Stock-Based Compensation

Equity Compensation Awards

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units

As of March 31, 2018, we had performance-based restricted stock awards from 2016, 2017 and 2018 outstanding. These awards generally cliff vest at the end of a three year measurement period. However, employees whose employment terminates during the measurement period due to death, disability, or, in certain cases, retirement may receive a pro-rata payout based on the number of days they were employed during the measurement period. Participants are eligible to be awarded shares ranging from 0% to 200% of the original award amount, based on certain defined performance measures. Compensation expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the measurement period, unless the employee has an accelerated vesting schedule.

The 2016, 2017 and 2018 awards have one measurement criteria: the three year total shareholder return (TSR) on the performance of our capital stock as compared to that of a specified group of peer companies. The TSR measurement criteria of the awards is considered a market condition. As such, the fair value of this measurement criteria was determined on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model, with related compensation expense fixed on the grant date and expensed on a straight-line basis over the life of the awards that ultimately vest and with no changes for the final projected payout of the awards.

Below were the assumptions used in the Monte Carlo calculation:



	March 31, 2018	March 31, 2017
Expected volatility	34.8%	33.6%
Expected term (in years)	3.0	3.0
Risk-free interest rate	2.28%	1.38%

Expected volatility – In determining expected volatility, we have considered a number of factors, including historical volatility.

Expected term – We use the measurement period of the award to determine the expected term assumption for the Monte Carlo simulation valuation model.

Risk-free interest rate – We use an implied “spot rate” yield on U.S. Treasury Constant Maturity rates as of the grant date for our assumption of the risk-free interest rate.

Expected dividend yield – We do not currently pay dividends on our capital stock; therefore, a dividend yield of 0% was used in the Monte Carlo simulation valuation model.

Forfeiture Rate – We account for forfeitures as they occur.

The following table summarizes the change in number of performance-based restricted stock awards outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2018:



	Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards
Awards outstanding at December 31, 2017	169,202
Awards granted	72,160
Stock issued	(81,230	)
Awards forfeited	(1,735	)
Awards outstanding at March 31, 2018	158,397

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recognized compensation expense for performance-based restricted stock awards of approximately $1.0 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recognized compensation income for performance-based restricted stock awards of approximately $0.1 million.

Time-Based Restricted Stock Units

As of March 31, 2018, we had time-based restricted stock grants from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 outstanding. The 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 grants all ratably vest on the first, second and third anniversaries of the original grant date. We recognize compensation expense on all of these awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The Company issued 2,200 time-based restricted stock units to key employees in 2014 that cliff vest on December 17, 2018. Each restricted stock unit represents a right to receive one share of the Rogers’ capital stock at the end of the vesting period.

The fair value of the award is determined based on the market value of the underlying stock price at the grant date. We account for forfeitures as they occur.

The following table summarizes the change in number of time-based restricted stock awards outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2018:



	Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards
Awards outstanding at December 31, 2017	173,331
Awards granted	41,100
Stock issued	(76,996	)
Awards forfeited	(1,990	)
Awards outstanding at March 31, 2018	135,445

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 we recognized compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards of approximately $1.5 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 we recognized compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards of approximately $1.0 million.

Deferred Stock Units

We grant deferred stock units to non-management directors. These awards are fully vested on the date of grant and the related shares are generally issued on the 13 month anniversary of the grant date unless the individual elects to defer the receipt of those shares. Each deferred stock unit results in the issuance of one share of Rogers’ capital stock. The grant of deferred stock units is typically done annually during the second quarter of each year. The fair value of the award is determined based on the market value of the underlying stock price at the grant date.

The following table summarizes the change in number of deferred stock units outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2018:



	Deferred Stock Units
Awards outstanding at December 31, 2017	9,250
Awards granted	—
Stock issued	—
Awards outstanding at March 31, 2018	9,250

During the each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, we recognized no compensation expense associated with the deferred stock units.

Stock Options

Stock options have been granted under various equity compensation plans, and they generally became exercisable in one-third increments on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant dates. The maximum contractual term for all options was normally ten years. We used the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the grant-date fair value of an option. We have not granted any stock options since the first quarter of 2012.

A summary of the activity under our stock option plans during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and changes during the three months then ended, is presented below:



	Options Outstanding		Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options outstanding at December 31, 2017	33,283		$	36.40	2.2	$	4,177,655
Options exercised	(11,383	)	$	41.56
Options forfeited	—		$	—
Options outstanding at March 31, 2018	21,900		$	33.72	2.1	$	1,879,485
Options exercisable at March 31, 2018	21,900		$	33.72	2.1	$	1,879,485
Options vested at March 31, 2018	21,900		$	33.72	2.1	$	1,879,485

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the total intrinsic value of options exercised (i.e., the difference between the market price at time of exercise and the price paid by the individual to exercise the options) was $1.5 million, and the total amount of cash received from the exercise of these options was $0.5 million.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We have an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) that allows eligible employees to purchase, through payroll deductions, shares of our capital stock at a discount to fair market value. The ESPP has two six month offering periods each year, the first beginning in January and ending in June and the second beginning in July and ending in December. The ESPP contains a look-back feature that allows the employee to acquire shares of our capital stock at a 15% discount from the underlying market price at the beginning or end of the applicable period, whichever is lower. We recognize compensation expense on this plan ratably over the offering period based on the fair value of the anticipated number of shares that will be issued at the end of each offering period. Compensation expense is adjusted at the end of each offering period for the actual number of shares issued. Fair value is determined based on two factors: (i) the 15% discount on the underlying stock’s market value on the first day of the applicable offering period and (ii) the fair value of the look-back feature determined by using the Black-Scholes model. We recognized approximately $0.1 million of compensation expense associated with the plan in each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.