and accrues dividends at an annual rate of 8.65%. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the Company, the holders of the preferred stock will be entitled to receive, out of assets available for distribution to our stockholders and before any distribution of assets to our common stockholders, an amount equal to the then-current liquidation preference, which includes accrued and unpaid dividends. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, accrued dividends were $ 34,633,000 and $33,578,000, respectively.
Effective July 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019, all holders of the issued and outstanding 8.65% cumulative preferred shares agreed to waive $73,175,000 and $150,248,000 of liquidation preference, respectively. Through December 31, 2019 and 2018, cumulative, the aggregate liquidation preference was $293,775,000 and $409,390,000, respectively.
Upon the consummation of the Merger, the liquidation preference of the preferred stock was triggered. All outstanding principal of $200,000,000 and cumulative unpaid dividends of $21,161,000 were settled in cash of $13,051,000 with the remaining balance converted to the Company’s common stock at $10.00 per share.
Common Stock
Prior to the Merger, holders of AerSale Aviation’s common stock were entitled to one vote per share, and to receive dividends and, upon liquidation or dissolution, were entitled to receive all assets available for distribution to stockholders. The holders had no preemptive or other subscription rights and there were no redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to such shares. Common stock was subordinated to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up, and dissolution of the Company.
Upon the consummation of the Merger, holders of AerSale Aviation’s common stock received shares of the Company’s common stock at $10.00 per share as merger consideration. The Company’s common stock consist of $0.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, of which 41,046,216 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”)
Prior to the Merger, AerSale Aviation granted stock appreciation rights to certain of its executives. These awards entitled the holders to compensation in the Company’s stock from the date of grant to when the award is exercised. The awards were only exercisable upon a change in control and subject to the holder’s continuing employment.
On December 22, 2020, the exercise feature was triggered, and the awards were exercised. The Company’s accounting policy is to reflect compensation expense when a change in control is deemed probable based on the grant date fair value of the award. As of the date of the Merger, the holder of in-the-money SARs were issued shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $1,042,000 and cash, recognizing executive compensation in the amount of $1,379,000.
Earn-Out Shares
Upon consummation of the Merger, the pre-closing holders of AerSale Aviation’s common stock and the holders of in-the-money SARs received a contingent right to receive up to 3,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock. Additionally, certain pre-closing holders of AerSale Aviation’s common stock received a contingent right to receive 746,876 shares of the Company’s common stock, in the aggregate (the “Earn-out Shares”), subject to the following:
Prior to the fifth anniversary of the Merger, if the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock is greater than $13.50 for any period of 20 trading days out of 30 consecutive trading days, the holders will be entitled to receive 50% of the Earn-out Shares in the aggregate (“Minimum Target Earn-out Shares”); and
Prior to the fifth anniversary of the Merger, if the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock is greater than $15.00 for any period of 20 trading days out of 30 consecutive trading days, the holders will be entitled to receive all of the remaining Earn-out Shares not yet issued in the aggregate.