Note 3 - Share-based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]

3. Share-based Compensation

The following table summarizes the components of our share-based compensation program expense (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Restricted share units:
Pretax compensation expense	$	4,628	$	4,781	$	18,272	$	16,715
Tax benefit		1,770		1,839		6,989		6,427
Restricted share unit expense, net of tax	$	2,858	$	2,942	$	11,283	$	10,288
Performance share units:
Pretax compensation expense	$	698	$	-	$	2,947	$	-
Tax benefit		267		-		1,127		-
Performance share unit expense, net of tax	$	431	$	-	$	1,820	$	-
Stock options:
Pretax compensation expense	$	264	$	424	$	760	$	1,123
Tax benefit		101		163		291		432
Stock option expense, net of tax	$	163	$	261	$	469	$	691

As of September 30, 2012, we had $31.7 million, $5.6 million and $1.0 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted share units, performance share units, and stock options, respectively, that is to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average period of approximately 2.7 years for restricted share units, 3.5 years for performance share units, and 1.2 years for stock options. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we issued 769,087 shares for vested restricted share units, 36,000 shares for performance share units, and 739,720 shares as a result of stock option exercises, of which 746,400 shares for vested restricted share units, 36,000 shares for performance share units, and 95,250 shares resulting from stock option exercises were issued during the third quarter 2012.