STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Overview of Plans

In June 2008, the Company adopted the Advocat Inc. 2008 Stock Purchase Plan for Key Personnel (“Stock Purchase Plan”). The Stock Purchase Plan provides for the granting of rights to purchase shares of the Company's common stock to directors and officers. The Stock Purchase Plan allows participants to elect to utilize a specified portion of base salary, annual cash bonus, or director compensation to purchase restricted shares or restricted share units (“RSU's”) at 85% of the quoted market price of a share of the Company's common stock on the date of purchase. The restriction period under the Stock Purchase Plan is generally two years from the date of purchase and during which the shares will have the rights to receive dividends, however, the restricted share certificates will not be delivered to the shareholder and the shares cannot be sold, assigned or disposed of during the restriction period. In June 2016, our shareholders approved an amendment to the Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares of our common stock authorized under the Plan from 150 shares to 350 shares. No grants can be made under the Stock Purchase Plan after April 25, 2028.

In April 2010, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors adopted the 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2010 Plan”), followed by approval by the Company's shareholders in June 2010. The 2010 Plan allows the Company to issue stock appreciation rights, stock options and other share and cash based awards. In June 2017, our shareholders approved an amendment to the Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of our common stock authorized under the Plan from 380 shares to 680 shares. No grants can be made under the 2010 Plan after May 31, 2027.

Equity Grants and Valuations

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved grants totaling approximately 90 and 88 shares of restricted common stock to certain employees and members of the Board of Directors, respectively. The fair value of restricted shares is determined as the quoted market price of the underlying common shares at the date of the grant. The restricted shares typically vest 33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Unvested shares may not be sold or transferred. During the vesting period, dividends accrue on the restricted shares, but are paid in additional shares of common stock upon vesting, subject to the vesting provisions of the underlying restricted shares. The restricted shares are entitled to the same voting rights as other common shares. Upon vesting, all restrictions are removed.

Prior to 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors also approved grants of Stock Only Stock Appreciation Rights (“SOSARs”) and Stock Options at the market price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. The SOSARs and Options vest 33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, and expire 10 years from the grant date.

In computing the fair value estimates using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation method, the Company took into consideration the exercise price of the equity grants and the market price of the Company's stock on the date of grant. The Company used an expected volatility that equals the historical volatility over the most recent period equal to the expected life of the equity grants. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company used the expected dividend yield at the date of grant, reflecting the level of annual cash dividends currently being paid on its common stock.

Summarized activity of the equity compensation plans is presented below:



			Weighted
	Options/		Average
	SOSARs		Exercise Price
Outstanding, December 31, 2017	212		$	6.64
Granted	30		8.14
Exercised	—		—
Expired or cancelled	(15	)	10.88
Outstanding, March 31, 2018	227		$	6.56

Exercisable, March 31, 2018	207		$	6.40



			Weighted
			Average
	Restricted		Grant Date
	Shares		Fair Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2017	164		$	9.95
Granted	90		8.14
Dividend Equivalents	1		7.52
Vested	(79	)	10.27
Cancelled	(1	)	10.17
Outstanding, March 31, 2018	175		$	8.85

Summarized activity of the Restricted Share Units for the Stock Purchase Plan is as follows:



			Weighted
			Average
	Restricted		Grant Date
	Share Units		Fair Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2017	44		$	9.59
Granted	16		8.14
Dividend Equivalents	1		7.52
Vested	(17	)	8.91
Outstanding, March 31, 2018	44		$	9.30

The SOSARs and Options were valued and recorded in the same manner, and will be settled with issuance of new stock for the difference between the market price on the date of exercise and the exercise price. The Company estimated the total recognized and unrecognized compensation related to SOSARs and stock options using the Black-Scholes-Merton equity grant valuation model.

In computing the fair value estimates using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model, the Company took into consideration the exercise price of the equity grants and the market price of the Company's stock on the date of grant. The Company used an expected volatility that equals the historical volatility over the most recent period equal to the expected life of the equity grants. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company used the expected dividend yield at the date of grant, reflecting the level of annual cash dividends currently being paid on its common stock.

The following table summarizes information regarding stock options and SOSAR grants outstanding as of March 31, 2018:



	Weighted
	Average			Intrinsic			Intrinsic
Range of	Exercise		Grants	Value-Grants		Grants	Value-Grants
Exercise Prices	Prices		Outstanding	Outstanding		Exercisable	Exercisable
$8.14 to $10.88	$	9.32	60	$	56	40	$	19
$2.37 to $6.21	$	5.56	167	$	741	167	$	741
			227			207

Stock-based compensation expense is non-cash and is included as a component of general and administrative expense or operating expense based upon the classification of cash compensation paid to the related employees. The Company recorded total stock-based compensation expense of $284 and $241 in the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.