The Company has a Long Term Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”), as approved by the Company’s stockholders in May 2006 and as amended in May 2015. The 2006 Plan allows for grants to directors and employees of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares, performance units and other incentive awards (“Stock Awards”) up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 awards, each representing a right to buy a share of Core Molding Technologies common stock. Stock Awards can be granted under the 2006 Plan through the earlier of December 31, 2025, or the date the maximum number of available awards under the 2006 Plan have been granted.

Restricted Awards

The Company grants shares of its common stock to certain directors, officers, key managers and employees in the form of unvested stock and units (“Restricted Awards”). These awards are recorded at the market value of Core Molding Technologies’ common stock on the date of issuance, net of estimated forfeitures, and amortized ratably as compensation expense over the applicable vesting period, which is typically three years. The Company has applied forfeiture rates, estimated based on historical experience, of 3.5%-6.5% to the restricted stock fair values. These estimated forfeiture rates are applied to grants based on their remaining vesting term and may be revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from these estimates.

The following summarizes the status of Restricted Stock and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2018:



	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested balance at December 31, 2017	141,095		$	16.79
Granted	156,953		15.51
Vested	(77,318	)	16.31
Forfeited	(1,702	)	22.68
Unvested balance at June 30, 2018	219,028		$	16.00

At June 30, 2018 and 2017, there was $2,957,000 and $2,142,000, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to Restricted Awards granted under the 2006 Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.7 years. Total compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to restricted award grants for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $639,000 and $526,000, respectively, all of which was recorded to selling, general and administrative expense. Compensation cost related to restricted stock grants for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $970,000 and $791,000, respectively, all of which was recorded to selling, general and administrative expense.

Compensation expense for restricted award is recorded at the fair value at the time of the grant, net of estimated forfeitures, over the vesting period of the restricted award grant. The Company does not receive a tax deduction for restricted award until the restricted award vests. The tax deduction for restricted award is based on the fair market value as of the vesting date. Additional tax expense due for the fair market value on the grant date in excess of the value at time of vesting was $20,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018. Tax benefits received for vested restricted award in excess of the fair market value as of the grant date were $136,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, employees surrendered 17,180 and 19,533 shares, respectively, of the Company's common stock to satisfy income tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted awards.