7.  Share-Based Compensation and Cash-Based Incentive Compensation

Awards to Employees.  In 2010, the W&T Offshore, Inc. Amended and Restated Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by our shareholders, and amendments to the Plan were approved by our shareholders in May 2013, May 2016 and May 2017.  The May 2017 amendment increased the number of shares available in the Plan by 7,700,000 shares.  As allowed by the Plan, during 2017 and 2016, the Company granted restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain of its employees.  RSUs are a long-term compensation component of the Plan, which are granted to certain employees, and are subject to adjustments at the end of the applicable performance period based on the results of certain predetermined criteria.  In addition to share-based compensation, the Company may grant to its employees cash-based incentive awards, which are a short-term component of the Plan and are typically based on the Company and the employee achieving certain pre-defined performance criteria.

As of March 31, 2018, there were 13,363,792 shares of common stock available for issuance in satisfaction of awards under the Plan.  The shares available for issuance are reduced when RSUs are settled in shares of common stock, net of withholding tax.  The Company has the option at vesting to settle RSUs in stock or cash, or a combination of stock and cash.  The Company plans to settle RSUs that vest in the future using shares of common stock.  

RSUs currently outstanding related to the 2017 and 2016 grants have been adjusted for performance achieved against predetermined criteria for the applicable performance year.  These RSUs continue to be subject to employment-based criteria and vesting occurs in December of the second year after the grant.  See the table below for potential vesting by year.

We recognize compensation cost for share-based payments to employees over the period during which the recipient is required to provide service in exchange for the award.  Compensation cost is based on the fair value of the equity instrument on the date of grant.  The fair values for the RSUs granted during 2017 and 2016 were determined using the Company’s closing price on the grant date.  We are also required to estimate forfeitures, resulting in the recognition of compensation cost only for those awards that are expected to actually vest.

All RSUs awarded are subject to forfeiture until vested and cannot be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of during the restricted period.  

There were no grants or vesting of RSUs during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  For the outstanding RSUs issued to the eligible employees as of March 31, 2018, vesting is expected to occur as follows:  

Awards to Non-Employee Directors.  Under the Director Compensation Plan, shares of restricted stock (“Restricted Shares”) have been granted to the Company’s non-employee directors.  Grants to non-employee directors were made during 2017, 2016 and 2015.  As of March 31, 2018, there were 170,524 shares of common stock available for issuance in satisfaction of awards under the Director Compensation Plan.  The shares available are reduced when Restricted Shares are granted.  

We recognize compensation cost for share-based payments to non-employee directors over the period during which the recipient is required to provide service in exchange for the award.  Compensation cost is based on the fair value of the equity instrument on the date of grant.  The fair values for the Restricted Shares granted were determined using the Company’s closing price on the grant date.   No forfeitures were estimated for the non-employee directors’ awards.

The Restricted Shares are subject to service conditions and vesting occurs at the end of specified service periods unless approved by the Board of Directors.  Restricted Shares cannot be sold, transferred or disposed of during the restricted period.  The holders of Restricted Shares generally have the same rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to such Restricted Shares, including the right to vote and receive dividends or other distributions paid with respect to the Restricted Shares.

There were no grants or vesting of Restricted Shares during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  For the outstanding Restricted Shares issued to the non-employee directors as of March 31, 2018, vesting is expected to occur as follows:

Share-Based Compensation.  Share-based compensation expense is recorded in the line General and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  A summary of incentive compensation expense under share-based payment arrangements and the related tax benefit is as follows (in thousands):

Unrecognized Share-Based Compensation.  As of March 31, 2018, unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to our awards of RSUs and Restricted Shares was $5.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively.  Unrecognized share-based compensation expense will be recognized through November 2019 for RSUs and April 2020 for Restricted Shares.

Cash-Based Incentive Compensation. In addition to share-based compensation, cash-based awards were granted under the Plan to substantially all eligible employees in 2017 and 2016.  The cash-based awards, which are a short-term component of the Plan, are performance-based awards consisting of one or more business criteria or individual performance criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each such criterion.  In addition, these cash-based awards included an additional financial condition requiring Adjusted EBITDA less reported Interest Expense Incurred (as defined in the awards) for any fiscal quarter plus the three preceding quarters to exceed defined levels measured over defined time periods for each cash-based award.  Expense is recognized over the service period once the business criteria, individual performance criteria and financial condition are met.

A summary of compensation expense related to share-based awards and cash-based awards is as follows (in thousands):