SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0725 per share. During 2018, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share. Dividends paid on shares in the ESOP were used to offset ESOP loan payments and recorded as a reduction of debt service payments and compensation expense. A dividend payable was established for the holders of restricted shares; such dividends will be released upon vesting of the underlying restricted shares.

On January 31, 2019, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0725 per share, payable on March 21, 2019 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 21, 2019.

Compensation expense for restricted stock is recognized ratably over the required service period based on the fair value of the grant, calculated as the number of shares granted multiplied by the stock price on the date of grant and, for performance shares, the likelihood of achieving the performance criteria. Compensation cost related to stock-based awards with graded vesting, generally over a period of three to four years, is recognized using the straight-line attribution method and recorded within SG&A expenses.

On January 29, 2016, shareholders approved the Griffon Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan ("Incentive Plan") under which awards of performance shares, performance units, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, deferred shares and other stock-based awards may be granted. On January 31, 2018, shareholders approved Amendment No. 1 to the Incentive Plan pursuant to which, among other things, 1,000,000 shares were added to the Incentive Plan. Options granted under the Incentive Plan may be either “incentive stock options” or nonqualified stock options, generally expire ten years after the date of grant and are granted at an exercise price of not less than 100% of the fair market value at the date of grant. The maximum number of shares of common stock available for award under the Incentive Plan is 3,350,000 (600,000 of which may be issued as incentive stock options), plus (i) any shares reserved for issuance under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan as of the effective date of the Incentive Plan, and (ii) any shares underlying awards outstanding on such effective date under the 2011 Incentive Plan that are canceled or forfeited. As of December 31, 2018, there were 324,326 shares available for grant.

All grants outstanding under former equity plans will continue under their terms; no additional awards will be granted under such plans.

During the first quarter of 2019, Griffon granted 1,194,538 shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units. This included 666,538 shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units, subject to certain performance conditions, with vesting periods of three years, with a total fair value of $8,105, or a weighted average fair value of $12.16 per share. This also included 528,000 shares of restricted stock granted to two senior executives with a vesting period of four years and a two year post-vesting holding period, subject to the achievement of certain absolute and relative performance conditions relating to the price of Griffon's common stock. So long as the minimum performance condition is attained, the amount of shares that can vest will range from 384,000 to 528,000. The total fair value of these restricted shares is approximately $3,576, or a weighted average fair value of $6.77.

For the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, stock based compensation expense totaled $2,933 and $2,555, respectively.

On each of August 3, 2016 and August 1, 2018, Griffon’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50,000 of Griffon’s outstanding common stock. Under this share repurchase program, the Company may purchase shares in the open market, including pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan, or in privately negotiated transactions. During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, Griffon purchased 29,300 shares of common stock under these repurchase programs, for a total of $290 or $9.91 per share. As of December 31, 2018, an aggregate of $58,037 remains under Griffon's Board authorized repurchase programs.

In addition, during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, 83,133 shares, with a market value of $1,011, or $12.16 per share, were withheld to settle employee taxes due upon the vesting of restricted stock, and were added to treasury stock. An additional 3,861 shares, with a market value of $47, or $12.16 per share, were withheld from common stock issued upon the vesting of restricted stock units to settle employee taxes due upon vesting.