5. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

Our RLI Corp. Omnibus Stock Plan (omnibus plan) was in place from 2005 to 2010. The omnibus plan provided for equity-based compensation, including stock options, up to a maximum of 3,000,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment for changes in our capitalization and other events). Between 2005 and 2010, we granted 2,458,059 stock options under this plan, including incentive stock options (ISOs), which were adjusted as part of the special dividends paid in 2014 and prior years. The omnibus plan was replaced in 2010.

In 2010, our shareholders approved the RLI Corp. Long-Term Incentive Plan (2010 LTIP), which provides for equity-based compensation and replaced the omnibus plan. In conjunction with the adoption of the 2010 LTIP, effective May 6, 2010, options were no longer granted under the omnibus plan. The 2010 LTIP provided for equity-based compensation, including stock options, up to a maximum of 4,000,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment for changes in our capitalization and other events). Between 2010 and 2015, we granted 2,878,000 stock options under the 2010 LTIP. The 2010 LTIP was replaced in the second quarter of 2015.

During the second quarter of 2015, our shareholders approved the 2015 RLI Corp. Long-Term Incentive Plan (2015 LTIP), which provides for equity-based compensation and replaced the 2010 LTIP. In conjunction with the adoption of the 2015 LTIP, effective May 7, 2015, options were no longer granted under the 2010 LTIP. Awards under the 2015 LTIP may be in the form of restricted stock, stock options (non-qualified only), stock appreciation rights, performance units as well as other stock-based awards. Eligibility under the 2015 LTIP is limited to employees and directors of the company or any affiliate. The granting of awards under the 2015 LTIP is solely at the discretion of the board of directors. The maximum number of shares of common stock available for distribution under the 2015 LTIP is 4,000,000 shares (subject to adjustment for changes in our capitalization and other events). Since 2015, we have granted 546,500 stock options under the 2015 LTIP, including 36,500 thus far in 2016.

Under the 2015 LTIP, as under the 2010 LTIP and omnibus plan, we grant stock options for shares with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the shares at the date of grant (subject to adjustments for changes in our capitalization, special dividends and other events as set forth in such plans). Options generally vest and become exercisable ratably over a five-year period and expire eight years after grant.

For most participants, the requisite service period and vesting period will be the same. For participants who are retirement eligible, defined by the plan as those individuals whose age and years of service equals 75, the requisite service period is deemed to be met and options are immediately expensed on the date of grant. For participants who will become retirement eligible during the vesting period, the requisite service period over which expense is recognized is the period between the grant date and the attainment of retirement eligibility. Shares issued upon option exercise are newly issued shares.

The following tables summarize option activity for the periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:


				Weighted
		Weighted		Average	Aggregate
	Number of	Average		Remaining	Intrinsic
	Options	Exercise		Contractual	Value
	Outstanding	Price		Life	(in 000’s)

Outstanding options at January 1, 2016	2,582,220	$	32.42
Options granted	36,500	$	61.27
Options exercised	(168,480)	$	19.00		$	7,619
Options canceled/forfeited	(5,440)	$	33.69
Outstanding options at March 31, 2016	2,444,800	$	33.78	4.99	$	80,880
Exercisable options at March 31, 2016	966,100	$	27.24	3.62	$	38,280

				Weighted
		Weighted		Average	Aggregate
	Number of	Average		Remaining	Intrinsic
	Options	Exercise		Contractual	Value
	Outstanding	Price		Life	(in 000’s)

Outstanding options at January 1, 2015	2,892,717	$	26.65
Options granted	53,500	$	48.82
Options exercised	(148,952)	$	16.66		$	4,908
Options canceled/forfeited	(3,760)	$	30.09
Outstanding options at March 31, 2015	2,793,505	$	27.60	5.11	$	69,299
Exercisable options at March 31, 2015	1,141,065	$	20.84	3.90	$	36,022

The majority of our stock options are granted annually at our regular board meeting in May. In addition, options are approved at the May meeting for quarterly grants to certain retirement eligible employees. Since stock option grants to retirement eligible employees are fully expensed when issued, the approach allows for a more even expense distribution throughout the year.

Thus far in 2016, 36,500 stock options were granted with a weighted average exercise price of $61.27 and a weighted average fair value of $11.32. We recognized $0.9 million of expense in the first quarter of 2016 related to options vesting. Since options granted under our 2010 LTIP and 2015 LTIP are non-qualified, we recorded a tax benefit of $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2016 related to this compensation expense. Total unrecognized compensation expense relating to outstanding and unvested options was $5.2 million, which will be recognized over the remainder of the vesting period. Comparatively, we recognized $0.9 million of expense in the first quarter of 2015. We recorded a tax benefit of $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 related to this compensation expense.

The fair value of options was estimated using a Black-Scholes based option pricing model with the following weighted average grant-date assumptions and weighted average fair values as of March 31:


	2016			2015

Weighted-average fair value of grants	$	11.32		$	8.97
Risk-free interest rates		1.38	%		1.19	%
Dividend yield		1.60	%		1.80	%
Expected volatility		23.11	%		22.98	%
Expected option life		5.31	years		5.43	years

The risk-free rate was determined based on U.S. treasury yields that most closely approximated the option’s expected life. The dividend yield was calculated based on the average annualized ordinary dividends paid during the most recent five-year period. It excluded the special dividends paid in the fourth quarters of 2015 and prior years. The expected volatility was calculated based on the median of the rolling volatilities for the expected life of the options. The expected option life was determined based on historical exercise behavior and the assumption that all outstanding options will be exercised at the midpoint of the current date and remaining contractual term, adjusted for the demographics of the current year’s grant.