Note 8 - Stock-based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]

8 . STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Incentive Plan

In 2015, the Board and stockholders approved the Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan, or the Amended and Restated Plan. The Amended and Restated Plan amends the Company’s pre-existing Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan which had replaced the 1998 Stock Option Plan, or the 1998 Plan, and the 2000 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, or the 2000 Plan.  The Amended and Restated Plan authorized an additional 2,450,000 shares for new awards and combined the remaining shares available under the original Amended and Restated Plan.  Eligible participants under the Amended and Restated Plan include officers and other employees of the Company, members of the Board and outside consultants, as specified under the Amended and Restated Plan and designated by the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board, or the Compensation Committee.  Unless earlier terminated by action of the Board, the Amended and Restated Plan will remain in effect until such time as no stock remains available for issuance under the Amended and Restated Plan and the Company has no further rights or obligations under the Amended and Restated Plan with respect to outstanding awards thereunder. 

SARs are generally granted with a grant price equal to the market value of the common stock on the date of grant, vest one-third each year on the anniversary of the date of grant and expire five years from the date of grant.  The restricted shares and restricted stock units (RSU’s) granted to employees historically have had a three year cliff vesting period and are subject to accelerated vesting and forfeiture under certain circumstances. Restricted shares and restricted stock units granted to board members generally have a three year graded vesting period and are subject to accelerated vesting and forfeiture under certain circumstances.

In February 2016, certain employees and members of the Company’s Board of Directors were granted approximately 1.3 million RSU’s at a weighted average grant price of $0.25. These shares vest one-third each year on the anniversary of the date of grant.

The following table provides the weighted average assumptions used in determining the fair value of the non-market based SARs awards granted during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015: 

	Three Months Ending
	March 31,
	2016		2015
Risk-free interest rate		-		0.97%
Expected life (years)		-		3.5
Expected volatility		-		52.03%
Dividend yield		-		-

The Company recognized approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million of stock-based compensation expense during each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.