(4)   Stock-Based Compensation

Liberty grants, to certain of its directors, employees and employees of its subsidiaries, restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options to purchase shares of its common stock (collectively, "Awards"). The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an equity classified Award (such as stock options and restricted stock) based on the grant-date fair value (“GDFV”) of the Award, and recognizes that cost over the period during which the employee is required to provide service (usually the vesting period of the Award). The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for a liability classified Award based on the current fair value of the Award, and remeasures the fair value of the Award at each reporting date.

Included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations are the following amounts of stock-based compensation, a portion of which relates to SIRIUS XM, as discussed below:

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, and in connection with our CEO’s employment agreement, Liberty granted approximately 149 thousand and 171 thousand options of Series C Liberty Braves common stock and Series C Liberty Formula One common stock, respectively, and 50 thousand restricted stock units of Series C Liberty Formula One common stock, of which 29 thousand restricted stock units were performance-based. Such options had a weighted average GDFV of $6.02 per share and $8.96 per share, respectively, and the restricted stock units had a GDFV of $33.92 per share. These options mainly vest on December 31, 2017, the time-based restricted stock units vested immediately upon grant, and the performance-based restricted stock units cliff vest in one year, subject to satisfaction of certain performance objectives. Performance objectives, which are subjective, are considered in determining the timing and amount of the compensation expense recognized. As the satisfaction of the performance objectives becomes probable, the Company records compensation expense. The value of the grant is remeasured at each reporting period.

 

Also during the three months ended March 31, 2017, Liberty granted 2.0 million options to Formula 1 employees to purchase shares of Series C Liberty Formula One common stock.  Such options had a weighted average GDFV of $8.16 per share and vest monthly over one year.

 

Additionally, Liberty granted 148 thousand, 19 thousand and 77 thousand options to purchase shares of Series C common stock of Liberty SiriusXM, Liberty Braves and Liberty Formula One, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2017.  Such options had a weighted average GDFV of $9.64,  $6.11 and $9.25 per share, respectively, and mainly vest semi-annually over four years.    

 

The Company did not grant any options to purchase Series A or Series B of Liberty SiriusXM, Liberty Braves or Liberty Formula One common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2017.  

Liberty calculates the GDFV for all of its equity classified awards and the subsequent remeasurement of its liability classified and certain performance-based awards using the Black-Scholes Model. Liberty estimates the expected term of the Awards based on historical exercise and forfeiture data. The volatility used in the calculation for Awards is based on the historical volatility of Liberty common stock and the implied volatility of publicly traded Liberty options. Liberty uses a zero dividend rate and the risk-free rate for Treasury Bonds with a term similar to that of the subject Awards.

Liberty—Outstanding Awards

The following tables present the number and weighted average exercise price ("WAEP") of Awards to purchase Liberty common stock granted to certain officers, employees and directors of the Company and certain Awards of employees of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (formerly employees of Starz).  

Liberty SiriusXM

Liberty Braves

 

Liberty Formula One

As of March 31, 2017, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Awards was approximately $42 million.  Such amount will be recognized in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations over a weighted average period of approximately 2.2 years.

As of March 31, 2017, Liberty reserved 12.7 million, 1.4 million and 5.2 million shares of Series A and Series C common stock of Liberty SiriusXM, Liberty Braves and Liberty Formula One, respectively, for issuance under exercise privileges of outstanding stock Awards.

SIRIUS XM - Stock-based Compensation

SIRIUS XM granted various types of stock awards to its employees during the three months ended March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, SIRIUS XM has approximately 316 million options outstanding of which approximately 113 million are exercisable, each with a weighted-average exercise price per share of $3.54 and $2.84, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of SIRIUS XM options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2017 is $509 million and $260 million, respectively. The stock-based compensation expense related to SIRIUS XM was $29 million and $24 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested SIRIUS XM stock options and restricted stock units was $253 million. The SIRIUS XM unrecognized compensation cost will be recognized in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations over a weighted average period of approximately 2.4 years.