Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 8.    Stockholders’ Equity

Stock-based Compensation Plans

We periodically grant restricted stock unit awards and/or shares of common stock to our employees and directors. We measure compensation cost for restricted stock units and stock grants at the closing price of our stock at the time of grant. Restricted stock unit grants vest after a specified period with compensation cost amortized over that period. Although we have no current plans to issue stock options, we may do so in the future.

In March 2016, the Board of Directors granted 2,335,196 shares of common stock to employees for payment of annual and long-term incentive compensation for the period ended December 31, 2015. The shares were distributed in March 2016, and $5.5 million in expense related to the stock awards was recognized in the periods prior to March 31, 2016.

Stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock unit grants to employees and shares issued to nonemployee directors recorded in the first three months of 2016 totaled $1.2 million, compared to $1.1 million in the same period last year.

In connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and other stock grants, employees have in the past, at their election and when permitted by us, chosen to satisfy their minimum tax withholding obligations through net share settlement, pursuant to which the Company withholds the number of shares necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations.  As a result, in the first three months of 2016 we withheld 532,157 shares valued at approximately $1.3 million, or approximately $2.36 per share. In the first three months of 2015 we withheld 284,243 shares valued at approximately $0.9 million, or approximately $3.31 per share.

Common Stock Dividends

In September 2011 and February 2012, our Board of Directors adopted a common stock dividend policy that has two components: (1) a dividend that links the amount of dividends on our common stock to our average quarterly realized silver price in the preceding quarter, and (2) a minimum annual dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock, in each case, payable quarterly, if and when declared. For illustrative purposes only, the table below summarizes potential per share dividend amounts at different quarterly average realized price levels according to the first component of the policy:

Quarterly average realized silver price per ounce	Quarterly dividend per share	Annualized dividend per share
$30	$0.01	$0.04
$35	$0.02	$0.08
$40	$0.03	$0.12
$45	$0.04	$0.16
$50	$0.05	$0.20

On May 4, 2016, our Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend, pursuant to the minimum annual dividend component of the policy described above, of $0.0025 per share, for a total dividend of approximately $1.0 million payable in June 2016. Because the average realized silver price for the first quarter of 2016 was $14.93 per ounce, below the minimum threshold of $30 according to the policy, no silver-price-linked component was declared or paid. The declaration and payment of common stock dividends is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.

At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement

Pursuant to an equity distribution agreement dated February 23, 2016, we may issue and sell shares of our common stock from time to time through ordinary broker transactions having an aggregate offering price of up to $75 million, with the net proceeds available for general corporate purposes. The terms of sales transactions under the agreement, including trading day(s), number of shares sold in the aggregate, number of shares sold per trading day, and the floor selling price per share, are proposed by us to the sales agent. Whether or not we engage in sales from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including share price, our cash resources, customary black-out restrictions, and whether we have any material inside information. The agreement can be terminated by us at any time. The shares issued under the equity distribution agreement are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2016. As of March 31, 2016, we had sold 737,275 shares under the agreement for total proceeds of approximately $2.1 million, net of commissions of approximately $42 thousand.

Common Stock Repurchase Program

On May 8, 2012, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program.  Under the program, we are authorized to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors.  The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued by us at any time. Whether or not we engage in repurchases from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including not only price and cash resources, but customary black-out restrictions, whether we have any material inside information, limitations on share repurchases or cash usage that may be imposed by our credit agreement or in connection with issuances of securities, alternative uses for cash, applicable law, and other investment opportunities from time to time. As of March 31, 2016, 934,100 shares have been purchased at an average price of $3.99 per share, leaving approximately 19.1 million shares that may yet be purchased under the program. The closing price of our common stock at May 3, 2016, was $4.05 per share.

Warrants

At December 31, 2015, we had 2,249,550 warrants outstanding, with each warrant exercisable for 0.1622 of a share of our common stock at an exercise price of $6.17 per share. All of the warrants expired in March 2016, and there were no warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2016.