Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plan

v3.8.0.1
Employee Benefit Plan
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plan
Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has two defined contribution plans under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (“401(k)”) covering full-time domestic employees who meet certain eligibility requirements, the Global Eagle Entertainment Retirement Plan ("GEE 401(k) Plan”) and the Emerging Markets Communications Volume Submitter Defined Contribution Plan (the “EMC 401(k) Plan”).

Under the GEE 401(k) Plan, eligible GEE employees may defer up to 100% of either their pre-tax eligible compensation or after-tax eligible compensation through a Roth 401(k), or up to the annual maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). GEE may, but is not obligated to, match a portion of the employee contributions up to a defined maximum. GEE began matching employee contributions in 2016.

Under the EMC 401(k) Plan, eligible EMC employees can make contributions up to 15% of their either pre-tax eligible compensation or after-tax eligible compensation through a Roth 401(k) or up to the annual IRS dollar limit for the applicable year. EMC makes a matching contribution in accordance with a prescribed matching formula.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized a total expense of $0.7 million for matching contribution for both 401(k) plans. The Company did not make any matching contributions to the GEE 401(k) Plan during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.