Note 12 - Share-based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

12. 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 awarded annually to certain members of the Company’s management based on their achievement of 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 of common stock vesting quarterly over a period of three years. 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 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.

Directors receive both cash and equity compensation under the Equity Plan. Share-based compensation is comprised of restricted shares of common stock vesting quarterly over the directors’ annual period of service and 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 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.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock under the Equity Plan were granted to directors. The number of common shares granted which are subject to option for annual board service, board committee service, and continued service of the Chairman of the Board is 0.3 million shares, 0.1 million shares, and 0.4 million shares, respectively. Share-based compensation of stock option grants is valued at the commitment date, based on the fair value of the equity instruments, and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the directors’ service period. For annual board service and board committee service, stock option grants have a contractual period of ten years and vest quarterly over 12 months. The exercise price per share is based on the average of the high and low share price on the date of grant, or $12.11 per share. The fair value of these grants using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was $3.88 per share based on an expected term of 5.25 years, expected volatility of 28%, and a risk-free rate of 4.16%. During the three months ended June 30, 2023, 0.1 million share options vested to directors for annual board and committee service. For continued board service of the Chairman, the stock option grant has a contractual period of ten years which vests as follows: 0.1 million shares on June 1, 2024, 0.1 million shares on June 1, 2025, and 0.1 million shares on June 1, 2026. The exercise price per share is based on the average of the high and low share price on the date of grant, or $9.08 per share. The fair value of these grants using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was $3.94 per share based on an expected term of 6.12 years, expected volatility of 37%, and a risk-free rate of 3.53%.

The simplified method described in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 was used by management due to the lack of historical option exercise behavior, The Company does not currently issue dividends. There were no forfeitures of stock option grants as of June 30, 2023. Management does not anticipate future forfeitures to be material.

Share-based compensation expense totaled $0.8 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $1.8 million and $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Included in these amounts were $0.1 million and $0.2 million of restricted common stock vested during the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $1.0 million and $0.4 million of restricted common stock vested during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 respectively.