Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation, measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, is typically recognized ratably over the requisite services period, using the straight-line method of expense attribution. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense in the following categories of its unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

The Company estimates the fair value of the stock option awards to employees, non-employees and non-employee members of the Board of Directors using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the input of subjective assumptions, including (i) the expected volatility of the Company's stock, (ii) the expected term of the award, (iii) the risk-free interest rate, and (iv) any expected dividends. Due to the lack of company-specific historical and implied volatility data, the Company based the estimate of expected volatility on the estimated and expected volatilities of a representative group of publicly traded companies. For these analyses, the Company selects companies with comparable characteristics including enterprise value, risk profiles, position within the industry, and with historical share price information sufficient to meet the expected life of the stock-based awards. The Company computes the historical volatility data using the daily closing prices for the selected companies’ shares during the equivalent period of the calculated expected term of the stock-based awards. The Company will continue to apply this process until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of the Company’s stock price becomes available. For awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options, the Company estimates the expected life of the employee stock options using the “simplified” method, whereby, the expected life equals the average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option. The expected term of stock options granted to non-employees is equal to the contractual term of the option award. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

The fair value of restricted stock units or restricted stock granted to employees, non-employees, and non-employee members of the Board of Directors is based on the fair value of the Company’s stock on the grant date. The Company elects to account for forfeitures as they occur rather than apply an estimated forfeiture rate to stock-based compensation expense.

AST LLC 2019 Equity Incentive Plan

Prior to the Business Combination, under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (“AST LLC Incentive Plan”), AST LLC was authorized to issue ordinary shares, as well as options exercisable for ordinary shares, as incentives to its employees, non-employees, and non-employee members of its Board of Directors. Following the Business Combination, no further grants were made or will be made under the AST LLC Incentive Plan. In connection with the Business Combination, the existing AST LLC options were reclassified into options to acquire AST LLC Incentive Equity Units, and there was no incremental compensation cost and the terms of the outstanding awards, including fair value, vesting conditions and classification, were unchanged. Each AST LLC Incentive Equity Unit is convertible into one AST LLC Common Unit and each AST LLC Common Unit is redeemable for one share of Class A Common Stock on the later of the (i) 24-month anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination and (ii) six-month anniversary from the vesting date. The AST LLC Incentive Plan continues to govern the terms and conditions of the outstanding awards granted under it, except that in lieu of ordinary shares, holders of options under the AST LLC Incentive Plan have the right to exercise for AST LLC Incentive Units, which may then be converted into AST LLC Common Units, which may further be converted into shares of the Class A Common Stock.

There were two types of options granted under the AST LLC Incentive Plan: (1) service-based options and (2) performance-based options. Service-based options typically vest over a five year service period with 20% of the award vesting on the first anniversary of the employee’s commencement date, and the balance thereafter in 48 equal monthly installments. Certain service-based options also provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control or other performance condition as defined by the AST LLC Incentive Plan. Performance-based options typically vest on the earliest date that any of the following occurs: (i) AST LLC effects an initial public offering and becomes a reporting company, (ii) AST LLC experiences a change of control, or (iii) other specified performance conditions. Both service-based and performance-based options typically expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant.

As of March 31, 2026, AST LLC was authorized to issue a total of 12,812,959 ordinary shares under a reserve set aside for equity awards. As of March 31, 2026, there were 4,516,318 options outstanding under the AST LLC Incentive Plan. Following the Business Combination on April 6, 2021, no further equity award grants were made under the AST LLC Incentive Plan.

Compensation cost related to options issued under the AST LLC Incentive Plan has been fully recognized except for performance-based options for which performance conditions were not deemed probable as of March 31, 2026.

SpaceMobile 2020 Incentive Award Plan

In connection with the Business Combination, the Company adopted the 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “2020 Plan”). Awards may be made under the 2020 Plan covering an aggregate number of Class A Common Stock shares equal to 10,800,000. Any shares distributed pursuant to an award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market. The 2020 Plan provided for the grant of stock options, restricted stock, dividend equivalents, restricted stock units, incentive unit awards, stock appreciation rights, and other stock or cash-based awards. Each incentive unit issued pursuant to an award, if any, counted as one share for purposes of calculating the aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the 2020 Plan. On July 29, 2024, the 2020 Plan was replaced and superseded by the AST SpaceMobile, Inc. 2024 Incentive Award Plan (the “2024 Plan”). No new awards may be made under the 2020 Plan, although outstanding awards previously made under the 2020 Plan continue to be governed by the terms of the 2020 Plan. Refer below for further detail.

