair value of the performance stock options awarded during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $1.53 per option. Employee Stock Purchase Plan On July 15, 2022, the Company offered an ESPP, in which participation is available to our employees in the United States and Canada who meet certain service eligibility requirements. Eligible employees may authorize an amount up to 15% of their salary to purchase common stock at the lower of a 15% discount to the beginning price of the participation period or a 15% discount to the ending price of each six-month purchase interval. The ESPP also provides for an automatic reset feature to start participants on a new twelve-month participation period in the event that the common stock market value on a purchase date is less than the common stock value on the first day of the twelve-month offering period. On January 1, 2024, the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the ESPP automatically increased by 334,831 shares. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has 1,798,766 common shares available for issuance under the ESPP, of which 295,736 shares of common stock have been issued. Compensation expense for purchase rights under the ESPP related to the purchase discount and the “look-back” option was determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. Performance Share Units On May 6, 2024, the Company, pursuant to the 2019 Plan, awarded 924,000 Performance Share Units, or “PSUs”, to employees. The PSUs vest subject to the satisfaction of certain performance conditions established by the Company’s Compensation Committee. The FDA approval of etripamil represents the performance condition for the vesting of these performance share units. A summary of the Company’s PSU activity for the nine months ended September 30 is as follows: | | | | | | | | | 2024 | | 2023 | Beginning balance | | $ | — | | $ | — | Granted | | | 924,000 | | | — | Vested | | | — | | | — | Forfeited | | | — | | | — | Ending balance | | $ | 924,000 | | $ | — |
The number of PSUs granted represents the total number of common shares that may be earned. However, the actual number of shares earned will be based on the satisfaction of the performance criteria. Upon satisfaction of the performance criteria, 100% of the earned shares will vest. Stock-based compensation costs associated with these PSUs are reassessed each reporting period based on estimated performance achievement. The Company did not record any expense related to the PSUs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 as the performance conditions were not deemed probable of being met. The weighted average grant date fair value of the PSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $1.74. Share-based Compensation Expense The Company recognized total share-based compensation expense for all plans as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, | | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2023 | | Administration | | $ | 723 | | $ | 1,546 | | $ | 2,377 | | $ | 4,051 | | Research and development | | | 477 | | | 900 | | | 1,400 | | | 2,526 | | Commercial activities | | | 199 | | | 426 | | | 525 | | | 1,080 | | Total | | $ | 1,399 | | $ | 2,872 | | $ | 4,302 | | $ | 7,657 | |
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