methodologies employed by the Company for calculating the fair value of options under ASC 718. Any such election shall be made (i) for any continuing non-employee director, during the month of December that is before the start of the calendar year with respect to any cash compensation for such calendar year and (ii) for any new non-employee director, within 30 days of her or his election to the Board of Directors; provided that, with respect to calendar year 2024, non-employee directors of the Board as of the Effective Date may make any such election within 30 days following the Effective Date for the portion of the Annual Retainer to be earned in 2024 on or following the date of their election. Any election (A) shall be irrevocable with respect to such calendar year and (B) shall automatically apply to the Annual Retainer for each subsequent calendar year unless otherwise revoked prior to the start of such calendar year. Each such stock option shall be granted effective January 15 of the applicable year (or April 1, in the case of 2024) (noting that if any such date is not a trading day, the next trading day shall be the grant date) and shall vest in four equal quarterly installments as of the last date of each calendar quarter subject to the non-employee director’s continued board service through such date (other than the stock options granted in 2024, which shall vest in three equal installments as of the last day of each remaining calendar quarter of 2024).
Equity Retainers
All grants of equity retainer awards to Outside Directors pursuant to this Policy will be automatic and nondiscretionary and will be made in accordance with the following provisions:
Initial Award: Upon his or her initial appointment or election to the Board of Directors, each Outside Director will receive an initial, one-time stock option award (the “Initial Award”) with a Value (as defined below) of $228,000, which shall vest as follows: one-third on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remainder in equal monthly installments over the following two years, provided, however, that all vesting shall cease if the director ceases to have a Service Relationship (as defined in the Company’s 2024 Stock Option and Incentive Plan). The Initial Award shall expire ten years from the date of grant, and shall have a per share exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Company’s 2024 Stock Option and Incentive Plan) of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. This Initial Award applies only to Outside Directors who are first elected to the Board of Directors subsequent to the Effective Date.
Annual Award: On each date of each Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company following the Effective Date (the “Annual Meeting”), each continuing Outside Director, other than a director receiving an Initial Award, will receive an annual stock option award (the “Annual Award”) with a Value of $114,000, which shall vest in full upon the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant or (ii) the date of the next Annual Meeting; provided, however, that all vesting shall cease if the director ceases to have a Service Relationship, unless the Board of Directors determines that the circumstances warrant continuation of vesting. Such Annual Award shall expire ten years from the date of grant, and shall have a per share exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.
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