Two types of equity awards have been granted under the 2020 Plan: (1) service-based options and (2) service-based and performance-based restricted stock units. Service-based options typically vest over a four year service period with 25% of the award vesting on the first anniversary of the employee’s commencement date, and the balance thereafter in 36 equal monthly installments. Service-based restricted stock units typically vest over a four year service period with 25% of the award vesting on each anniversary of the employee’s vesting commencement date. Performance-based restricted stock units typically vest on the earliest date that any of the following occurs: (i) the Company attains an incremental capital investment or (ii) other specified performance conditions. Options typically expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant.

Stock Options

As of March 31, 2026, there were 1,957,612 options outstanding under the 2020 Plan.

As of March 31, 2026, total unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested stock options under the 2020 Plan was $2.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.

Restricted Stock Units

As of March 31, 2026, there were 1,122,801 restricted stock units outstanding under the 2020 Plan.

As of March 31, 2026, total unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested restricted stock units under the 2020 Plan was $9.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

SpaceMobile 2024 Incentive Award Plan

On September 10, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved the AST SpaceMobile, Inc. 2024 Incentive Award Plan, which replaced and superseded the 2020 Plan, effective July 29, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). On November 21, 2025, the Company’s stockholders approved the amended and restated AST SpaceMobile, Inc. 2024 Incentive Award Plan (as amended and restated, the “2024 Plan”), effective November 21, 2025. Awards may be made under the 2024 Plan covering an aggregate number of Class A Common Stock shares not to exceed the sum of (i) 16,000,000 shares, which consists of (a) 2,000,000 shares authorized for issuance under the 2024 Plan as of the Effective Date, (b) 2,000,000 shares authorized for issuance, effective as of January 1, 2025, by the Company’s Board of Directors pursuant to the evergreen feature of the 2024 Plan discussed below, (c) 2,000,000 shares authorized for issuance, effective January 1, 2026, by the Company’s Board of Directors pursuant to the evergreen feature of the 2024 Plan discussed below, and (d) an additional 10,000,000 shares authorized for issuance under the 2024 Plan, effective as of November 21, 2025, plus (ii) one share for every one share available for award under the 2020 Plan as of July 30, 2024. Any shares subject to an award under the 2024 Plan or the 2020 Plan that expires, is forfeited, otherwise terminates or is settled in cash, after the Effective Date, shall be added to the shares reserved for issuance under the 2024 Plan. In addition, the number of shares available for issuance under the 2024 Plan may increase on each January 1st occurring following the Effective Date in an amount up to 2,000,000 shares by action of the Company’s Board of Directors or its committee as applicable. On each December 4, 2024 and December 30, 2025 in accordance with the evergreen feature, effective January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026, respectively, an additional 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock were authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors to be issued under the 2024 Plan.

Any shares distributed pursuant to an award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market. The 2024 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, restricted stock, dividend equivalents, restricted stock units, incentive unit awards, stock appreciation rights, and other stock or cash-based awards. Each incentive unit issued pursuant to an award, if any, shall count as one share for purposes of calculating the aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the 2024 Plan.

Three types of equity awards have been granted under the 2024 Plan: (1) service-based options, (2) service-based and performance-based restricted stock units and (3) restricted stock to eligible directors serving on the Company’s Board of Directors. Service-based options typically vest over a four year service period with 25% of the award vesting on the first anniversary of the employee’s vesting commencement date, and the balance thereafter in 36 equal monthly installments. Service-based restricted stock units typically vest over a three year service period with 1/3 of the award vesting on each anniversary of the employee’s vesting commencement date. Restricted stock awarded to directors will vest in full on the earlier to occur of (i) the one-year anniversary of the applicable grant date and (ii) the date of the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders following the grant date. Performance-based restricted stock units typically vest on the earliest date that any of the following occurs: (i) the Company attains an incremental capital investment, or (ii) other specified performance conditions.

Stock Options

As of March 31, 2026, there were 55,885 options outstanding under the 2024 Plan.

There were no stock options granted under the 2024 Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2026. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock options granted under the 2024 Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $16.23.

At March 31, 2026, total unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested stock options under the 2024 Plan was $0.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.8 years.

Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock

As of March 31, 2026, there were 7,678,833 restricted stock units and restricted stock outstanding under the 2024 Plan.

As of March 31, 2026, total unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested restricted stock units and restricted stock under the 2024 Plan was $264.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.6 years.

SpaceMobile 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In connection with the Business Combination, the Company adopted the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The aggregate number of Common Stock shares that may be issued pursuant to rights granted under the ESPP is 2,000,000 shares. If any right granted under the ESPP shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the shares not purchased under such right shall again become available for issuance under the ESPP. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had not issued any awards under the ESPP.