Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation

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Stock-Based Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation Stock-Based Compensation
Equity Compensation Plans

The Company maintains the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which has been approved by our stockholders and provides for the issuance of shares of common stock to our employees, officers, directors, consultants and
advisors, subject to its terms. The 2021 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Awards granted under the 2021 Plan are subject to individual award agreements that, among other things, specify the conditions for vesting, termination and forfeiture. The requisite vesting periods for time-based awards made to date range from vesting on grant date to as late as four years from the date of grant. The expiration date of the 2021 Plan, on and after which date no awards may be granted under the 2021 Plan, is May 7, 2031 (the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2021 Plan); provided, however, that such expiration shall not affect awards then outstanding under the 2021 Plan, and the terms and conditions of the 2021 Plan shall continue to apply to such awards.

The number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2021 Plan (the “Absolute Share Limit”) automatically increases on the first day of each fiscal year by the lesser of (a) 4,653,484 shares of common stock, (b) 5% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on the last year of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (c) a lower number of shares of common stock as determined by our Board of Directors. The Absolute Share Limit is also automatically increased by any shares of common stock underlying awards outstanding under the Fly Blade, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) that, on or after the effective date of the 2021 Plan, expire or are canceled, forfeited, terminated, settled in cash or otherwise settled without issuance to the holder. Pursuant to the annual automatic increase feature of the 2021 Plan, our Board of Directors approved an increase of 3,756,471 shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2021 Plan, effective January 1, 2024, for a total of 20,521,493 shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan as of such date.
Stock Option Awards
All of the outstanding stock options awards are fully vested. To date, there have been no stock option awards granted under the 2021 Plan (as defined below).

Following is a summary of stock option activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024:
Options Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
(years)
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding – January 1, 2024 7,217,074  $ 0.19  $ 0.21  3.5
Exercised (508,181) 0.18  0.22 
Forfeited —  —  — 
Outstanding – March 31, 2024
6,708,893  $ 0.19  $ 0.21  3.2 $ 17,856 
Exercisable as of March 31, 2024
6,708,893  $ 0.19  $ 0.21  3.2 $ 17,856 
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded no stock option expense. As of March 31, 2024, there are no remaining stock options subject to amortization.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company granted an aggregate of 7,149,318 of the Company's restricted stock units (“RSUs”), of which 2,092,178 were to various employees, officers, directors, consultants, and service providers and 5,057,140 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (“PSUs”) were to named executive officers and key employees under the Blade Air Mobility, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The RSUs have various vesting dates, ranging from vesting on the grant date to as late as four years from the date of grant. The PSUs will vest subject to the achievement of certain financial performance metrics by the Company. Each PSU represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock. The grant date fair value of these PSUs was $3.94 per share. Compensation expense associated with PSUs is recognized over the service period of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest when the related performance objective is met.
The Company's current default tax withholding method for the vesting of RSUs is the sell-to-cover method, under which shares with a market value equivalent to the estimated tax withholding obligation are withheld from the holder of the RSUs upon vesting and sold on behalf of such holder to cover their applicable tax withholding liability, and the cash proceeds from such sales are then remitted by the Company to the applicable tax authorities. This approach is used for the vesting of RSUs held by the majority of the Company’s employees, including all of the Company’s Section 16 “officers” as defined by Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Restricted Stock Units
Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value
Non-vested – January 1, 2024 5,259,982  $ 4.99 
Granted (1)
7,149,318  3.77 
Vested
(509,565) 4.85 
Forfeited
(432,724) 3.61 
Non-vested – March 31, 2024
11,467,011  $ 4.29 
(1) 5,057,140 PSUs will vest subject to the achievement of certain financial performance metrics by the Company as discussed above.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded $4,318 and $3,221 in stock compensation expense for restricted stock unit awards. As of March 31, 2024, unamortized stock-based compensation costs related to restricted stock unit arrangements was $45,182 and will be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.2 years.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options and restricted stock units in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations is summarized as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024 2023
Software development (1)
$ (20) $ 168 
General and administrative (2)
4,197  2,636 
Selling and marketing
366  78
Total stock-based compensation expense (3)
$ 4,543  $ 2,882 
(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2024, a cumulative adjustment of $181 was recorded due to the forfeiture of restricted stock units of certain former employees.
(2) For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company included a credit of $339 in connection with the settlement of the equity-based portion of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Trinity Air Medical, Inc. (“Trinity”) that was paid in the first quarter of 2023 in respect of 2022 results.
(3) Stock-based compensation expenses for the period ended March 31, 2024 include $225 accrued expenses