2021 Stock Incentive Plan

Prior to the Business Combination, the Company maintained its 2009 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan” and together with the 2021 Plan, the “Plans”). Upon Closing of the Business Combination, awards under the 2009 Plan were converted at the exchange ratio calculated in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement and the 2021 Plan became effective. There are 6,007,718 shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2021 Plan, plus any shares of Common Stock subject to awards under the 2009 Plan that are forfeited or reacquired by the Company due to termination or cancellation. As of December 31, 2021, there were 11.5 million shares of Common Stock reserved under the Plans.

Share-based compensation is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. Employee stock options (“stock options”) granted under the Plans generally vest ratably over a four-year period and expire on the tenth anniversary of their issuance. Restricted stock is Common Stock that is subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon satisfaction of specified performance conditions and/or the passage of time. Awards of restricted stock (“RSAs”) that vest only by the passage of time will generally vest one year following the Business Combination. RSUs represent the right to receive Common Stock upon satisfaction of the passage of time. Awards of RSUs that vest only by the passage of time will generally vest ratably over three years from the date of grant; however, the awards of RSUs granted to the MIP Participants in the Business Combination vest one year following the Closing of the Business Combination.

The following table summarizes the number of authorized, unissued shares of Common Stock, under the Plans, as of December 31, 2021:

The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):

Common Stock Options

The value of each stock option grant is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“BSM”). The option pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, as detailed below:

The Company used the following assumptions for the BSM to determine the fair value of the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

The following table sets forth the activity for all stock options:

As of December 31, 2021, there was $3.6 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.15 years.

Restricted Stock Awards

The following table sets forth the activity for all RSAs:

As of December 31, 2021, there was $2.1 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to RSAs to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.62 years.

Restricted Stock Units

As part of the consideration in the Business Combination, RSUs with respect to 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock were granted to the participants in Legacy Airspan’s MIP. For the RSUs granted to MIP Participants, the weighted average grant date fair value was $9.75 per share. The RSUs granted in connection with the MIP vest one year after the date of the grant.

The following table sets forth the activity for all RSUs:

Because the Company maintained a full valuation allowance on its U.S. deferred tax assets, it did not recognize any tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. As of December 31, 2021, there was $18.2 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.15 years.