Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

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STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
2021 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan

On September 29, 2021, the board of directors (the “Board”) approved the KORE Group Holdings, Inc. 2021 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Incentive Plan”) to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Incentive Plan allows for the issuance of up to 7,181,042 shares of common stock under share-based payment awards to eligible employees, prospective employees, consultants and non-employee directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board. On December 8, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved the future grants of certain Restricted Stock Unit Awards (“RSUs”).

The following table sets forth a summary of the RSUs activity during the reporting periods:

Number of
awards
outstanding
 (in thousands)
Weighted-
average
grant date
fair value
(per share)
Unvested RSUs as of December 31, 2021 —  $ — 
Granted 5,789  6.24 
Vested (52) 6.88 
Forfeited and canceled (222) 6.97 
Unvested RSUs as of December 31, 2022 5,515  $ 6.06 
Granted 7,513  1.55
Vested (1,285) 5.59
Forfeited and canceled (1,466) 3.12
Unvested RSUs as of December 31, 2023 10,277  $ 3.12 

For the year ended December 31, 2023 the Company granted 2.9 million performance-based RSUs that vest in accordance with certain three-year revenue and EBITDA performance criteria. The weighted-average grant date fair value was $0.61 and was based on the Company’s share price on the grant date. The Company recognized $4.3 million of compensation expense. As of December 31, 2023, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested performance-based RSUs was $5.2 million and it is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of ten months.

For the year ended December 31, 2023 the Company granted 4.4 million time-based RSUs that vest in three equal installments on each of the following three-year anniversaries of the grant date. The weighted-average grant date fair value was $0.94 and was based on the Company’s share price on the grant date. The Company recognized $6.6 million of compensation expense. As of December 31, 2023, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested time-based RSUs was $13.3 million and it is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of ten months.

On November 15, 2023 the Company granted 0.2 million market-based RSUs to the Company’s president and chief executive officer. The RSUs will vest on the day after the closing price of the Company’s common stock is five dollars per share or higher for at least 20 days out of any consecutive thirty-day period ending on or prior to June 30, 2026. The fair value of the RSUs was estimated to be $0.08 per RSU using a Monte-Carlo simulation model considering the term, volatility, risk-free rates and the vesting conditions. As of December 31, 2023, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested marked-based RSUs was de minimis and it is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of 1.8 years.

On June 9, 2023 the Company modified and amended various equity plan awards previously granted during 2022 to the Company’s president and chief executive officer, whereas a) 0.2 million market-based RSUs granted on January 4, 2022 became fully vested on June 9, 2023 from the original final vesting date of January 4, 2025. The Company recognized $0.5 million of compensation expense; b) effective June 15, 2023, two tranches of 200,000 performance-based RSUs granted on January 4, 2022, were modified so that they would vest at the target amount but could still earn up to an additional 0.1 million and 0.1 million shares based on meeting certain revenue and EBITDA goals above the target level. There was no additional charge to compensation expense as a result of this modification; and c) 0.2 million performance-based RSUs granted on June 30, 2022 were modified to become time-based RSUs to fully vest on March 31, 2025. There was no material charge to compensation expense as a result of this modification.

The majority of RSUs that vested in 2023 were net share settled such that the Company withheld shares with a value equivalent to the employees’ obligation for the applicable income and other employment taxes, and remitted the cash to the appropriate taxing authorities. Shares with a value of approximately $0.4 million were withheld to satisfy tax withholding for the year ended December 31, 2023.
All RSUs have dividend equivalent rights entitling the holders to the same dividend value per share as holders of the Company’s common stock. Dividend equivalent rights are subject to the same vesting and other terms and conditions as the corresponding unvested RSUs and are accumulated and paid when the underlying shares vest (i.e., these dividend rights are not non-forfeitable).

For the year ended December 31, 2022 the Company granted 4.0 million RSUs that vest based on the passage of time, and 1.7 million of performance-based RSUs. The actual number of performance-based RSUs that could vest will range from zero to 150% of the 1.6 million unvested RSUs granted (net of any forfeitures), depending upon the Company’s level of achievement with respect to the performance goals.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company granted approximately 0.2 million RSUs, which vest based on the Company’s stock price attaining a closing price equal to or greater than $13, $15, or $18 per share over any 20 trading days within any 30 consecutive trading day period. The fair value of these RSUs was estimated using a lattice model. These RSUs were subsequently modified on June 9, 2023 to remove the market condition and vest the award immediately on that date, as discussed above.

Significant inputs used in the Company’s valuation of the market-based RSUs included the following:

For the Year Ended December 31,
2023 2022
Expected volatility 85  %
57.1% - 75.2%
Risk-free interest rate 4.7  %
1.4% - 2.1%
Expected term 2.63 years
5-80 years

The following is a summary of the Company’s share-based compensation expense related to RSUs during the reporting periods shown below:

For the Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 2023 2022
Total stock compensation expense $ 11,251  $ 10,296 
Income tax benefit $ 755  $ 1,346 
Unrecognized compensation cost $ 18,411  $ 24,272 
Weighted-average remaining service period 1.52 years 2.55 years