4. Employee Stock Plans

Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes the components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated:

 

		Three Months Ended July 31,
		2015				2014
		(in thousands)
Restricted stock		$	3,554			$	3,252
ESPP			120				—
Stock options			17				67
Total stock-based compensation expense, pre-tax			3,691				3,319
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation expense			(1,154	)			(982	)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax		$	2,537			$	2,337

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the grant date fair value of employee stock options. The expected volatility reflects consideration of the historical volatility in the Company’s publicly traded stock during the period the option is granted. The Company believes historical volatility in these instruments is more indicative of expected future volatility than the implied volatility in the price of the Company’s common stock. The expected life of each option is estimated using historical data. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issue with a remaining term approximating the expected term of the option. The Company uses historical data to estimate forfeiture rates applied to the gross amount of expense determined using the option valuation model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options. The assumptions used in option valuation models are highly subjective, particularly the expected stock price volatility of the underlying stock. The Company did not grant stock options in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014.

Stock Incentive Plans

At the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on September 27, 2012, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement to the Korn/Ferry International Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2012 amendment and restatement being the “Second A&R 2008 Plan”), which among other things, increased the current maximum number of shares that may be issued under the plan to 5,700,000 shares, subject to certain changes in the Company’s capital structure and other extraordinary events. The Second A&R 2008 Plan provides for the grant of awards to eligible participants, designated as either nonqualified or incentive stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, any of which may be performance-based or market-based, and incentive bonuses, which may be paid in cash or a combination thereof. Under the Second A&R 2008 Plan, the ability to issue full-value awards is limited by requiring full-value stock awards to count 1.91 times as much as stock options.

 

Stock Options

Stock option transactions under the Company’s Second A&R 2008 Plan were as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended July 31, 2015
		Options				Weighted- Average Exercise Price				Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)				Aggregate Intrinsic Value
		(in thousands, except per share data)
Outstanding, April 30, 2015			202			$	15.45
Exercised			(72	)		$	15.62
Forfeited/expired			(5	)		$	17.97
Outstanding, July 31, 2015			125			$	15.30				1.69			$	2,272
Exercisable, July 31, 2015			125			$	15.30				1.69			$	2,272

Additional information pertaining to stock options:

 

		Three Months Ended July 31,
		2015				2014
		(in thousands)
Total fair value of stock options vested		$	96			$	324
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised		$	1,360			$	1,039

Restricted Stock

The Company grants time-based restricted stock awards to executive officers and other senior employees generally vesting over a three to four year period. In addition, certain key management members typically receive time-based restricted stock awards upon commencement of employment and may receive them annually in conjunction with the Company’s performance review. Time-based restricted stock awards are granted at a price equal to fair value, which is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

The Company also grants market-based and performance-based restricted stock units to executive officers and other senior employees. The market-based units vest after three years depending upon the Company’s total stockholder return over the three-year performance period relative to other companies in its selected peer group. The fair value of these market-based restricted stock units are determined by a third-party valuation using extensive market data that are based on historical Company and peer group information. The Company recognizes compensation expense for market-based restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Performance-based restricted stock units vest after three years depending upon the Company meeting certain objectives that are set at the time the restricted stock unit is issued. Performance-based restricted stock units are granted at a price equal to the fair value, which is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for performance-based restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. At the end of each reporting period, the Company estimates the number of restricted stock units expected to vest, based on the probability that certain performance objectives will be met, exceeded, or fall below target levels, and takes into account these estimates when calculating the expense for the period.

 

Restricted stock activity during the three months ended July 31, 2015 is summarized below:

 

		Shares				Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
		(in thousands, except per share data)
Non-vested, April 30, 2015			1,560			$	22.15
Granted			579			$	25.13
Vested			(695	)		$	14.74
Forfeited/expired			(9	)		$	23.96
Non-vested, July 31, 2015			1,435			$	26.93

As of July 31, 2015, there were 0.3 million shares and 0.2 million shares outstanding relating to market-based and performance-based restricted stock units, respectively, with total unrecognized compensation totaling $7.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

As of July 31, 2015, there was $31.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested awards of restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years. During the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, 188,104 shares and 125,421 shares of restricted stock totaling $6.6 million and $3.7 million, respectively, were repurchased by the Company, at the option of the employee, to pay for taxes related to vesting of restricted stock.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has an ESPP that, in accordance with Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, allows eligible employees to authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their salary to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of the fair market price of the common stock on the last day of the enrollment period. Employees may not purchase more than $25,000 in stock during any calendar year. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the ESPP is 3.0 million shares. The ESPP was suspended during the second half of fiscal 2012 and as a result, no shares were purchased during the three months ended July 31, 2014. On January 1, 2015, the Company once again allowed employees to participate in the ESPP. During the three months ended July 31, 2015, employees purchased 44,334 shares at $29.55 per share. As of July 31, 2015, the ESPP had approximately 1.6 million shares remaining available for future issuance.

Common Stock

During the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company issued 71,428 shares and 85,321 shares of common stock, respectively, as a result of the exercise of stock options, with cash proceeds from the exercise of $1.1 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

No shares were repurchased during the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, other than to satisfy minimum tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of restricted stock as described above.