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 (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”) was approved by our shareholders.  During 2018 and 2017, the Company granted restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the Plan to certain of its employees.  RSUs are a long-term compensation component, and are subject to satisfaction of certain predetermined performance criteria and adjustments at the end of the applicable performance period based on the results achieved.  In addition to share-based awards, the Company may grant to its employees cash-based incentive awards under the Plan, which were used as a short-term and long-term compensation component of the 2018 awards, and were subject to satisfaction of certain predetermined performance criteria.

As of March 31, 2019, there were 11,852,592 shares of common stock available for issuance in satisfaction of awards under the Plan.  The shares available for issuance are reduced on a one-for-one basis when RSUs are settled in shares of common stock, which shares of common stock were issued net of withholding tax through the withholding of shares.  The Company has the option following vesting to settle RSUs in stock or cash, or a combination of stock and cash.  The Company expects to settle RSUs that vest in the future using shares of common stock.  

RSUs currently outstanding relate to the 2018 and 2017 grants, which were subject to predetermined performance criteria applied against the applicable performance period.  These RSUs continue to be subject to employment-based criteria and vesting generally occurs in December of the second year after the grant.  See the table below for anticipated 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 2018 and 2017 were determined using the Company’s closing price on the grant date.  We also 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.  

A summary of activity related to RSUs during the three months ended March 31, 2019 is as follows:

For the outstanding RSUs issued to the eligible employees as of March 31, 2019, vesting is expected to occur as follows (subject to forfeitures):  

Awards to Non-Employee Directors.  Under the W&T Offshore, Inc. 2004 Directors Compensation Plan (as amended from time to time, 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 2018, 2017 and 2016.  As of March 31, 2019, there were 128,980 shares of common stock available for issuance in satisfaction of awards under the Director Compensation Plan.  The shares available are reduced on a one-to-one basis 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.

For the outstanding Restricted Shares issued to the non-employee directors as of March 31, 2019, vesting is expected to occur as follows (subject to any forfeitures):

Share-Based Compensation.  Share-based compensation expense is recorded in the line General and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  The tax benefit related to compensation expense recognized under share-based payment arrangements was not meaningful and was minimal due to adjustments in the valuation allowance.  A summary of incentive compensation expense under share-based payment arrangements is as follows (in thousands):

Unrecognized Share-Based Compensation.  As of March 31, 2019, unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to our awards of RSUs and Restricted Shares was $5.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively.  Unrecognized share-based compensation expense will be recognized through November 2020 for RSUs and April 2021 for Restricted Shares.  

Cash-Based Incentive Compensation. In addition to share-based awards, cash-based awards were granted under the Plan to eligible employees in 2018 and 2017.  For 2018, there were two cash-based awards consisting of a long-term award and a short-term award.  All cash-based awards are performance-based awards consisting of predetermined performance criteria applied against the applicable performance period.  Expense for each award is recognized over the service period once the applicable financial condition is expected to be met, and the business criteria and individual performance criteria can be reasonably estimated for the applicable period.

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