Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has equity awards outstanding under two stock-based compensation plans; the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) and the 2006 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended and restated (the “2006 Plan”). These plans were primarily established to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate employees. The Company’s Board of Directors or, upon delegation, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”) has exclusive authority to select employees, advisors and others, including directors, to receive awards and to establish the terms and conditions of each award made pursuant to the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.

The 2015 Plan, approved by the Company’s shareholders in May 2015, was established to provide the Company with flexibility to select from various equity-based performance compensation methods, and to be able to address changing accounting and tax rules and corporate governance practices by optimally utilizing performance based compensation. The 2015 Plan did not increase the number of shares of common stock available for awards under the 2006 Plan.

The 2006 Plan, approved by the Company’s shareholders in May 2006 and May 2014, was established to consolidate into one plan the benefits available under all other than existing share-based award plans. The 2006 Plan continues with respect to awards made prior to June 2015. All shares of common stock available for future grant under the 2006 Plan were transferred into the 2015 Plan. At December 31, 2020, there were 1,141,186 common shares available for future grant under the 2015 Plan.

Stock Options. All options granted have an exercise price equal to fair market value, which is currently defined as the closing sales price for the stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market for the last market trading day preceding the date that the Company’s Board of Directors awards the benefit. Options may be subject to vesting as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, and can be exercised for periods of up to ten years from the date of grant.

No stock option awards were granted in 2020 or 2019. All outstanding stock option awards were fully vested as of December 31, 2016. As such, there was no compensation expense or related income tax benefits recognized related to stock option awards in 2020 or 2019. Compensation expense related to stock option awards and the related income tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2016 were not considered material.

The following table summarizes Class A and Class B stock option activity under the Company’s active stock option plans:


Year Ended December 31, 2020	Number of Shares	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contract Life
Outstanding options, beginning of year	221,197	$	15.33
Granted	—	—
Exercised	(139,795)	15.80
Forfeited	(2,084)	16.35
Expired	—	—
Outstanding options, end of year	79,318	$	14.49	0.83
Outstanding options exercisable, end of year	79,318	$	14.49	0.83

The total intrinsic value of fully-vested stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020 was $2.1 million. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $3.1 million, $4.9 million, and $4.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for the tax deduction from option exercises totaled $0.5 million, $0.9 million, and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company received cash of $1.1 million, $1.0 million, and $1.8 million from stock option exercises during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The Company redeemed common stock with aggregate values of $1.0 million, $2.0 million, and $1.6 million tendered in payment for stock option exercises during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

Restricted Stock Awards. Common stock issued under the Company’s restricted stock plan may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions have lapsed or performance objectives have been obtained. During the vesting periods, participants have voting rights and receive dividends on all time restricted shares and vesting performance restricted shares. Upon termination of employment, common shares upon which restrictions have not lapsed must be returned to the Company.

All restricted share awards are classified as equity awards. The fair value of equity-classified restricted stock awards is amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the period restrictions lapse or performance goals are met. Compensation expense related to restricted stock awards of $7.5 million, $8.0 million and $5.6 million was included in benefits on the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Related income tax expense of $0.1 million was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2020 and related income tax benefit of $0.4 million and $0.2 million were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The following table presents information regarding the Company’s restricted stock:


As of December 31, 2020	Number of Shares	Weighted-Average Measurement Date Fair Value
Restricted stock, beginning of year	363,022	$	41.47
Granted	332,085	28.56
Vested	(135,366)	40.11
Forfeited	(34,912)	35.50
Canceled	—	—
Restricted stock, end of year	524,829	$	33.65

During 2020, the Company issued 332,085 restricted common shares. The 2020 restricted share awards included 1,352 additional shares related to the 2017 performance restricted stock grants and 196,278 performance restricted shares, of which 98,139 vest in varying percentages upon achievement of defined return on equity performance goals, and 98,139 vest in varying percentages upon achievement of defined total return to shareholder goals. Vesting of the 2020 performance restricted shares is also contingent on employment as of March 15, 2023. Additionally, 134,455 time-restricted shares were issued during 2020 that vest one-third on each annual anniversary of the grant date through February 15, 2023, contingent on continued employment through the vesting date.

As of December 31, 2020, there was $9.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested, restricted stock awards expected to be recognized over a period of 1.33 years.