(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 Media Corporation common stock (“Liberty Awards”) were 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 Media Corporation 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 were determined based on 1) the exercise prices and number of shares subject to the Liberty Media Corporation Award, 2) the distribution ratios, 3) the pre-Recapitalization trading price of Liberty Media Corporation 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 value of the Liberty Media Corporation 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:

 

 

In connection with our CEO’s employment agreement, Liberty granted approximately 775 thousand options of Series C Liberty Media Corporation common stock and 39 thousand performance-based restricted stock units of Series C Liberty Media Corporation 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.

 

Also during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Liberty granted 100 thousand, 371 thousand and 36 thousand options to purchase shares of Series C common stock of Liberty Media, Liberty SiriusXM and Liberty Braves, respectively. Such options had a weighted average grant-date fair value (“GDFV”) of $4.90,  $7.45 and $3.58 per share, respectively, and vests 50% each on December 31, 2019 and 2020.    

 

The Company did not grant any options to purchase Series A or Series B of Liberty Media, Liberty SiriusXM or Liberty Braves common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 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.

Liberty Media

 

 

 

 

Liberty SiriusXM

 

Liberty Braves

 

 

As of September 30, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Awards was approximately $49 million.  Such amount will be recognized in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations over a weighted average period of approximately 2.8 years.

As of September 30, 2016, Liberty reserved 3.2 million, 13.5 million and 1.3 million shares of Series A and Series C common stock of Liberty Media, Liberty SiriusXM and Liberty Braves, 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 and members of its board of directors during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2016, SIRIUS XM has approximately 345 million options outstanding of which approximately 138 million are exercisable, each with a weighted-average exercise price per share of $3.47 and $2.80, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of SIRIUS XM options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2016 is $244 million and $189 million, respectively. The stock-based compensation expense related to SIRIUS XM was $30 million and $41 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $78 million and $115 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As of September 30, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested SIRIUS XM stock options and restricted stock units was $282 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 2.7 years.