Stock-Based Compensation

Fuel Tech’s 2014 Long-term Incentive Plan (2014 Plan) was adopted in May 2014, and replaced our prior incentive plan which was first approved by our stockholders in 1993 and subsequently amended and approved by our stockholders in 2004 (FTIP). No further grants will be made from the FTIP. The 2014 Plan and FTIP are referred to collectively as the Incentive Plans.

The 2014 Plan permits grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards (in the form of equity or cash bonuses), dividend equivalents on full value awards and other awards (which may be based in whole or in part on the value of our common stock or other property). Directors, salaried employees, and consultants of Fuel Tech and its commonly-controlled affiliates are eligible to participate in the 2014 Plan. The number of shares originally reserved for share-based awards under the 2014 Plan equaled 2,000,000 shares, less the number of share-based awards made under the FTIP between December 31, 2013 and the effective date of the 2014 Plan. As of March 31, 2015, Fuel Tech had 1,234,389 shares available for share-based awards under the 2014 Plan.

Stock-based compensation is included in selling, general, and administrative costs in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The components of stock-based compensation for the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
Stock options and restricted stock units	$	272		$	424
Tax benefit of stock-based compensation expense	(103		)	(163		)
After-tax effect of stock-based compensation	$	169		$	261

Stock Options

Stock options granted to employees under the Incentive Plans have a 10-year life and they vest as follows: 50% after the second anniversary of the award date, 25% after the third anniversary, and the final 25% after the fourth anniversary of the award date. Fuel Tech calculates stock compensation expense for employee option awards based on the grant date fair value of the award, less expected annual forfeitures, and recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the four-year service period of the award. Stock options granted to members of our board of directors vest immediately. Stock compensation for these awards is based on the grant date fair value of the award and is recognized in expense immediately.

Fuel Tech uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the grant date fair value of employee stock options. The principal variable assumptions utilized in valuing options and the methodology for estimating such model inputs include: (1) risk-free interest rate – an estimate based on the yield of zero–coupon treasury securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option; (2) expected volatility – an estimate based on the historical volatility of Fuel Tech’s Common Stock for a period equal to the expected life of the option; and (3) expected life of the option – an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations.

Stock option activity for Fuel Tech’s Incentive Plans for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was as follows:



	Number of Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding on January 1, 2015	1,546,500		$	11.62
Granted	—		—
Exercised	—		—
Expired or forfeited	(5,000	)	6.51
Outstanding on March 31, 2015	1,541,500		$	11.63	3.23	$	—
Exercisable on March 31, 2015	1,541,500		$	11.63	3.23	$	—

As of March 31, 2015, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the Incentive Plans.

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units (RSUs) granted to employees vest over time based on continued service (typically vesting over a three year period in equal installments). Such time-vested RSUs are valued at fair value based on the closing price on the date of grant. Compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

In addition to the time vested RSUs described above, commencing in 2011, on an annual basis the Company entered into performance-based RSU agreements (the Agreements) with each of the Company’s President/Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Commencing in 2013, the Company’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary also entered into an agreement. The Agreements provide each participating executive the opportunity to earn three types of awards with each award type specifying a targeted number of RSUs that may be granted to each executive based on either the individual performance of the executive or the Company’s relative performance compared to a peer group, as determined by the award type. The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (the Committee) determines the extent to which, if any, RSUs will be granted based on the achievement of the applicable performance criteria specified in the Agreement. This determination will be made following the completion of the applicable performance period (each a Determination Date). Such performance based awards include the following:

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The first type of award is based on individual performance during the respective calendar year as determined by the Committee based on performance criteria specified in the Agreement. These awards will vest over a three year period beginning on the Determination Date. We estimated the fair value of these performance-based RSU awards on the date of the Agreement using the trading price of the Company’s stock and our estimate of the probability that the specified performance criteria will be met. The fair value measurement and probability estimate will be re-measured each reporting date until the Determination Date, at which time the final award amount will be known. For these job performance-based awards, we amortize compensation costs over the requisite service period, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, for each separately vesting tranche of the award.

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The second type of RSU award contains a targeted number of RSUs to be granted based on the Company’s revenue growth relative to a specified peer group during a period of two calendar years. These awards vest 67% on the second anniversary of the Agreement date and 33% on the third anniversary of the Agreement date. We estimated the fair value of these performance-based RSU awards on the Agreement date using the trading price of the Company’s stock on the date of determination and our estimate of the probability that the specified performance criteria will be met. For these revenue growth performance-based awards, we amortize compensation costs over the requisite service period, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, for each separately vesting tranche of the award.

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The third type of RSU award contains a targeted number of RSUs to be granted based on the total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company’s common stock relative to a specified peer group during a period of two calendar years. These awards vest 67% on the second anniversary of the Agreement date and 33% on the third anniversary of the Agreement date. We estimated the fair value of these market-based RSU awards on the Agreement date using a Monte Carlo valuation methodology and amortize the fair value over the requisite service period for each separately vesting tranche of the award. The principal variable assumptions utilized in valuing these RSUs under this valuation methodology include the risk-free interest rate, stock volatility, and correlations between our stock price and the stock prices of a peer group of companies.

At March 31, 2015, there is $3,018 of unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock unit awards to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.33 years.

A summary of restricted stock unit activity for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is as follows:



	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested restricted stock units at January 1, 2015	977,069		$	5.36
Granted	336,000		3.37
Forfeited	(180,000	)	4.67
Vested	(220,470	)	5.06
Unvested restricted stock units at March 31, 2015	912,599		$	4.84

Deferred Directors Fees

In addition to the Incentive Plans, Fuel Tech has a Deferred Compensation Plans for Directors (Deferred Plan). Under the terms of the Deferred Plan, Directors can elect to defer Directors’ fees for shares of Fuel Tech Common Stock that are issuable at a future date as defined in the agreement. In accordance with ASC 718, Fuel Tech accounts for these awards as equity awards. In the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, Fuel Tech recorded no stock-based compensation expense under the Deferred Plan.