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Stockholders' Equity
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]  
Stockholders' Equity
Note 7 – Stockholders' Equity
The Company's Class B common stock carries 10 votes per share while the common stock carries 1 vote per share. Class B shares are transferable only to certain permitted transferees while the common stock is freely transferable.  Class B shares are convertible on a one-for-one basis at any time into shares of common stock.  Transfers of Class B shares other than to permitted transferees result in the automatic conversion of the Class B shares into common stock.

The Board of Directors may only declare dividends or other distributions with respect to the common stock or the Class B common stock if it grants such dividends or distributions in the same amount per share with respect to the other class of stock.  Stock dividends or distributions on any class of stock are payable only in shares of stock of that class.  Shares of either common stock or Class B common stock cannot be split, divided, or combined unless the other is also split, divided, or combined equally.

In 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend program. Cash dividends were paid quarterly in 2017 and 2016 as follows:

Record date
Payment date
 
Amount (per share)
 
Record date
Payment date
 
Amount (per share)
 
March 14, 2017
March 29, 2017
 
$
0.0625
 
March 11, 2016
March 29, 2016
 
$
0.0625
 
June 15, 2017
June 29, 2017
 
$
0.0625
 
June 15, 2016
June 29, 2016
 
$
0.0625
 
September 15, 2017
September 28, 2017
 
$
0.0625
 
September 15, 2016
September 29, 2016
 
$
0.0625
 
December 7, 2017
December 21, 2017
 
$
0.0675
 
December 8, 2016
December 22, 2016
 
$
0.0625
 

The Amended and Restated Credit Facility allows an unlimited amount of defined "Restricted Payments," which include cash dividends and share repurchases, provided the Company's pro forma leverage ratio is less than 2.25 to 1.  If the Company's leverage ratio is greater than 2.25 to 1, the Amended and Restated Credit Facility allows such payments up to $75,000 per annum (subject to a cap of $225,000 for the term of the facility).  The amount and timing of any future stock repurchases or cash dividends remains subject to authorization of the Company's Board of Directors.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had reserved shares of common stock for future issuance as follows:

Restricted stock units outstanding
  
986,000
 
Phantom stock units outstanding
  
157,000
 
2007 Stock Incentive Program - available to grant
  
3,158,000
 
Convertible senior debentures, due 2040*
  
24,185,258
 
Convertible senior debentures, due 2041*
  
9,670,490
 
Convertible senior debentures, due 2042*
  
15,550,865
 
Conversion of Class B common stock
  
12,129,227
 
 
  
65,836,840
 
___________________
*At December 31, 2017, the convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 are convertible into 21,232,338, 8,451,405, and 13,616,805 shares, respectively, of Vishay common stock.  The Company has reserved adequate shares to ensure it could issue the maximum amount of shares to be delivered upon a make-whole fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the debentures.