Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

11. Stock Based Compensation

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11. Stock Based Compensation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements  
Note 11. Stock Based Compensation

On January 10, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved and adopted, subject to stockholder approval, which was obtained at the annual stockholders meeting held on November 16, 2014, the Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Equity Plan”). The number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that may be issued under the 2014 Equity Plan is 2,500,000 shares, subject to the adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations and similar corporate events. Eligible participants under the 2014 Equity Plan shall include officers, employees of or consultants to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any person to whom an offer of employment is extended, or any person who is a non-employee director of the Company. On October 9, 2014, the Board of Directors approved and adopted the First Amendment to the plan, subject to stockholder approval, which was obtained at the annual stockholders meeting held on November 18, 2014, which increased the number of shares issuable under the plan to 7,500,000.

   

On February 9, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Equity Plan”), which was approved by stockholders at the annual stockholders meeting held on June 6, 2017. The 2017 Equity Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options (subject to applicable stockholder approval), nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, restricted share units, performance awards and other type of awards described therein. Eligible recipients under the 2017 Equity Plan include the Company’s officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company or one of its subsidiaries. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2017 Equity Plan is 8,000,000. The 2017 Equity Plan will be administered by the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board. The 2017 Equity Plan replaces the 2014 Equity Plan which was terminated by the Board of Directors on April 28, 2017.

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, which addresses the accounting for employee stock options which requires that the cost of all employee stock options, as well as other equity-based compensation arrangements, be reflected in the consolidated financial statements over the vesting period based on the estimated fair value of the awards. 

 

A summary of stock option activity for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 is presented below:

 

    Number of
Shares
    Weighted Average Exercise Price     Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)     Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
                         
December 31, 2015     6,720,458       1.35       3.7       -  
                                 
Grants     1,600,000       0.99       4.6       -  
Exercises     (100,000 )     0.37       -       -  
Expirations     (5,001 )     22.00       -       -  
Cancellations     (665,000 )     -       -       -  
December 31, 2016     7,550,457       1.29       3.2       -  
                                 
Grants     1,350,000       1.11       4.7       -  
June 30, 2017     8,900,457       1.26       3.0       -  
                                 
Options exercisable at:                                
December 31, 2016     6,700,457       1.31       3.0          
June 30, 2017     8,125,457       1.27       2.9          

  

The Company utilized the Black-Scholes options pricing model. The significant assumptions utilized for the Black Scholes calculations consist of an expected life of equal to the expiration term of the option, historical volatility of 112.2%, and a risk free interest rate of 3%.

 

On May 1, 2016, the Company issued nonqualified stock options to acquire 25,000 shares each of the Company’s common stock to Christopher Greenberg, Brian Johnson and Christopher Lee, each then a director of the Company, under the Company’s 2014 Equity Plan. The options granted are exercisable at $0.42 per share, representing the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of the grant as determined under the 2014 Equity Plan. On April 27, 2017 Brian Johnson and Christopher Lee resigned as directors of the Company. The options granted to them remain exercisable for 90 days following their resignation after which such options shall terminate. Based on a Black-Scholes valuation model, these options were valued at $19,376 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 on the issued options was $1,615 and $3,230, respectively. Compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 on the issued options was $6,460 and $3,230, respectively.

  

On October 4, 2016 the Company granted nonqualified stock options to acquire 25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Todd Ferrell. The options granted are exercisable at $1.36 per share, representing the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of grant. These options will vest and become exercisable on February 1, 2018 and will expire five years from the grant date. Based on a Black-Scholes valuation model, these options were valued at $22,157 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 on the issued options was $3,909 and $0, respectively. Compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 on the issued options was $7,818 and $0, respectively.

 

On February 1, 2017, the Company issued nonqualified stock options to acquire 50,000 shares each of the Company’s common stock to Brian Johnson, Christopher Lee and Allan Grantham and nonqualified stock options to acquire 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Christopher Greenberg, each then a director of the Company, under the Company’s 2014 Equity Plan. The options granted are exercisable at $1.20 per share, representing the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of the grant as determined under the 2014 Equity Plan. The options are fully vested and exercisable as of the date of grant and will expire five years thereafter. As a result of the resignations of Brian Johnson and Christopher Lee on April 27, 2017, the options granted to them remain exercisable for 90 days following their resignation after which such options shall terminate. Based on a Black-Scholes valuation model, these options were valued at $233,817 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

On February 10, 2017, the Company issued nonqualified stock options to acquire 25,000 shares each of the Company’s common stock to Nicholas Lentz and Johnny Battle, nonqualified stock options to acquire 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to John Pavlish, nonqualified stock options to acquire 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Richard Gross and nonqualified stock options to acquire 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to James Trettel under the Company’s 2017 Equity Plan. The options granted are exercisable at $1.15 per share, representing the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of the grant as determined under the 2017 Equity Plan. The options are fully vested and exercisable as of the date of grant and will expire five year thereafter. Based on a Black-Scholes valuation model, these options were valued at $712,050 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

On April 27, 2017, the Company issued nonqualified stock options to acquire 125,000 shares each of the Company’s common stocks to Brian Johnson and Christopher Lee under the Company’s 2017 Equity Plan. The options granted are exercisable at $0.96 per share, representing the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of the grant as determined under the 2017 Equity Plan. Notwithstanding their resignations as directors, the options are fully vested and exercisable as of the date of grant and will expire five years thereafter. Based on a Black-Scholes valuation model, these options were valued at $194,732 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

On June 1, 2017, the Company issued nonqualified stock options to acquire 100,000 shares each of the Company’s common stock to Patrick under the Company’s 2017 Equity Plan. The options granted are exercisable at $1.01 per share, which is greater than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant and represents the fair market value of the common stock on March 1, 2017. The options are fully vested and exercisable as of the date of grant and will expire five years thereafter. Based on a Black-Scholes valuation model, these options were valued at $81,903 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.