Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Benefit Plans

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Benefit Plans
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Benefit Plans
Benefit Plans 
We recognized share-based payment expense of $29,405 and $34,891 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $99,853 and $94,588 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Due to the adoption of ASU 2018-07, the share-based payment expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 includes a cumulative retrospective benefit of $4,704 which relates to the six months ended June 30, 2018.
2015 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan
In May 2015, our stockholders approved the Sirius XM Holdings Inc. 2015 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”).  Employees, consultants and members of our board of directors are eligible to receive awards under the 2015 Plan.  The 2015 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards that the compensation committee of our board of directors deems appropriate.  Stock-based awards granted under the 2015 Plan are generally subject to a graded vesting requirement, which is generally three to four years from the grant date.  Stock options generally expire ten years from the date of grant.  Restricted stock units include performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”), the vesting of which are subject to the achievement of performance goals and the employee's continued employment and generally cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. Each restricted stock unit entitles the holder to receive one share of common stock upon vesting.  As of September 30, 2018, 157,212 shares of common stock were available for future grants under the 2015 Plan.
Other Plans
We maintain three other share-based benefit plans — the Sirius XM Radio Inc. 2009 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, the XM 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated Sirius Satellite Radio 2003 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan. Excluding dividend equivalent units granted as a result of a declared dividend, no further awards may be made under these plans.
The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used to compute the fair value of options granted to employees and members of our board of directors:
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Risk-free interest rate
2.8%
 
1.8%
 
2.7%
 
1.8%
Expected life of options — years
4.98
 
4.66
 
4.44
 
4.60
Expected stock price volatility
23%
 
24%
 
23%
 
24%
Expected dividend yield
0.6%
 
0.7%
 
0.7%
 
0.7%

There were no options granted to third parties during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.
The following table summarizes stock option activity under our share-based plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
Options
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per Share
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017
280,457

 
$
3.76

 
 
 
 
Granted
28,235

 
$
6.71

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(61,566
)
 
$
3.35

 
 
 
 
Forfeited, cancelled or expired
(2,831
)
 
$
4.62

 
 
 
 
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018
244,295

 
$
4.19

 
6.50
 
$
532,346

Exercisable as of September 30, 2018
136,114

 
$
3.56

 
5.66
 
$
375,758


The weighted average grant date fair value per share of stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $1.48.  The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $205,963 and $148,133, respectively.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 the number of net settled shares which were issued as a result of stock option exercises was 18,510.
We recognized share-based payment expense associated with stock options of $11,504 and $21,454 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $51,939 and $61,091 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit, including PRSU, activity under our share-based plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
Shares
 
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
Nonvested as of December 31, 2017
31,323

 
$
4.54

Granted
15,072

 
$
6.56

Vested
(11,245
)
 
$
4.25

Forfeited
(870
)
 
$
4.92

Nonvested as of September 30, 2018
34,280

 
$
5.48


The total intrinsic value of restricted stock units, including PRSUs, vesting during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $75,762 and $46,920, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the number of net settled shares which were issued as a result of restricted stock units vesting totaled 6,659. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we granted 3,780 PRSUs to certain employees. We believe it is probable that the performance target applicable to these PRSUs will be achieved.
In connection with the cash dividends paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we granted 180 restricted stock units, including PRSUs, in accordance with the terms of existing award agreements. These grants did not result in any additional incremental share-based payment expense being recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
We recognized share-based payment expense associated with restricted stock units, including PRSUs, of $17,901 and $13,437 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $47,914 and $33,497 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested share-based payment awards for stock options and restricted stock units, including PRSUs, granted to employees, members of our board of directors and third parties at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $274,610 and $241,521, respectively.  The total unrecognized compensation costs at September 30, 2018 are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.84 years.
401(k) Savings Plan
Sirius XM sponsors the Sirius XM Radio Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Sirius XM Plan”) for eligible employees. The Sirius XM Plan allows eligible employees to voluntarily contribute from 1% to 50% of their pre-tax eligible earnings, subject to certain defined limits. We match 50% of an employee’s voluntary contributions per pay period on the first 6% of an employee’s pre-tax salary up to a maximum of 3% of eligible compensation.  We may also make additional discretionary matching, true-up matching and non-elective contributions to the Sirius XM Plan.  Employer matching contributions under the Sirius XM Plan vest at a rate of 33.33% for each year of employment and are fully vested after three years of employment for all current and future contributions.  Our cash employer matching contributions are not used to purchase shares of our common stock on the open market, unless the employee elects our common stock as their investment option for this contribution.  We recognized $1,956 and $1,775 in expense during three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $5,984 and $5,292 in expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in connection with the Sirius XM Plan.
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan
In 2015, we adopted the Sirius XM Holdings Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DCP”).  The DCP allows members of our board of directors and certain eligible employees to defer all or a portion of their base salary, cash incentive compensation and/or board of directors’ cash compensation, as applicable.  Pursuant to the terms of the DCP, we may elect to make additional contributions beyond amounts deferred by participants, but we are under no obligation to do so.  We have established a grantor (or “rabbi”) trust to facilitate the payment of our obligations under the DCP.
Contributions to the DCP, net of withdrawals, for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $236 and $240, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $7,374 and $7,595, respectively. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the fair value of the investments held in the trust were $23,398 and $14,641, respectively, which is included in Other long-term assets in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets and classified as trading securities.  Trading gains and losses associated with these investments are recorded in Other income within our unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income.  The associated liability is recorded within Other long-term liabilities in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets, and any increase or decrease in the liability is recorded in General and administration expense within our unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded an immaterial amount of unrealized gains on investments held in the trust.