Cytosorbents Corp Stock Compensation Disclosure

10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Option Plans

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had two Long Term Incentive Plans (the “2014 Plan” and the “2006 Plan”) to attract, retain, and provide incentives to employees, officers, directors, and consultants. The Plans generally provide for the granting of stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, or any combination of the foregoing to eligible participants.

In June 2024, the Company amended and restated CytoSorbents Corporation 2014 Long-term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The amended and restated CytoSorbents Corporation 2014 Long-term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) increased the number of shares to be reserved and authorized for issuance under the Plan by 7,500,000 shares to 20,900,000 shares of our Common Stock.

A total of 20,900,000 and 2,400,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan and the 2006 Plan, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, there were approximately 647,000 and 654,000 shares of common stock remaining for issuance under the 2014 Plan and the 2006 Plan, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, there were approximately 3,700,000 and 654,000 shares of common stock remaining for issuance under the 2014 Plan and the 2006 Plan, respectively.

Total stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 amounted to $3.8 million, of which $3.2 million and $0.6 million were for stock options and restricted stock units, respectively. Total stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 amounted to $4.2 million, of which $3.3 million and $0.9 million were for stock options and restricted stock units, respectively. These amounts are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

The summary of the stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

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The fair value of each stock option was estimated using the Black-Scholes pricing model which takes the following inputs into account.

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*The expected term of the options granted is derived using the “simplified method” which computes expected term as the average of the sum of the vesting term plus the contract term.

In addition, the Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

The intrinsic value is calculated at the difference between the market value as of December 31, 2024 of $0.91 and the exercise price of the shares.

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The summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested options for the year ended December 31, 2024, is as follows:

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As of December 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $3,035,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options which will, on average, be amortized over 32 months.

The summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested options for the year ended December 31, 2023, is as follows:

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As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $4,868,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options which will, on average, be amortized over 42 months.

Change in Control-Based Awards of Restricted Stock Units:

The Board of Directors has granted restricted stock units to members of the Board of Directors, to the Company’s executive officers, and to employees of the Company. These restricted stock units will only vest upon a Change in Control of the Company, as defined in the Company’s 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

The following table is a summary the outstanding balance of these restricted stock units at the end of each of the past two calendar years:

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Due to the uncertainty over whether these restricted stock units will vest, which will only happen upon a Change in Control, no charge for these restricted stock units has been recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss through the year ended December 31, 2024.

Other Restricted Stock Units:

The following table outlines the restricted stock unit activity (not related to change in control-based awards) for the year ended December 31, 2024:

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The following table outlines the restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2023:

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At December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the remaining weighted average vesting period for restricted stock awards subject to vesting was 43 months and 37 months, respectively and the remaining unrecognized restricted stock unit compensation expense was $538,000 and $842,000, respectively.

Warrants

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had 2,706,561 warrants outstanding related to the Company’s December 13, 2023 Offering. These warrants are immediately cash exercisable at an exercise price of $2.00 per share and expire on December 13, 2028. Another 1,645,569 warrants were issued on June 28, 2024 in connection with the Company’s Loan and Security Agreement with Avenue and these warrants have an exercise price of $0.79 and expire on June 28, 2029. The number of warrants is fixed, however, the exercise price may be adjusted down if the Company raises equity (excluding sales of equity utilizing the Company’s at-the-market equity facility) at a share price that is lower than $0.79. These warrants are exercisable into the Company’s common stock.