v3.8.0.1
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Block)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments Abstract  
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Text Block

8. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Under the Entercom Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), the Company is authorized to issue share-based compensation awards to key employees, directors and consultants.

Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) Activity

The following is a summary of the changes in RSUs under the Plan during the current period:

NumberWeightedAggregate
ofWeightedAverageIntrinsic
Restricted AverageRemainingValue as of
StockPurchaseContractualMarch 31,
Period EndedUnitsPriceTerm (Years)2018
RSUs outstanding as of: December 31, 20174,285,290
RSUs awarded28,700
RSUs released(946,187)
RSUs forfeited(186,485)
RSUs outstanding as of: March 31, 20183,181,318$-1.4$30,223,813
RSUs vested and expected
to vest as of:March 31, 20183,181,318$-1.3$30,223,813
RSUs exercisable (vested and
deferred) as of:March 31, 201848,880$--$464,360
Weighted average remaining
recognition period in years2.0
Unamortized compensation
expense$28,135,832

RSUs With Service and Market Conditions

The Company issued RSUs with service and market conditions that are included in the table above. These shares vest if: (i) the Company’s stock achieves certain shareholder performance targets over a defined measurement period; and (ii) the employee fulfills a minimum service period. The compensation expense is recognized even if the market conditions are not satisfied and are only reversed in the event the service period is not met, as all of the conditions need to be satisfied. These RSUs are amortized over the longest of the explicit, implicit or derived service periods, which range from approximately one to three years.

The following table presents the changes in outstanding RSUs with market conditions:

Three MonthsYear
EndedEnded
March 31,December 31,
20182017
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Reconciliation of RSUs with Service And Market Conditions
Beginning of period balance650630
Number of RSUs granted-70
Number of RSUs forfeited (110)-
Number of RSUs vested-(50)
End of period balance540650
Weighted average fair value of RSUs granted
with market conditions$-$9.81

The fair value of RSUs with service conditions is estimated using the Company’s closing stock price on the date of the grant. To determine the fair value of RSUs with service and market conditions, the Company used the Monte Carlo simulation lattice model. The Company’s determination of the fair value was based on the number of shares granted, the Company’s stock price on the date of grant and certain assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. If other reasonable assumptions were used, the results could differ.

The specific assumptions used for these valuations are as follows:

Three MonthsYear
EndedEnded
March 31,December 31,
20182017
Expected Volatility Term Structure (1) - 54%
Risk-Free Interest Rate (2) - 1.8%
Annual Dividend Payment Per Share (Constant) (3)$ - $3.3%

Option Activity

The following table provides summary information related to the exercise of stock options:

Three Months Ended March 31,
Option Exercise Data20182017
(amounts in thousands)
Intrinsic value of options exercised$101$50
Tax benefit from options exercised (1)$27$20
Cash received from exercise price of options exercised$13$5

The following table presents the option activity during the current period under the Plan:

WeightedIntrinsic
WeightedAverageValue
AverageRemainingas of
Number ofExerciseContractualMarch 31,
Period EndedOptionsPriceTerm (Years)2018
Options outstanding as of:December 31, 2017883,347$8.38
Options granted--
Options exercised(10,000)1.34
Options forfeited--
Options expired(11,500)11.72
Options outstanding as of:March 31, 2018861,847$8.422.0$2,408,821
Options vested and expected to
vest as of:March 31, 2018861,847$8.422.0$2,408,821
Options vested and exercisable as of:March 31, 2018861,847$8.422.0$2,408,821
Weighted average remaining
recognition period in years-
Unamortized compensation expense$-

The following table summarizes significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable options as of the current period:

Options OutstandingOptions Exercisable
Number of Weighted Number of
OptionsAverageWeighted OptionsWeighted
Range ofOutstandingRemaining AverageExercisable Average
Exercise PricesMarch 31,ContractualExerciseMarch 31,Exercise
FromTo2018LifePrice2018Price
$1.34$1.34290,4370.9$1.34290,437$1.34
$2.02$13.98571,4102.6$12.02571,410$12.02
$1.34$13.98861,8472.0$8.42861,847$8.42

Recognized Non-Cash Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The following non-cash stock-based compensation expense, which is related primarily to RSUs, is included in each of the respective line items in the Company’s statement of operations:

Three Months Ended
March 31,
20182017
(amounts in thousands)
Station operating expenses$1,958$204
Corporate general and administrative expenses1,9551,389
Stock-based compensation expense included in operating expenses3,9131,593
Income tax benefit (1)816508
After-tax stock-based compensation expense$3,097$1,085