For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, our named executive officers were eligible to earn annual cash bonuses based on the achievement of certain corporate goals approved by the Board. In designing the performance goals for the 2021 bonus program, the Compensation Committee and Board considered the strategic goals of the Company and selected six performance metrics designed to align incentives and drive value creation for stockholders. The corporate goals under our 2021 bonus program related to the areas of: (i) commercial and revenue; (ii) new product development, (iii) gross margin improvement; (iv) profitability, cash flow and capitalization; (v) employees; and (vi) an initial public offering. Corporate achievement was weighted 125%. The following table details the weight, 2021 performance result and corresponding percentage earned for each performance metric:
Commercial and Revenue Growth | | | 60% | | | 48.0% | | | 28.8% |
New Product Development | | | 10% | | | 56.0% | | | 5.6% |
Gross Margin Improvement | | | 10% | | | 7.7% | | | 0.8% |
Financial | | | 10% | | | 97.1% | | | 9.7% |
Create a “Best place to work” Environment | | | 10% | | | 50.0% | | | 5.0% |
Initial Public Offering | | | 25% | | | 100.0% | | | 25.0% |
In February 2022, the Compensation Committee met to review the Company’s performance against each of the metrics and determined final bonus amounts payable. The actual annual cash bonuses awarded to each named executive officer under the 2021 annual bonus program are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column entitled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”
Perquisites and Personal Benefits
We do not view perquisites or other personal benefits as a significant component of our executive compensation program. Accordingly, we do not provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our named executive officers, except as generally made available to our employees, or in situations where we believe it is appropriate to assist an individual in the performance of his or her duties, such as for recruitment purposes. In addition, our named executive officers are eligible to receive the same employee benefits that are generally available to all of our full-time employees, and do not receive additional health, welfare or retirement benefits.
Long-Term Equity Incentives
Although we do not have a formal policy with respect to the grant of equity incentive awards to our executive officers, we believe long-term equity incentive awards encourage retention, provide our executives with a strong link to our long-term performance, create an ownership culture, and help to align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. Accordingly, our Board and Compensation Committee, may grant stock options to our employees, including our named executive officers, in order to attract and retain them, as well as to align their interests with the interests of our stockholders.
In March 2021, we granted Mr. Spignesi an option to purchase 121,579 shares of our Class A common stock, and Mr. Wirtjes an option to purchase 24,360 shares of our Class A common stock. The options vest in 48 equal installments following March 9, 2021, subject to the executive’s continued service to us, provided that Mr. Spignesi’s option will vest in full in the event of a Change of Control, and the options granted to Mr. Wirtjes will vest in full in the event of such executive’s termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason in connection with, and effective as of or within 12 months following, a Sale Event. These options were granted under our 2010 Stock Option and Grant Plan, which we refer to as the 2010 Plan, with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the date of grant, as determined by the Board.
In connection with our initial public offering in July 2021, we adopted the 2021 Incentive Award Plan, referred to below as the 2021 Plan, to facilitate the grant of cash and equity incentives to directors, employees (including our named executive officers) and consultants of our company and certain of its affiliates and to enable us to obtain and retain services of these individuals, which is essential to our long-term success.
In October 2021, pursuant to his employment agreement, the Compensation Committee granted to Mr. Keys an option to purchase 180,000 shares of our Class A common stock which vests as to 25% of the shares subject to the option on October 1, 2022, with the remainder vesting in equal monthly installments for three years