Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stock Incentive Plans

v2.4.1.9
Stock Incentive Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Stock Incentive Plans
Stock Incentive Plans
In 2007, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2007 Performance Incentive Plan which was amended and restated in 2008 and 2011 (the “2007 Stock Plan”). The 2007 Stock Plan authorizes the issuance of stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, stock variable compensation and other forms of awards granted or denominated in the Companys common stock or units of the Companys common stock, as well as cash variable compensation awards pursuant to the plan. Persons eligible to receive awards under the 2007 Stock Plan include officers and employees of the Company and any of the Companys subsidiaries, directors of the Company, and certain consultants and advisors to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The maximum number of shares of the Companys common stock that may be issued or transferred pursuant to awards under the 2007 Stock Plan is 2,074,600 shares. Vesting of the awards under the 2007 Stock Plan is determined at the date of grant by the plan administrator. Each award granted under the 2007 Stock Plan fully vests, becomes exercisable and/or payable, as applicable, upon a change in control event. However, unless the individual award agreement provides otherwise, with respect to executive and certain other high level officers of the Company, upon the occurrence of a change in control, no award will vest unless such officers employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause during the two-year period following such change in control event. Each award expires on such date as shall be determined at the date of grant; however, the maximum term of options, SARs and other rights to acquire common stock under the plan is ten years after the initial date of the award, subject to provisions for further deferred payment in certain circumstances. The 2007 Stock Plan terminates on April 4, 2021, unless terminated earlier by the Companys board of directors. As of December 28, 2014, options to acquire a total of 449,586 shares of the Companys common stock remained outstanding under this plan of which 235,365 were vested.
The Company has four other stock-based compensation plans: the 1996 Stock Option Plan (the 1996 Stock Plan), the 2000 Management Performance Common Stock Option Plan (the 2000 Stock Plan), the 2002 Incentive Stock Option Plan (2002 Stock Plan) and the 2004 Performance Incentive Plan (the 2004 Stock Plan). No further grants can be made under these plans. In general, options granted under these plans were issued at the estimated fair market value at the date of grant. Vesting of awards under these plans were generally time based over a period of one to four years; however, in some cases, options under these plans vested based on the attainment of certain financial results. As of December 28, 2014, options to acquire a total of 12,100 of the Companys common stock remain outstanding under these plans of which all are fully vested. Options granted under these plans expire within ten years from the date of grant. Forfeited options revert back to the 2007 Stock Plan for potential reissuance.
Total stock-based compensation costs recognized in fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012 were $4.2 million, $3.8 million, and $3.8 million, with related income tax benefits of $1.7 million, $1.5 million, and $1.5 million. As of December 28, 2014, there was $3.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, excluding estimated forfeitures, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted average remaining vesting period of approximately 1.2 years for stock options and 1.2 years for the restricted stock units. As of December 28, 2014, all performance-based stock units and restricted stocks were vested.
Stock Options
The tables below summarize the status of the Companys stock option plans (in thousands, except per share data and exercise price):
 
 
Stock Options
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding, December 29, 2013
 
491

 
$
31.78

Granted
 
76

 
71.02

Forfeited/expired
 
(14
)
 
37.06

Exercised
 
(91
)
 
27.91

Outstanding, December 28, 2014
 
462

 
$
38.83

 
 
Shares
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Years of
Contractual
Life
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of December 28, 2014
 
462

 
$
38.83

 
5.89
 
$
17,353

Vested and expected to vest as of December 28, 2014 (1)
 
427

 
$
37.54

 
5.75
 
$
16,586

Exercisable as of December 28, 2014
 
247

 
$
28.93

 
4.69
 
$
11,754

___________________________________
(1) The expected to vest options are the result of applying the pre-vesting forfeiture rate assumption to total outstanding options.
The estimated fair value of each option granted is calculated using the Black-Scholes multiple option-pricing model. The average assumptions used in the model for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014, December 29, 2013, and December 30, 2012 were as follows:
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
Risk-free interest rate
1.7

%
 
0.7

%
 
0.7

%
 
Expected years until exercise
5.7

 
 
4.2

 
 
4.1

 
 
Expected stock volatility
44.6

%
 
44.4

%
 
52.8

%
 
Dividend yield

%
 

%
 

%
 
Weighted average Black-Scholes fair value per share at date of grant
$
30.70

 
 
$
15.19

 
 
$
14.60

 
 
Total intrinsic value of options exercised (in thousands)
$
3,954

 
 
$
8,263

 
 
$
1,477

 
 

The risk-free interest rate was based on the rate for zero coupon U.S. Government issues with a remaining term similar to the expected life. The expected life of the options represents the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding and is based on historical trends and team member exercise patterns. The expected stock price volatility represents an average of the Companys historical volatility measured over a period approximating the expected life. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Companys history and expectations of dividend payouts.
Restricted Stock
In the past, the Company has granted restricted stock to its directors, executive officers, and other key employees. The restricted shares granted to directors were generally subject to a three year vesting requirement. The restricted shares granted to executive officers and other key employees were generally subject to a four year graded vesting requirement. The fair value of the non-vested common shares is based on the grant date market value of the common shares. During the fiscal years ended December 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the Company did not issue restricted stock as permitted under the 2007 Stock Plan. As of December 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, all restricted stock was vested.
Time-Based RSUs
During fiscal years 2014 and 2013, the Company issued time-based restricted stock units (RSUs) to certain employees as permitted under the 2007 Stock Plan. The Company can grant RSUs to its directors, executive officers and other key employees. The RSUs vest in equal installments over four years and upon vesting, one share of the Companys common stock is issued for each RSU. The fair value of each RSU granted is equal to the market price of the Companys stock at the date of grant.
The table below summarizes the status of the Companys time-based RSUs under the 2007 Stock Plan (shares in thousands):
 
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value (per share)
Outstanding, December 29, 2013
 
139

 
$
46.81

Awarded
 
38

 
69.50

Forfeited
 
(6
)
 
45.06

Vested
 
(70
)
 
31.64

Outstanding, December 28, 2014
 
101

 
$
49.78


Performance-Based RSUs
In March and September 2010, the Company granted performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) to executives and other key employees. These PSUs were subject to company performance metrics based on Total Shareholder Return and measured the overall stock price performance of the Company relative to the stock price performance of a selected industry peer group, thus resulting in a market condition. The fair value of the PSUs was calculated using the Monte Carlo valuation method. This method utilizes multiple input variables to determine the probability of the Company achieving the market condition and the fair value of the awards. These awards had a three-year performance period and were classified as equity as each unit was convertible into one share of the Companys common stock upon vesting. Compensation expense was recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (or to an employees eligible retirement date, if earlier). In fiscal year 2013, the Company awarded an additional 31 thousand PSUs based on achievement of the performance metrics during fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2013 performance period and these PSUs were vested immediately.
There were no PSUs awarded in fiscal year 2014. As of December 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, no PSUs were outstanding.
Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan
In fiscal year 2011, the Company began a long-term cash incentive program. The long-term cash incentive plan is based on operational metrics with a three-year performance period. Compensation expense is recognized over the performance period based on the plan-to-date performance achievement. The awards cliff vest at the end of each three-year performance cycle. In fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recorded approximately $0.8 million, $4.2 million, and $1.5 million compensation expenses related to this program. In fiscal year 2014, the Company paid out $2.4 million cash awards related to achievement of the performance metrics of 2011 long-term cash incentive plan. At December 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, $4.8 million and $6.4 million long-term cash incentive plan liability were included in Accrued payroll and payroll-related liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.