Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Equity-based Compensation

v3.23.1
Equity-based Compensation
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Equity-based Compensation Equity-based Compensation
Incentive Plans
2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan
In September 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and its stockholders approved, the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) which became effective in connection with the IPO. The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and other forms of equity and cash compensation. A total of 4,900,269 shares of the Company’s common stock were initially reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan. The number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2021 Plan automatically increases each January 1 by 1% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser number of shares as determined by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors. As of March 31, 2023, there were 7,476,784 shares reserved for issuance of awards under the 2021 Plan.
2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In September 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and its stockholders approved, the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) which became effective in connection with the IPO. The ESPP authorizes the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to purchase rights granted to employees. A total of 1,225,067 shares of the Company’s common stock were initially reserved for issuance under the ESPP. The number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the ESPP automatically increases each January 1 by 1% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser number of shares as determined by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors. As of March 31, 2023, there were 1,225,067 shares reserved for issuance of awards under the ESPP.
The offering periods of the ESPP are six months long and are anticipated to be offered twice per year. The price at which common stock is purchased under the ESPP is equal to 85% of the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the first or last day of the offering period, whichever is lower. The fair value of the discount and the look-back period will be estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
2018 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan
Prior to the IPO, the 2018 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended, (the “2018 Plan”) provided for the issuance of time-based incentive units and performance-based incentive units issued by Excelerate, L.P. (the predecessor entity of a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp.). In connection with the reorganization transactions and the IPO, all of the equity interests in Excelerate, L.P., including outstanding incentive units issued as equity-based compensation under the 2018 Plan, were transferred to New Excelerate, L.P. The incentive units issued under the 2018 Plan participate in distributions from New Excelerate, L.P., but only after investors receive their return of capital plus a specified threshold amount per unit. The total incentive pool size under the plan was 16,475,735 units. The 2018 Plan was terminated in September 2021 in connection with the IPO, but continues to govern the terms of outstanding incentive units that were granted prior to the IPO. No further incentive units will be granted under the 2018 Plan.
Grant Activity
Stock Options
The 2021 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive and nonqualified stock options. Under the 2021 Plan, the exercise price of a stock option shall not be less than the fair market value of one share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Stock options have a contractual term, or the period during which they are exercisable, not to exceed ten years from the date of grant, and generally vest over time or based on performance. As of March 31, 2023, all stock option grants have been time-based.
A summary of the Company's time-based stock option activity under the 2021 Plan was as follows:
Number of Options
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Balance as of December 31, 2022
 507,479  $ 6.95  9.04 $ — 
Granted
 —  — 
Exercised
 —  — 
Forfeited/Repurchased
 (20,353) 9.50 
Balance as of March 31, 2023
 487,126  $ 6.84  8.65 $ — 
Vested as of March 31, 2023
 148,177  $ 7.97  8.15 $ — 
As of March 31, 2023, there was $1.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options issued under the 2021 Plan, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years.
Restricted Stock Units
The 2021 Plan provides for the issuance of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). RSUs issued prior to March 31, 2022 vest over four years while all RSUs issued after that date vest over three years.
A summary of the Company's RSU activity under the 2021 Plan was as follows:
Number of Shares
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2022
 4,410,309  $ 2.73 
Granted
 —  — 
Vested
 (115,931) 6.64 
Forfeited/Repurchased
 (280,354) 2.67 
Balance as of March 31, 2023
 4,014,024  $ 2.63 
As of March 31, 2023, there was $9.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs issued under the 2021 Plan, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years.
Incentive Units
The 2018 Plan provided for the issuance of time-based incentive units and performance-based incentive units. Time-based incentive units generally vest over four years. Performance-based incentive units vested upon the satisfaction of the performance condition as described further below.
Time-Based Incentive Partnership Units
The following table summarizes time-based incentive unit activity under the 2018 Plan:
Number of Units
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Weighted Average Participation Threshold
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Balance as of December 31, 2022
 3,363,856  $ 1.43  $ 1.55  $ — 
Granted
 —  —  — 
Vested
 (511,440) 1.35  1.46 
Forfeited/Repurchased
 (16,150) 3.19  1.89 

Balance as of March 31, 2023
2,836,266  $ 1.68  $ 1.57  $ — 
Vested as of March 31, 2023
6,385,021 
As of March 31, 2023, there was $3.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested time-based incentive units issued under the 2018 Plan, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.
Equity-Based Compensation Expense
The Company recognizes compensation expense in general and administrative expenses within operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income for stock options, RSUs, ESPP purchase rights and time-based incentive units granted prior to the IPO, by amortizing the grant date fair value on a straight-line basis over the expected vesting period to the extent the vesting of the grant is considered probable. The Company recognizes equity-based award forfeitures in the period such forfeitures occur.
The following table summarizes the Company’s equity-based compensation expense by award type for all Plans:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2023 2022
Stock options $ 123  $ 122 
RSUs 1,028  643 
ESPP purchase rights 62  — 
Time-based incentive units 723  603 
Total $ 1,936  $ 1,368