2023 Cash Bonus Amounts
In February 2024, the committee determined our achievement rate as against our 2023 corporate and strategic objectives was 44.3% of the target achievement level, resulting in the payment of bonuses to our named executive officers in an amount equal to 44.3% of their respective target bonus amounts. The 2023 cash bonuses paid to our named executive officers are included in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the 2023 Summary Compensation Table below.
The bonus achievement rate reflected our over-achievement of the financial, clinical and reimbursement objectives, but the inability to achieve our commercial objectives pertaining to revenue growth, which reflected 60% of the aggregate bonus opportunity. While our total revenue increased 14% in 2023 compared to the prior year, the minimum revenue growth rate required for payout under the commercial objective was set at 25% to receive a 90% payout, and 35% to receive a 100% payout. Since we did not achieve the threshold level of revenue growth performance, no bonus was payable with respect to the commercial milestone component of the cash bonus program.
Our inability to achieve our commercial objectives arose primarily out of certain unexpected reimbursement uncertainties. In June 2023, five of the seven Medicare Administrative Contractors, or MACs, published local coverage determinations, or LCDs, that would have characterized certain procedures associated with our OMNI and SION technologies as investigational and thus non-covered for Medicare beneficiaries in the jurisdictions covered by those MACs. While these LCDs were ultimately withdrawn before they became effective, the uncertainty of coverage combined with accounts reducing inventory levels led to lower sales in our surgical glaucoma segment in the second half of 2023.
While we were unable to achieve our commercial objectives, we were able to achieve our cash burn, clinical, and reimbursement objectives. For our cash burn objective, we proactively adjusted our planned spending in 2023 to account for lower revenue, and were able to adjust our plans to still meet this objective without compromising on our long-term value drivers, including investing in our pipeline, commercial infrastructure, and market access initiatives. In addition, across the organization we incurred lower incentive-based compensation (bonuses and commissions) due to lower revenue. Our other key value drivers, including the submission of our SAHARA RCT and achieving four reimbursement contracts for our OMNI Surgical System, were achieved ahead of expectations. Since we exceeded the threshold and target levels for our cash burn, clinical, and reimbursement objectives, bonuses were payable for these components of the cash bonus program as reflected in the table above.
Pay-for-Performance Philosophy
The committee evaluated the circumstances of our failure to achieve our commercial objectives, including the potential impact of the 2023 cash bonus payouts on our ability to motivate and retain our key employees. and determined no discretionary adjustments to the final corporate achievement percentage would be made, notwithstanding the significant contributions made by our employees to the growth and success of the business during the year. The strong correlation between the achievement of our business and strategic objectives and the actual compensation paid under our 2023 cash bonus program reflects our commitment to our pay-for-performance philosophy.
Equity Incentive Compensation
We generally offer equity awards to our employees, including our named executive officers, as the long-term incentive component of our executive compensation program. New equity awards are made pursuant to our 2021 Incentive Award Plan, which has been approved by our Board and stockholders.
Historically, we offered stock options to our employees, but beginning in September 2021, we commenced the grant of restricted stock units, or RSUs, in addition to stock options. Stock options generally allow employees to purchase shares of our common stock at a price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date, as determined by the Board. RSUs generally allow employees to receive shares of our common stock upon the vesting and settlement of the RSUs.
Stock options granted upon an employee’s commencement of employment generally vest as to 25% of the underlying shares on the first anniversary of the grant date and in equal monthly installments over the following three years. Subsequent grants of stock options to employees generally vest as to 1/48th of the shares underlying the stock option each month for four years following the grant date. Historically, our stock options have been intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” to the extent permitted under the Internal Revenue Code.