Note 15 — Share-based Compensation

At December 31, 2020, we had two incentive plans; the 2007 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2007 Plan”) and the 2013 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2013 Plan” and with 2007 Plan, the “Plans”).

The Company may provide awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, shares granted as a bonus or in lieu of another award, dividend equivalent, other stock-based award or performance award, together with any other right or interest to a participant. Plan participants include executives and other employees, officers, directors, consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company or its related entities. Although no future stock options may be granted, certain employees, directors and officers of Hanmi Financial and its subsidiaries still hold options to purchase Hanmi Financial common stock under the 2007 Plan. Under the 2013 Plan, we may grant equity incentive awards for up to 1,500,000 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2020, 263,523 shares were still available for issuance under the 2013 Plan.

The table below provides the share-based compensation expense and related tax benefits for the periods indicated:

As of December 31, 2020, unrecognized share-based compensation expense was $2.5 million with an average expected recognition period of 1.5 years.

2013 and 2007 Equity Compensation Plans

Stock Options

All stock options granted under the Plans have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Stock options granted generally vest based on three to five years of continuous service and expire ten years from the date of grant. New shares of common stock are issued or treasury shares are utilized upon the exercise of stock options. There were no options granted during the three years ended December 31, 2020.

The following information under the Plans is presented for the periods indicated:

The following is a summary of stock option transactions under the Plans for the periods indicated:

As of December 31, 2020, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options granted under the plan, and all stock options issued under the plan had vested.

As of December 31, 2020, stock options outstanding under the Plans were as follows:

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards under the Plans become fully vested after a certain number of years or after certain performance criteria are met. Hanmi Financial becomes entitled to an income tax deduction in an amount equal to the taxable income reported by the holders of the restricted shares when the restrictions are released and the shares are issued. Restricted shares are forfeited if officers and employees terminate prior to the lapsing of restrictions. Forfeitures of restricted stock are treated as canceled shares.

The table below provides information for restricted stock awards under the 2013 Plan for the periods indicated:

As of December 31, 2020, there was $2.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested shares granted under the Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $1.4 million, $2.1 million, and $3.0 million, respectively.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the Company granted to members of executive management 23,937 performance stock units (PSUs) with a grant date fair value of $231,000 from the 2013 Equity Compensation Plan.  PSUs are similar to restricted stock awards, except the recipient does not receive the stock immediately, but instead receives it in accordance to a vesting plan and distribution schedule after achieving required performance milestones and upon remaining with the Company for a particular length of time. Each PSU that vests entitles the recipient to receive one share of the Company’s common stock on a specified issuance date.

Under the provisions of the plan, the PSUs vest into shares based on a three-year cliff vesting subject to achievement of a total shareholder return (TSR) performance metric resulting in a grant date fair value of $9.65 per share.  The fair value of the performance PSUs at the grant date was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation method. The number of PSUs subject to the TSR that ultimately vest at the end of the three-year vesting performance period, if any, will be based on the relative rank of the Company’s TSR among the TSRs of a peer group of 51 regional banks.  Although the recipient does receive dividend equivalent rights for any dividends paid during the performance period based on the target shares granted, no stockholder rights, including voting, or liquidation rights will be conferred upon the recipient until becoming the record holder of those shares.

Compensation expense for these units is based on the fair value of the grants at the grant date and is straight-lined over the vesting period.  As of the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 total compensation expense for the PSUs was $32,000. The total fair value of the PSUs at December 31, 2020 was $271,000.