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Note 17 - Stock-based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

NOTE 17 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

On September 21, 2020, the Company's shareholders approved the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2020 Plan"). The 2020 Plan replaced the Company's previous 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2013 Plan") with respect to the granting of future equity awards. The 2020 Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Awards, Dividend Equivalent Rights, Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards (collectively "Awards"). Under the 2020 Plan, an aggregate of 1.6 million common shares will be available for all Awards, subject to adjustment in the event of certain corporate transactions. 

 

 

(a)

Restricted Stock Awards of the Company

 

Under the 2013 Plan, the Company granted 500,000 restricted common stock awards to an officer on September 5, 2018 (the "2018 Restricted Stock Award"). The 2018 Restricted Stock Award fully vested on March 28, 2024. The 2018 Restricted Stock Award was amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The grant-date fair value of the 2018 Restricted Stock Award was determined using the closing price of Kingsway common stock on the date of grant. Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested 2018 Restricted Stock Award at December 31, 2024 was zero.

 

Under the 2020 Plan, the Company has granted restricted common stock awards to certain officers of the Company (the "2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards"). The 2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards vest according to a graded vesting schedule and shall become fully vested subject to the officers' continued employment through the applicable vesting dates. The 2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods. The grant-date fair values of the 2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards were determined using the closing price of Kingsway common stock on the date of grant. During the year ended  December 31, 2024, 126,390 shares of the 2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards became fully vested.  Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested 2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards at December 31, 2024 was $2.1 million.

 

The following table summarizes the activity related to unvested 2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards and 2018 Restricted Stock Award (collectively "Restricted Stock Awards") during the year ended December 31, 2024:

 

 
      

Weighted-Average

 
  

Number of Restricted

  

Grant Date Fair Value

 
  

Stock Awards

  

(per Share)

 

Unvested at December 31, 2023

  1,027,658  $5.22 

Granted

  42,034   8.61 

Vested

  (347,986)  5.59 

Vested and Settled for Tax Withholding

  (278,404)  5.61 

Unvested at December 31, 2024

  443,302  $5.01 

 

The unvested balance at December 31, 2024 in the table above is comprised of 443,302 shares of the 2020 Plan Restricted Stock Awards and zero shares of the 2018 Restricted Stock Award.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the Restricted Stock Awards was $0.7 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

(b)

Restricted Common Unit Awards of Ravix

 

Ravix LLC granted 199,000 restricted Class B common unit awards to an officer of Ravix pursuant to an agreement dated October 1, 2021 ("2021 Ravix RUA"). The 2021 Ravix RUA vests based on service and the achievement of criteria based on the internal rate of return ("IRR") of Ravix. 

 

The grant-date fair value of the 2021 Ravix RUA was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, using the following assumptions: expected term of four years, expected volatility of 75%, expected dividend yield of zero, and risk-free interest rate of 0.93%. 

 

On October 1, 2021, 83,333 units, representing one half of the service condition for the 2021 Ravix RUA, became fully vested. The remainder of the service condition vests according to a graded vesting schedule and shall become fully vested subject to the officer's continued employment through the applicable vesting dates.

 

On November 1, 2022, the Company modified the inputs related to the IRR portion of the 2021 Ravix RUA to be based on the combined internal rate of return of Ravix and CSuite.  The modified portion of the awards was probable of vesting both immediately before and after the modification.  As a result, the fair value of the award that is subject to the IRR was measured at the modification date and compared to the fair value of the modified portion of the award immediately prior to the modification, with the difference resulting in incremental compensation expense of less than $0.1 million. The incremental fair value was estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation model, using the following assumptions at the modification date: expected term of 2.92 years, expected volatility of 72% and risk-free interest rate of 4.44%; and the following assumptions prior to the modification: expected term of 2.92 years, expected volatility of 58% and risk-free interest rate of 4.44%.

 

During the year ended  December 31, 2024, 20,833 units of the 2021 Ravix RUA became fully vested. At  December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 49,695 and 70,528 unvested units, respectively, of the 2021 Ravix RUA with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $3.08 per Class B common unit. Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested 2021 Ravix RUA at  December 31, 2024 wa$0.1 million.

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the 2021 Ravix RUA was $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

(c)

Restricted Common Unit Awards of SNS

 

Pegasus LLC granted 75,000 restricted Class B common unit awards to an officer of SNS pursuant to an agreement dated November 18, 2022 ("SNS RUA"). The SNS RUA vests based on service and the achievement of criteria based on the IRR of SNS.
 
The grant-date fair value of the SNS RUA was estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation model, using the following assumptions : expected term of four years, expected volatility of 85%  and risk-free interest rate of 4.09%.
 

On November 18, 2022, 25,000 units, representing one half of the service condition for the SNS RUA, became fully vested. The remainder of the service condition vests according to a graded vesting schedule and shall become fully vested subject to the officer's continued employment through the applicable vesting dates. 

 

During the year ended  December 31, 2024, 6,250 units of the SNS RUA became fully vested. At  December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 36,979 and 43,229 unvested units, respectively, of the SNS RUA with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $5.70 and$5.84 per Class B common unit, respectively. Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested SNS RUA at  December 31, 2024was $0.1 million.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the SNS RUA was $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

(d)

Restricted Common Unit Awards of SPI

 

Vertical Market Solutions LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, granted 199,000 restricted Class B common unit awards to an officer of SPI pursuant to an agreement dated September 7, 2023 ("SPI RUA"). The SPI RUA vests based on service and the achievement of criteria based on the IRR of SPI.

