STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS (Tables)

The following table summarizes the activity relating to restricted stock awards during the periods indicated:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018				2017
	Awards		Weighted Average Grant Price per Share		Awards		Weighted Average Grant Price per Share
Unvested awards outstanding at beginning of period	1,975,862		$	13.64	1,836,363		$	12.97
Vested	(7,631	)	12.83		(243,982	)	11.83
Forfeited/expired	(19,893	)	14.02		(2,950	)	13.00
Dividend reinvestment	16,373		14.37		12,253		14.54
Unvested awards outstanding at end of period	1,964,711		13.65		1,601,684		13.16

The following table provides certain information related to restricted stock awards:



(in thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Stock-based compensation expense	$	1,939	$	1,760
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense	407		616
Fair value of awards vested	110		3,802

The components of the restricted stock awards as of March 31, 2018 are as follows:



(dollars in thousands)	Service- Based Awards		Performance- Based Awards		Total
Unvested restricted stock awards	1,050,062		914,649		1,964,711
Unrecognized compensation expense	$	5,691	$	4,061	$	9,752
Intrinsic value	$	14,123	$	12,302	$	26,425
Weighted average remaining life (in years)	1.76		1.50		1.64

The following table summarizes the activity relating to stock options during the periods indicated:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018				2017
	Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share		Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share
Options outstanding at beginning of period	722,650		$	7.96	892,532		$	8.95
Assumed from acquisitions	—		—		207,645		8.92
Exercised	(163,035	)	7.79		(131,792	)	9.44
Forfeited/expired	(237	)	10.72		(49,281	)	10.91
Options outstanding and exercisable at end of period	559,378		8.03		919,104		8.77