Rationale for the Amendment
As of August 3, 2026 and based on the closing price of the Common Stock of $5.89 for the potential future vesting of outstanding PSRUs, approximately 2,120,795 shares remained available for future awards under the 2024 Plan, which we expect to be insufficient to meet our anticipated grant needs in approximately one to two years absent the additional shares authorized by the Amendment. Equity awards are a critical tool that we use to attract, retain, and motivate the employees, contractors, and outside directors who are essential to our long-term growth and success, and to align their interests with those of our stockholders in a competitive market for talent. The number of additional shares requested under the Amendment reflects our expected share usage based on our historical grant practices and our anticipated hiring and headcount needs, and, absent unforeseen circumstances, we do not intend to seek a further increase to the shares available under the 2024 Plan for approximately the next three years.
The additional 7,000,000 shares being requested under the Amendment represent approximately 11.8% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of August 3, 2026. Including shares subject to outstanding awards and shares available for future awards under the 2024 Plan, our fully-diluted overhang would be approximately 23% as of August 3, 2026.
Our two-year average annual equity plan share usage (burn rate) was approximately 4.81%, calculated as the total number of shares subject to equity awards granted in a fiscal year divided by the weighted average number of shares of our common stock outstanding for that fiscal year, for fiscal years 2025 and 2024.
Description of the 2024 Plan
The following is a brief description of the 2024 Plan, as proposed to be amended by the Amendment. The 2024 Plan was previously approved by our stockholders and is currently in effect. The Amendment proposes solely to increase the share pool available under the 2024 Plan. A copy of the 2024 Plan is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement, a copy of the Amendment is attached as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement, and the following description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2024 Plan and the Amendment.
Purpose. The purpose of the 2024 Plan is to enable the Company to remain competitive and innovative in our ability to attract and retain the services of key employees, key contractors, and outside directors of the Company and our subsidiaries. The 2024 Plan provides for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalent rights, and other awards which may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, and which may be paid in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of common stock. The 2024 Plan provides flexibility to our compensation methods in order to adapt the compensation of our employees, contractors, and outside directors to a changing business environment, after giving due consideration to competitive conditions and the impact of federal tax laws.
Effective Date and Expiration. The 2024 Plan became effective on June 21, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) and will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No award may be made under the 2024 Plan after its termination date, but awards made prior thereto may extend beyond that date. The Amendment will only become effective upon stockholder approval of this Proposal 3.
Share Authorization. Subject to certain adjustments, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards under the 2024 Plan is 14,000,000 shares (reflecting the additional 7,000,000 shares authorized by the Amendment), subject to increase by any awards under Prior Plan (the “Prior Plan Awards”) (i) that are outstanding on the Effective Date, and that, on or after the Effective Date, are forfeited, expire or are canceled; and (ii) any shares subject to awards relating to our common stock under the Prior Plan that are settled in cash on or after the Effective Date, but solely to the extent that such awards, by their terms, could have been settled in common stock. One hundred percent (100%) of the shares authorized for issuance under the 2024 Plan may be delivered pursuant to incentive stock options. In addition,