Share-based Compensation Plans | (8) Share-based Compensation Plans The Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) provided for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock, unrestricted stock and other equity-based awards, such as stock appreciation rights, and stock units including restricted stock units for up to approximately 13.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events). As of December 31, 2021, no shares remain available for issuance under the 2018 Plan. In connection with the Company’s IPO, MiNK’s board of directors adopted the MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code, nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock, unrestricted stock and other equity-based awards, for an initial share pool of approximately 6.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events). The initial share pool will automatically increase on January 1st of each year from 2022 to 2031 by the lesser of (i) four percent of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of the close of business on the immediately preceding December 31st and (ii) the number of shares determined by the Company’s board of directors on or prior to such date for such year. In connection with the Company’s IPO, MiNK’s board of directors adopted the MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP provides eligible employees the opportunity to acquire the Company’s common stock in a program designed to comply with Section 423 of the Code. There are 375,000 shares reserved for issuance under the ESPP, plus an automatic annual increase, as of January 1st of each year beginning in 2022 and continuing through and including 2031, equal to the lesser of (i) one percent of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of the close of business on the immediately preceding December 31st and (ii) the number of shares determined by the Company’s board of directors on or prior to such date for such year, up to a maximum of approximately 3.5 million shares in the aggregate. The Company primarily uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value options granted to employees and non-employees, as well as options granted to members of the Company’s Board of Directors. All stock option grants have 10-year terms and generally vest ratably over a 3 or 4-year period. The fair value of each option granted during the period was estimated on the date of grant using the following weighted average assumptions: 2021 2020 Expected volatility 67 % 65 % Expected term in years 6 7 Risk-free interest rate 0.6 % 1.8 % Dividend yield 0 % 0 % The expected term of stock options granted is based on historical data and other factors and represents the period of time that stock options are expected to be outstanding prior to exercise. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury strips with maturities that match the expected term on the date of grant. A summary of option activity for 2021 is presented below: Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding at December 31, 2020 2,713,418 $ 0.01 Granted 2,239,576 3.03 Exercised (41,746 ) 0.01 Forfeited (39,426 ) 1.39 Outstanding at December 31, 2021 4,871,822 1.38 8.41 $ 14,982,873 Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2021 4,871,822 1.38 8.41 $ 14,982,873 Exercisable at December 31, 2021 1,696,250 $ 0.08 7.84 $ 7,428,962 The weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, was $1.76 and $0.01, respectively. During both 2021 and 2020, all options were granted with exercise prices equal to the market value of the underlying shares of common stock on the grant date. As of December 31, 2021, there was $2.6 million of unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to stock options granted to employees, consultants and directors which, if all milestones are achieved, will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years. A summary of non-vested stock activity for 2021 is presented below: Nonvested Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Outstanding at December 31, 2020 55,660 $ 0.01 Granted 695,750 $ 3.03 Forfeited (27,830 ) $ 0.01 Outstanding at December 31, 2021 723,580 $ 2.91 As of December 31, 2021, there was $1.8 million of unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to these non-vested shares which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. Stock based compensation expense also includes expense related to awards granted to employees of the Company from the Agenus 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. The impact on the Company’s results of operations from share-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, was as follows (in thousands): 2021 2020 Research and development $ 200 $ 56 General and administrative 1,545 32 Total share-based compensation expense $ 1,745 $ 88 |