Note 9 - 401(k) Profit Sharing, Deferred Compensation and Long-term Incentive Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

(9)

401(k)

Profit Sharing, Deferred Compensation and Long-Term Incentive Plans

We have a defined contribution

401(k)

plan and trust covering substantially all full-time employees. The annual contribution to the plan is at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Contributions of

$5.4

million,

$5.3

million and

$3.2

million were recognized for the years ended

December

31,

2016,

2015

and

2014,

respectively. Employees

may

contribute to the plan if they meet certain eligibility requirements.

We offer a deferred compensation and long-term incentive plan (the “LTIP”) to provide certain employees the ability to accumulate assets for retirement on a tax deferred basis. We

may

make discretionary contributions to the LTIP. Discretionary contributions vest between

one

and

seven

years based on the employee’s age and position. Additionally, a participant

may

defer a portion of his or her compensation and receive the deferred amount upon certain events, including termination or retirement.

The following is a summary related to our LTIP (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,	2016			2015			2014
Compensation expense	$	1,081		$	1,812		$	1,877
Total discretionary contribution	$	1,785		$	2,249		$	2,450
Guaranteed annual return		5.25	%		5.25	%		5.25	%

As of

December

31,

2016

and

2015,

the balance due to participants was

$23.5

million and

$19.7

million, respectively, and was included as a component of other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.