Stock-Based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation

GlobalShare Program

The Company’s 2007 Heidrick & Struggles GlobalShare Program (the “Prior Program”) provided for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards to directors, selected employees, and independent contractors. The Prior Program expired on May 24, 2012. Outstanding awards granted under the Prior Program remain outstanding and subject to the terms of the Prior Program and award agreements until such awards vest, are exercised, terminate or expire pursuant to their terms. As of December 31, 2015, there were 43,338 awards outstanding under the Prior Program, consisting of 8,877 stock options and 34,461 restricted stock units.

On May 24, 2012, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2012 Heidrick & Struggles GlobalShare Program (the “2012 Program”) at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The 2012 Program provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards that are valued based upon the grant date fair value of shares. These awards may be granted to directors, selected employees and independent contractors.

The total number of shares authorized or reserved for issuance under the 2012 Program is 1,300,000 shares (consisting of a number of shares not previously authorized for issuance under any plan, and the number of shares not subject to awards and remaining available for issuance under the Prior Program, as amended on April 2, 2012), plus any shares subject to the 671,528 outstanding awards as of April 2, 2012 under the Prior Program that on or after the effective date cease for any reason to be subject to such awards. Stock awards forfeited or cancelled under the Prior Program and the 2012 Program are eligible for reissuance under the 2012 Program.

On May 22, 2014, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the 2012 Program to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Program by 700,000 shares. As of December 31, 2015, 1,033,847 awards have been issued under the 2012 Program and 1,342,179 shares remain available for future awards, which includes 376,026 forfeited awards. The 2012 Program provides that no awards can be granted after May 24, 2022.

The Company measures its stock-based compensation costs based on the grant date fair value of the awards and recognizes these costs in the financial statements over the requisite service period.

A summary of information with respect to stock-based compensation is as follows:
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Salaries and employee benefits
 
$
4,616

 
$
3,128

 
$
3,447

General and administrative expenses
 
450

 
451

 
300

Income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation included in net income
 
1,856

 
1,444

 
1,468





Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units are generally subject to ratable vesting over a three year period. Compensation expense related to service-based restricted stock units is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. For awards requiring satisfaction of service and performance conditions, compensation expense is recognized using a graded vesting attribution method.

Restricted stock unit activity as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
 
Number of
Restricted
Stock Units
 
Weighted-
Average
Grant-date
Fair Value
Outstanding on December 31, 2012
 
361,778

 
$
23.43

Granted
 
174,508

 
14.01

Vested and converted to common stock
 
(167,955
)
 
24.70

Forfeited
 
(97,876
)
 
17.69

Outstanding on December 31, 2013
 
270,455

 
18.64

Granted
 
295,733

 
18.02

Vested and converted to common stock
 
(93,159
)
 
19.65

Forfeited
 
(10,312
)
 
17.45

Outstanding on December 31, 2014
 
462,717

 
18.07

Granted
 
184,541

 
23.94

Vested and converted to common stock
 
(146,307
)
 
18.80

Forfeited
 
(27,016
)
 
20.74

Outstanding on December 31, 2015
 
473,935

 
19.98



As of December 31, 2015, there was $3.9 million of pre-tax unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock units, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average of 2.2 years.

Performance Stock Units

The Company grants performance stock units to certain of its senior executives. The performance stock units are generally subject to a cliff vesting at the end of a three year period. The vesting will vary between 0% - 200% based on the attainment of operating income goals over the 3 year vesting period. The performance stock units are expensed on a straight-line basis over the 3 year vesting period.

In 2014, the Company granted market-based performance stock units to the Chief Executive Officer as part of his initial compensation package. The market-based awards vest after a two-year service period and if the price of the Company’s common stock exceeds specified targets. The fair value of the market-based awards was determined using the Monte-Carlo simulation model. A Monte Carlo simulation model uses stock price volatility and other variables to estimate the probability of satisfying the market conditions and the resulting fair value of the award. Compensation costs related to the market-based awards are recognized regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied, as long as the requisite service has been provided.














Performance share unit activity as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
Number of
Performance
Stock Units
 
Weighted-
Average
Grant-date
Fair Value
Outstanding on December 31, 2012
 
80,000

 
$
23.75

Granted
 
63,895

 
13.89

Vested and converted to common stock
 

 

Forfeited
 
(82,574
)
 
19.07

Outstanding on December 31, 2013
 
61,321

 
19.77

Granted
 
186,705

 
17.19

Vested and converted to common stock
 
(9,429
)
 
27.18

Forfeited
 
(9,427
)
 
27.18

Outstanding on December 31, 2014
 
229,170

 
17.06

Granted
 
59,221

 
23.64

Vested and converted to common stock
 
(13,397
)
 
20.62

Forfeited
 
(2,970
)
 
20.62

Outstanding on December 31, 2015
 
272,024

 
18.28



As of December 31, 2015, there was $1.8 million of pre-tax unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested performance stock units, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average of 1.7 years.