Note 8 - Share-based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

8.         SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company’s directors and certain members of management receive a portion of their compensation in shares of the Company’s common stock granted under the Company’s 2017 Equity and Incentive Award Plan (“Equity Plan”). Share-based compensation is valued based on the average of the high and low share price on the date of grant. Shares are issued upon execution of agreements reflecting the grantee’s acceptance of the respective shares subject to the terms and conditions of the Equity Plan. Restricted shares issued under the Equity Plan vest quarterly and have voting and regular dividend rights but cannot be disposed of until such time as they are vested. All unvested restricted shares are forfeited upon the grantee’s termination of directorship or employment from the Company.

Share-based compensation is determined and awarded annually to the Company’s certain members of management based on their achievement of certain predefined performance goals and objectives under the Equity Plan. Such share-based compensation is comprised of an annual incentive paid in shares of common stock and a long-term incentive paid in restricted shares vesting quarterly over a period of three years.

Share-based compensation expense totaled $1.0 million and $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Included in these amounts were $0.6 million and $0.5 million of restricted common stock vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.