The Company has outstanding stock options assumed from acquisitions. A summary of the status of, and changes in, the Company's stock option awards for the three months ended March 31, 2023, follows:


	Shares	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life
Options outstanding at December 31, 2022	26,106	$	23.53	3.88

Forfeited	(3,300)	23.53

Options outstanding at March 31, 2023	22,806	23.53		3.63

Options exercisable at March 31, 2023	22,806	23.53		3.63

Under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, the Company has granted RSU, PSU, and DSU awards. Upon vesting and delivery, shares are expected (though not required) to be issued from treasury. There were 200,774 shares available for issuance under the 2020 Equity Plan as of March 31, 2023.

The Company grants RSUs to members of management periodically throughout the year. Each RSU is equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock. These units have requisite service periods ranging from one year to five years, subject to accelerated vesting upon eligible retirement from the Company. Recipients earn quarterly dividend equivalents on their respective units which entitle the recipients to additional units. Therefore, dividends earned each quarter compound based upon the updated unit balances.

On March 22, 2023, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, the Company granted 224,316 RSUs to members of management. The grant date fair value of the award totaled $4.6 million and will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period ranging from one year to five years. The terms of these awards included an accelerated vesting provision upon eligible retirement from the Company, after a one-year minimum requisite service period. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.


	RSU Awards
	Shares	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2022	1,096,931	$	23.61
Granted	224,316	20.44
Dividend equivalents earned	11,509	22.85
Vested	(4,308)	25.79
Forfeited	(6,863)	20.88
Nonvested at March 31, 2023	1,321,585	23.07

The Company grants PSUs, which are restricted stock units that are subject to certain performance criteria, to members of management periodically throughout the year. Each PSU is equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock. The number of units that ultimately vest will be determined based on the achievement of the market or other performance goals, subject to accelerated service-based vesting conditions upon eligible retirement from the Company.

On March 22, 2023, the Company granted a target of 104,643 PSUs with a maximum award of 167,429 units. The actual number of units issued at the vesting date could range from 0% to 160% of the initial grant, depending on attaining a market-based total stockholder return performance goal. The estimated grant date fair value of the award is $2.1 million and will be recognized in compensation expense over the performance period ending December 31, 2025. The Company expects to finalize the grant date fair value of these awards in the second quarter of 2023.

On March 22, 2023, the Company granted a target of 104,643 PSUs with a maximum award of 167,429 units. The actual number of units issued at the vesting date could range from 0% to 160% of the initial grant, depending on attaining an adjusted return on average tangible common equity performance goal. The grant date fair value of the award is $2.1 million and will be recognized in compensation expense over the performance period ending December 31, 2025. The actual amount of compensation expense recognized may vary, subject to achievement of the performance goal.

Further, on March 22, 2023, the Company granted a target of 15,045 PSUs with a maximum award of 30,090 units. The actual number of units issued at the vesting date could range from 0% to 200% of the initial grant, depending on attaining a performance goal based upon the compounded annual revenue growth rate of the FirsTech operating segment. The grant date fair value of the award is $0.3 million and will be recognized in compensation expense over the performance period ending December 31, 2025, subject to achievement of the performance goal.


	PSU Awards
	Shares1	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2022	285,351	$	25.40
Granted	224,331	20.44
Dividend equivalents earned	92	22.85
Vested	(92)	22.85
Forfeited	(36,345)	25.24

Nonvested at March 31, 2023	473,337	23.06

The Company grants DSUs, which are restricted stock units with a deferred settlement date, to its directors and advisory directors. Each DSU is equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock. DSUs vest over a one-year period following the grant date. These units generally are subject to the same terms as RSUs under the 2020 Equity Plan, except that, following vesting, settlement occurs within 30 days following the earlier of separation from the board or a change in control of the Company. After vesting and prior to delivery, these units will continue to earn dividend equivalents.

On March 22, 2023, the Company granted 41,548 DSUs to directors and advisory directors. The grant date fair value of the award totaled $0.8 million and will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period of one year. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.


	DSU Awards
	Shares	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2022	31,085	$	25.75
Granted	41,548	20.44
Dividend equivalents earned	1,507	22.86
Vested	(32,592)	25.61

Nonvested at March 31, 2023	41,548	20.44

Vested and outstanding at March 31, 2023	145,026	23.66

The First Busey Corporation 2021 ESPP was approved at the Company’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and details can be found within First Busey’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021. The purpose of the 2021 ESPP is to provide a means through which our employees may acquire a proprietary interest in the Company by purchasing shares of our common stock at a 15% discount through voluntary payroll deductions, to assist us in retaining the services of our employees and securing and retaining the services of new employees, and to provide incentives for our employees to exert maximum efforts toward our success.

The 2021 ESPP initially reserved for issuance and purchase an aggregate of 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The first offering under the 2021 ESPP began on July 1, 2021. There were 481,865 shares available for issuance under the 2021 ESPP as of March 31, 2023.

The Company did not record any stock option compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023, or 2022. As of March 31, 2023, the Company did not have any unrecognized stock option compensation expense.

The Company recognized compensation expense related to nonvested RSU, PSU, and DSU awards, as well as the 2021 ESPP, as summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation expense

RSU awards		$	1,020	$	1,176
PSU awards1		360		412
DSU awards		196		226
2021 ESPP		93		95
Total stock-based compensation expense		$	1,669	$	1,909

1.Expense for market-based PSU awards represents amounts based on target shares at grant date. Expense for performance-based PSU awards represents amounts based on target shares at grant date, adjusted for performance expectations as of the date indicated.

Unamortized compensation expense related to nonvested RSU, PSU, and DSU awards is summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):


	As of
	March 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Unamortized stock-based compensation
RSU awards	$	12,005	$	8,570
PSU awards1	8,632		4,279
DSU awards	829		175
Total unamortized stock-based compensation	$	21,466	$	13,024

Weighted average period over which expense is to be recognized	2.8 years		2.5 years

1.Unamortized expense for market-based PSU awards represents amounts based on target shares at grant date. Unamortized expense for performance-based PSU awards represents amounts based on target shares at grant date, adjusted for performance expectations as of the date indicated.