(3)   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 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.

In connection with the Recapitalization, all outstanding Awards with respect to Liberty common stock (“Liberty Awards”) will be adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the incentive plans under which the equity awards were granted, such that a holder of a Liberty Award received new corresponding equity awards relating to shares of one or more of Liberty SiriusXM common stock (a “Liberty Sirius XM Award”), Liberty Braves common stock (a “Liberty Braves Award”) and Liberty Media common stock (a “Liberty Media Award”) (collectively, the “Adjusted Liberty Awards”).

The exercise prices and number of shares subject to the Adjusted Liberty Awards will be determined based on 1) the exercise prices and number of shares subject to the Liberty Award, 2) the distribution ratios, 3) the pre-Recapitalization trading price of Liberty common stock and 4) the post-Recapitalization trading prices of Liberty SiriusXM common stock, Liberty Braves common stock and Liberty Media common stock, such that all of the pre-Recapitalization intrinsic value of the Liberty Awards was allocated among the Adjusted Liberty Awards.

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, 2016, the Company granted a total of approximately 785 thousand options to purchase shares of Series C common stock. A portion of the options granted was comprised of 10 thousand options with a weighted average grant-date fair value (“GDFV”) of $8.33 per share that vest semi-annually over 4 years.    

 

In connection with our CEO’s employment agreement, Liberty granted approximately 775 thousand options of Series C common stock and 39 thousand performance-based restricted stock units of Series C common stock. Such options and restricted stock units had a grant-date fair value of $8.91 per share and $37.76 per share, respectively. These options mainly vest on December 31, 2016, 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.

 

The Company did not grant any options to purchase Series A or Series B common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2016.  

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 Starz.

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Awards was approximately $62 million.  Such amount will be recognized in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations over a weighted average period of approximately 2.3 years.

As of March 31, 2016, Liberty reserved 13.2 million shares of Series A and Series C common stock 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 and members of its board of directors during the three months ended March 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2016, SIRIUS XM has approximately 334 million options outstanding of which approximately 116 million are exercisable, each with a weighted-average exercise price per share of $3.28 and $2.43, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of SIRIUS XM options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2016 is $226 million and $176 million, respectively. The stock-based compensation expense related to SIRIUS XM was $24 million and $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As of March 31, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested SIRIUS XM stock options and restricted stock units was $227 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 2.6 years.