Note H—Stock-Based Compensation

On February 6, 2020, our shareholders approved the Delta Apparel, Inc. 2020 Stock Plan ("2020 Stock Plan") to replace the 2010 Stock Plan, which was previously re-approved by our shareholders on February 4, 2015 and was scheduled to expire by its terms on September 14, 2020. The 2020 Stock Plan is substantially similar in both form and substance to the 2010 Stock Plan. The purpose of the 2020 Stock Plan is to continue to give our Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee the ability to offer a variety of compensatory awards designed to enhance the Company’s long-term success by encouraging stock ownership among its executives, key employees and directors. Under the 2020 Stock Plan, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors has the authority to determine the employees and directors to whom awards may be granted, and the size and type of each award and manner in which such awards will vest. The awards available under the plan consist of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock, stock performance units, and other stock and cash awards. Unvested awards, while employed by the Company or servings as a director, become fully vested under certain circumstances as defined in the 2020 Stock Plan. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, the participant’s death or becoming disabled. The Compensation Committee is authorized to establish the terms and conditions of awards granted under the 2020 Stock Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the 2020 Stock Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary. Similar to the 2010 Stock Plan, the 2020 Stock Plan limits the number of shares that may be covered by awards to any participant in a given calendar year and also limits the aggregate awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance stock granted in a given calendar year. Shares are generally issued from treasury stock upon the vesting of the restricted stock units, performance units or other awards under the 2020 Stock Plan.

Compensation expense is recorded within SG&A in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations over the vesting periods. During the March 2021 and 2020 quarters, we recognized $0.6 million and $0.5 million in stock-based compensation expense, respectively. Associated with the compensation cost are income tax benefits recognized of $0.1 million for each of the three-month periods ended March 2021 and March 2020. During the six-months ended March 2021 and March 2020, we recognized $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense. Associated with the compensation cost are income tax benefits recognized of $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the six-months periods ended March 2021 and March 2020, respectively. 

During the December 2020 quarter, performance stock units and restricted stock units representing 42,000 and 74,000 shares of our common stock, respectively, vested with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2020, and were issued in accordance with their respective agreements. All vested awards were paid in common stock.

As of March 2021, there was $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards granted under the 2020 Stock Plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over a period of 1.6 years.