4. Employee Stock Plans

Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes the components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated:


	Year Ended April 30,
	2016			2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Restricted stock	$	18,288		$	13,602		$	11,689
ESPP		590			162			—
Stock options		17			135			417

Total stock-based compensation expense, pre-tax		18,895			13,899			12,106
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation expense		(7,347	)		(3,893	)		(3,484	)

Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	$	11,548		$	10,006		$	8,622

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the grant date fair value of employee stock options. The expected volatility reflects consideration of the historical volatility in the Company’s publicly traded stock during the period the option is granted. The Company believes historical volatility in these instruments is more indicative of expected future volatility than the implied volatility in the price of the Company’s common stock. The expected life of each option is estimated using historical data. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issue with a remaining term approximating the expected term of the option. The Company uses historical data to estimate forfeiture rates applied to the gross amount of expense determined using the option valuation model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options. The assumptions used in option valuation models are highly subjective, particularly the expected stock price volatility of the underlying stock. The Company did not grant stock options in fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Stock Incentive Plan

At the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on September 27, 2012, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement to the Korn/Ferry International Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2012 amendment and restatement being the “Second A&R 2008 Plan”), which among other things, increased the current maximum number of shares that may be issued under the plan to 5,700,000 shares, subject to certain changes in the Company’s capital structure and other extraordinary events. The Second A&R 2008 Plan provides for the grant of awards to eligible participants, designated as either nonqualified or incentive stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, any of which may be performance-based or market-based, and incentive bonuses, which may be paid in cash or a combination thereof. Under the Second A&R 2008 Plan, the ability to issue full-value awards is limited by requiring full-value stock awards to count 1.91 times as much as stock options.

Stock Options

Stock options transactions under the Company’s Second A&R 2008 Plan were as follows:


	April 30,
	2016					2015					2014
	Options			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Options			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Options			Weighted- Average Exercise Price
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Outstanding, beginning of year		202		$	15.45		396		$	16.23		1,100		$	14.72
Exercised		(87	)	$	15.83		(179	)	$	16.99		(655	)	$	13.88
Forfeited/expired.		(10	)	$	18.05		(15	)	$	17.72		(49	)	$	13.42

Outstanding, end of year		105		$	15.01		202		$	15.45		396		$	16.23

Exercisable, end of year		105		$	15.01		192		$	15.07		337		$	16.11

As of April 30, 2016, the aggregate intrinsic value of both options outstanding and options exercisable was $1.3 million.

Outstanding stock options:


	April 30, 2016
	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Shares		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Shares		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
	(in thousands, except per share data)
$9.75 — $13.82		19		0.3	$	10.40		19		0.3	$	10.40
$13.83 — $18.04		64		1.2	$	14.06		64		1.2	$	14.06
$18.05 — $22.71		22		1.2	$	21.73		22		1.2	$	21.73

		105		1.0	$	15.01		105		1.0	$	15.01

Additional information pertaining to stock options:


	Year Ended April 30,
	2016		2015		2014
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Total fair value of stock options vested	$	96	$	334	$	984
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$	1,664	$	2,425	$	6,108

Restricted Stock

The Company grants time-based restricted stock awards to executive officers and other senior employees generally vesting over a three to four year period. In addition, certain key management members typically receive time-based restricted stock awards upon commencement of employment and may receive them annually in conjunction with the Company’s performance review. Time-based restricted stock awards are granted at a price equal to fair value, which is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

The Company also grants market-based and performance-based restricted stock units to executive officers and other senior employees. The market-based units vest after three years depending upon the Company’s total stockholder return over the three-year performance period relative to other companies in its selected peer group. The fair value of these market-based restricted stock units are determined by using extensive market data that is based on historical Company and peer group information. The Company recognizes compensation expense for market-based restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Performance-based restricted stock units vest after three years depending upon the Company meeting certain objectives that are set at the time the restricted stock unit is issued. Performance-based restricted stock units are granted at a price equal to fair value, which is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for performance-based restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. At the end of each reporting period, the Company estimates the number of restricted stock units expected to vest based on the probability that certain performance objectives will be met, exceeded, or fall below target levels, and takes into account these estimates when calculating the expense for the period.

Restricted stock activity is summarized below:


	April 30,
	2016					2015					2014
	Shares			Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares			Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares			Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Non-vested, beginning of year		1,560		$	22.15		1,880		$	18.95		1,810		$	16.38
Granted		784		$	39.19		438		$	29.93		809		$	21.32
Vested		(809	)	$	16.35		(705	)	$	18.52		(535	)	$	14.54
Forfeited/expired.		(29	)	$	23.38		(53	)	$	21.13		(204	)	$	17.19

Non-vested, end of year		1,506		$	34.12		1,560		$	22.15		1,880		$	18.95

As of April 30, 2016, there were 0.3 million shares outstanding for both market-based and performance-based restricted stock units, with total unrecognized compensation totaling $5.8 million and $10.8 million, respectively.

As of April 30, 2016, there was $32.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested awards of restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years. During fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, 215,453 shares and 121,775 shares of restricted stock totaling $7.4 million and $4.0 million, respectively, were repurchased by the Company, at the option of the employee, to pay for taxes related to vesting of restricted stock.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has an ESPP that, in accordance with Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, allows eligible employees to authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their salary to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of the fair market price of the common stock on the last day of the enrollment period. Employees may not purchase more than $25,000 in stock during any calendar year. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the ESPP is 3.0 million shares. The ESPP was suspended during the second half of fiscal 2012 and as a result, no shares were purchased during fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015. On January 1, 2015, the Company resumed the ESPP program with the first purchase of shares made in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. During fiscal 2016, employees purchased 95,135 shares at $28.83 per share. As of April 30, 2016, the ESPP had approximately 1.5 million shares remaining available for future issuance.

Common Stock

During fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company issued 87,648 shares, 178,950 shares and 654,458 shares of common stock, respectively, as a result of the exercise of stock options, with cash proceeds from the exercise of $1.3 million, $3.0 million and $8.8 million, respectively.

No shares were repurchased during fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, other than to satisfy minimum tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of restricted stock as described above.