Note 9 — Stock Based Compensation

Stock Options issued to Employees, Officers and Directors

The Optex Systems Holdings 2009 Stock Option Plan provides for the issuance of up to 75,000 shares to the Company’s officers, directors, employees and to independent contractors who provide services to Optex Systems Holdings as either incentive or non-statutory stock options determined at the time of grant. As of September 29, 2019, there were 25,000 fully vested stock options outstanding at an exercise price of $10 per share and an expiration date of December 18, 2020. During the twelve months ended September 27, 2020, all of the 25,000 outstanding stock options were repurchased at $0.01 per option for a total transaction of $250. There were no new grants of stock options during the twelve months ended September 27, 2020. As of September 27, 2020, there are zero stock options outstanding.

Restricted Stock Units issued to Officers and Employees

On June 14, 2016, the Compensation Committee (“Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. approved the Company’s 2016 Restricted Stock Unit Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan provides for the issuance of stock units (“RSU”) for up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Optex Systems Holdings officers and employees. Each RSU constitutes a right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock, subject to vesting, which unless otherwise stated in an RSU agreement, shall vest in equal amounts on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date. Shares of the Company’s common stock underlying the number of vested RSUs will be delivered as soon as practicable after vesting. During the period between grant and vesting, the RSUs may not be transferred, and the grantee has no rights as a shareholder until vesting has occurred. If the grantee’s employment is terminated for any reason (other than following a change in control of the Company or a termination of an officer other than for cause), then any unvested RSUs under the award will automatically terminate and be forfeited. If an officer grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the grantee for good reason, then, provided that the RSUs have not been previously forfeited, the remaining unvested portion of the RSUs will immediately vest as of the officer grantee’s termination date. In the event of a change in control, the Company’s obligations regarding outstanding RSUs shall, on such terms as may be approved by the Committee prior to such event, immediately vest, be assumed by the surviving or continuing company or cancelled in exchange for property (including cash).

On June 15, 2016, the Company issued 150,000 RSUs to its Chief Executive Officer, Danny Schoening, and 50,000 RSUs to its Chief Financial Officer, Karen Hawkins. The RSUs issued to Mr. Schoening and Ms. Hawkins vest as follows: 34% on January 1, 2017, 33% on January 1, 2018 and 33% on January 1, 2019. The total market value of the restricted stock units based on the share price of $1.85 as of June 15, 2016 is $372 thousand. The cost of the shares is amortized on a straight-line basis across the vesting periods. These restricted stock units were fully vested as of January 1, 2019.

On June 15, 2017, the Company issued 50,000 RSUs to its Applied Optics Center General Manager and new board member, Bill Bates. Pursuant to the RSU agreements the RSUs issued to Mr. Bates will vest as follows: 34% on January 1, 2018, 33% on January 1, 2019 and 33% on January 1, 2020. The total market value of the restricted stock units based on the share price of $0.95 as of June 15, 2016 is $47.5 thousand. The cost of the shares is amortized on a straight-line basis across the vesting periods. As of September 29, 2019, there were 16,500 unvested restricted stock units remaining from the June 15, 2017 issue which vested on January 1, 2020.

On January 2, 2019, the Company granted 150,000 and 50,000 restricted stock units with a January 2, 2019 grant date, to Danny Schoening and Karen Hawkins, respectively, vesting as of January 1 each year subsequent to the grant date over a three-year period at a rate of 34% in year one, and 33% each year thereafter. The stock price at grant date was $1.32 per share. The Company is amortizing the grant date fair market value of $264 thousand to stock compensation expense on a straight-line basis across the three-year vesting period beginning on January 2, 2019.

On February 17, 2020, the Company granted 50,000 restricted stock units to Bill Bates, General Manager of the Applied Optics Center. The restricted stock units vest as of January 1 each year subsequent to the grant date over a three-year period at a rate of 34% in year one, and 33% each year thereafter. The stock price at grant date was $2.13 per share. The Company will amortize the grant date fair market value of $107 thousand to stock compensation expense on a straight-line basis across the three-year vesting period beginning on February 17, 2020.

The following table summarizes the status of Optex Systems Holdings’ aggregate non-vested restricted stock units granted under the Company’s 2016 Restricted Stock Unit Plan:

On January 7, 2019, the Company issued 55,565 common shares to three directors and officers, net of tax withholding of $37 thousand, in settlement of 82,500 restricted stock units which vested on January 1, 2019.

On January 7, 2020, the Company issued 59,447 common shares to one director and two officers, net of tax withholding of $54 thousand, in settlement of 84,500 restricted stock units which vested on January 1, 2020.

Restricted Shares Issued to Independent Board Members

On April 30, 2020, the Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors held a meeting and voted to increase the annual board compensation for the three independent directors from $22,000 to $36,000 with an effective date of January 1, 2020, in addition to granting 100,000 restricted shares to each independent director which shall vest at a rate of 20% per year (20,000 shares) each January 1^st, over the next five years, through January 1, 2025. The total fair market value for the 300,000 shares is $525 thousand based on the stock price of $1.75 as of April 30, 2020. The Company will amortize the fair market value to stock compensation expense on a straight-line basis across the five-year vesting period beginning on April 30, 2020. As of period ended September 27, 2020, none of the restricted shares had vested.

Stock Based Compensation Expense

Equity compensation is amortized based on a straight-line basis across the vesting or service period as applicable. The recorded compensation costs for restricted shares granted and restricted stock units awarded as well as the unrecognized compensation costs are summarized in the table below:

The unrecognized compensation expense for restricted shares and restricted stock units is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.25 years and 1.67 years, respectively.