 

The grant-date fair value of the SPI RUA was estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation model, using the following assumptions: expected term of five years, expected volatility of 59% and risk-free interest rate of 4.29%.
 

On September 7, 2023, 83,333 units, representing one half of the service condition for the SPI RUA, became fully vested. The remainder of the service condition vests according to a graded vesting schedule and shall become fully vested subject to the officer's continued employment through the applicable vesting dates.

 
During the year ended  December 31, 2024, 26,042 units of the SPI RUA became fully vested.  At December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were  89,625  and 115,667 unvested units,  respectively, of the SPI RUA with a weighted-average grant date fair value of  $1.09  and $1.11 per Class B common unit , respectively . Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested SPI RUA at  December 31, 2024 was $0.1  million.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the SPI RUA w as less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

(e)

Restricted Common Unit Awards of DDI

 

DDI LLC granted 199,000 restricted Class B common unit awards to an officer of DDI pursuant to an agreement dated October 26, 2023 ("DDI RUA"). The DDI RUA vests based on service and the achievement of criteria based on the IRR of DDI.

 

The grant-date fair value of the DDI RUA was estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation model, using the following assumptions : expected term of five years, expected volatility of 57%  and risk-free interest rate of 4.68%.
 

On October 26, 2023, 83,333 units, representing one half of the service condition for the DDI RUA, became fully vested. The remainder of the service condition vests according to a graded vesting schedule and shall become fully vested subject to the officer's continued employment through the applicable vesting dates.

 

During the year ended  December 31, 2024,  24,306 units of the DDI RUA became fully vested. At  December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were  91,361  and 115,667 unvested units respectively, of the DDI RUA with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $4.07 and $4.16 per Class B common unit,  respectively . Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested DDI RUA at  December 31, 2024 was  $0.3  million.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the DDI RUA w as $0.1 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.  

 

(f)

Restricted Common Unit Awards of Image Solutions

 

SB LLC granted 199,000 restricted Class B common unit awards to an officer of Image Solutions pursuant to an agreement dated September 26, 2024 ("IMSO RUA"). The IMSO RUA vests based on service and the achievement of criteria based on the IRR of Image Solutions.

 

 

The grant-date fair value of the IMSO RUA was estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation model, using the following assumptions: expected term of five years, expected volatility of 51% and risk-free interest rate of 3.72%.

 

On September 26, 2024, 83,333 units, representing one half of the service condition for the IMSO RUA, became fully vested. The remainder of the service condition vests according to a graded vesting schedule and shall become fully vested subject to the officer's continued employment through the applicable vesting dates.

 

At  December 31, 2024, there were 115,667 unvested units of the IMSO RUA with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $6.12 per Class B common unit. Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested IMSO RUA at  December 31, 2024 was $0.7 million.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the IMSO RUA was $0.6 million for the year ended  December 31, 2024.

 

(g)

Stock Options

 

Under the 2020 Plan, the Company granted 265,000 stock option awards to certain employees of the Company during the second quarter of 2024 (the "Stock Options"). The Stock Options vest and become exercisable ratably over a five-year period and expire ten years after the date of grant. The Stock Options are amortized on a straight-line basis over the exercise period.  

 

The following table summarizes the stock option activity during the year ended December 31, 2024:

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

                
          

Weighted-

     
          

Average

     
  

Number of

  

Weighted-

  

Remaining

  

Aggregate

 
  

Options

  

Average

  

Contractual

  

Intrinsic Value

 
  

Outstanding

  

Exercise Price

  

Term (in years)

  

(in thousands)

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2023

    $     $ 

Granted

  265,000   10.00         

Outstanding at December 31, 2024

  265,000  $10.00   9.4  $ 

Exercisable at December 31, 2024

    $     $ 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and exercisable is the difference between the December 31, 2024 market price for the Company's common shares and the exercise price of the options, multiplied by the number of options where the December 31, 2024 market price exceeds the exercise price.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the Stock Options was $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.  Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested Stock Options at December 31, 2024 was $0.9 million.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of each option on the date of grant.  The fair value of grants and the related assumptions used in the Black-Scholes pricing model for the Stock Options granted during the year ended December 31, 2024 were as follows:

 

  

Year ended December 31,

 
  

2024

 

Weighted-average fair value of grants

 $3.73 

Risk-free interest rate

  4.57%

Dividend yield

   

Expected volatility

  41.7%

Expected term (in years)

  7.5 

 

The risk-free rate was determined based on U.S. treasury yields that most closely approximated the option’s expected term. The dividend yield was determined based on the Company's dividend paying history. The expected volatility was calculated based on the weekly closing price of the Company's common stock over the expected life of the options. The expected term was determined by estimating a cost of equity for the Company to determine time to when the option would be at-the-money, and then adding that amount to the average time to vest.

 

(h)

Employee Share Purchase Plan

 

The Company has an employee share purchase plan ("ESPP Plan") whereby qualifying employees can choose each year to have up to 5% of their annual base earnings withheld to purchase the Company's common shares. After one year of employment, the Company matches 100% of the employee contribution amount, and the contributions vest immediately. All contributions are used by the plan administrator to purchase common shares in the open market. The Company's contribution is expensed as paid and for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 totale$0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.