NOTE

–

STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS AND

HARE-

BASED COMPENSATION

Share-Based Compensation

The Company did

not

incur an expense for share-based compensation associated with outstanding stock options for the

three

and

nine

months ended

September 30, 2019

and

2018.

income tax benefit was recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for share-based arrangements in any period presented. At

September 30, 2019,

the Company did

not

have any unrecognized compensation costs related to share-based compensation.

Stock Option Plan

The Company has

two

share-based compensation plans as described below.

Qualstar adopted the

2008

Stock Incentive Plan (the

“2008

Plan”) under which incentive and nonqualified stock options and restricted stock could be granted for shares of common stock. The

2008

Plan has expired and

additional options

may

be granted under that plan. However,

20,000

options that were previously granted under the

2008

Plan will continue under their terms.

The

2017

Stock Incentive Plan (the

“2017

Plan”) permits the award of stock options (both incentive and non-qualified options), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, performance shares, dividend equivalent rights and cash-based awards to employees (including executive officers), directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. The

2017

Plan authorizes the issuance of an aggregate of

300,000

shares of common stock and the plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

With respect to options, the fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses various assumptions, such as volatility, expected term and risk-free interest rate. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination in determining forfeiture rates. The expected term of options granted is estimated based on the vesting term of the award, historical employee exercise behavior, expected volatility of the Company’s stock and an employee’s average length of service. The risk-free interest rate used in this model correlates to a U.S. constant rate Treasury security with a contractual life that approximates the expected term of the option award.

The following table summarizes stock option activity:

Options	Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2018		178,000		$	7.19		8.63		—
Granted		—			—		—		—
Exercised		—			—		—		—
Forfeited, canceled or expired		(16,667	)		7.38		—		—
Outstanding at September 30, 2019		161,333			7.17		7.74		—


Exercisable at September 30, 2019		161,333		$	7.17		7.74	$	—