Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Note 11.

Benefit Plans

Equity Incentive Plan

On May 1, 2012, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”). The 2012 Plan authorized the grant of up to 2,000,000 stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and other awards for the purpose of providing the Company’s non-employee directors, consultants, officers and other employees incentives and rewards for performance and service. The 2012 Plan expired on April 30, 2022, ten years after its effective date. As such, no grants have been or will be made under the 2012 Plan on or after its expiration, but outstanding awards granted thereunder will continue in accordance with their terms.

On May 24, 2022, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2022 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2022 Plan”). The 2022 Plan authorizes the grant of up to 3,000,000 stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and other awards, and succeeded the 2012 Plan for the purpose of providing the Company’s non-employee directors, consultants, officers and other employees incentives and rewards for performance and service.

During the year ended 2023, there were no restricted shares issued under the 2022 Plan. During the year ended 2022, a total of 40,000 restricted shares, with an estimated fair value of $122 were issued under the 2022 Plan, and a total of 25,000 restricted shares, with an estimated fair value of $71 were issued under the 2012 Plan. The estimated fair value of the restricted shares issued was based on the common stock price at date of grant. Stock grants are generally issued from treasury shares. Vesting of restricted shares generally occurs after a one to three year period following the date of grant. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. There were no stock options granted or outstanding under the 2022 Plan in 2023 or 2022. There were no stock options granted or outstanding under the 2012 Plan in 2022.

Shares available for future grant under the 2022 Plan at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were 2,960,000.

401(k) Plan

The Company initiated an employees’ savings plan (the “Plan”) qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code in May 1995. The Plan covers substantially all of the Company’s employees. Effective January 1, 2009, the Company modified the Plan such that the Plan would operate on a safe harbor basis. Under the Plan, employees may defer up to 50% of their compensation, not to exceed the annual deferral limit. The Company’s total matching contribution for 2023 and 2022 was $283 and $255, respectively, and consisted of a contribution equal to 35% of up to the first 6% of each participant’s contributions. In addition to the matching contribution, the Company also provided a 3% safe harbor non-elective contribution in 2023 and 2022 of $629 and $569, respectively. All contributions were made in cash. Participants are 100% vested in their own contributions and the vested percentage attributable to certain employer contributions is based on a five-year graded schedule.

Agent Stock Purchase Plan

The Company initiated a nonqualified stock purchase plan (the “Agent Stock Purchase Plan”) in May 2012. The purpose of the Agent Stock Purchase Plan is to promote and advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing independent agents who qualify as participants with an opportunity to purchase the common stock of the Company. Under the Agent Stock Purchase Plan, payment for shares of common stock of the Company is made by either deduction from an agent’s commission payment or a direct cash payment. Stock purchases are made at the end of each calendar quarter at the then current market value.