Stock Options and awards

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Stock Options and awards

7. Stock Options and awards

7. STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS

Stock Awards

As of December 30, 2023, the Company has one incentive stock award plan, The Eastern Company 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), for officers, other key employees, and non-employee Directors. Incentive stock awards granted under the 2020 Plan must have exercise prices that are not less than 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the dates the stock awards are granted. Restricted stock awards may also be granted to participants under the 2020 Plan with restrictions determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Under the 2020 Plan, non-qualified stock awards granted to participants will have exercise prices determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company granted 82,800 and 43,300 awards during 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The 2020 Plan also permits the issuance of Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”). The SARs are in the form of an award with a cashless exercise price equal to the difference between the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant and the fair value as of the exercise date resulting in the issuance of the Company’s common stock. The Company did not issue SARs in 2023 or 2022.

Stock-based compensation (income)/expense, including forfeitures, in connection with stock awards and SARs previously granted to employees was $(74,277) and $504,694 for fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company used fair market value to determine the associated expense with stock awards for the 2023 and 2022 fiscal years.

As of December 31, 2023, there were 880,973 shares of common stock reserved and available for future grant under 2020 Plan.

The following tables set forth the outstanding SARs for the period specified:

	Year Ended December 30, 2023					Year Ended December 31, 2022
	Units			Weighted - Average Exercise Price		Units			Weighted - Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of period		146,166		$	23.22		180,833		$	22.88
Expired		(50,833	)		24.24		-			-
Exercised		(33,333	)		21.10		(16,667	)		21.20
Forfeited		(49,000	)		22.80		(18,000	)		21.74
Outstanding at end of period		13,000			24.19		146,166			23.22

SARs  Outstanding and Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Outstanding as of December 30, 2023		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Exercisable as of December 30, 2023		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
$19.44-$26.30		13,000		0.5	$	24.19		13,000		0.5	$	24.19

The following tables set forth the outstanding stock grants for the period specified:

	Year Ended December 30, 2023			Year Ended December 31, 2022
	Shares			Shares
Outstanding at beginning of period		64,500			27,300
Issued		82,800			43,300
Exercised		(10,600	)		-
Forfeited		(47,300	)		(6,100	)
Outstanding at end of period		89,400			64,500

As of December 30, 2023, outstanding SARs and awards had an intrinsic value of $2,289,440.