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 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. While employed by the Company or serving as a director, unvested awards 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 disability. 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. On August 2, 2023, our Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of its Compensation Committee, approved a Declaration of Amendment to the 2020 Stock Plan that requires that all equity awards granted under the 2020 Stock Plan after August 2, 2023, contain a “double trigger” vesting provision such that vesting will require both a change-in-control and an additional event such as termination or other adverse employment action.

Compensation expense is recorded within SG&A in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations over the vesting periods. During the March 2024 and March 2023 quarters, we recognized $0.1 million and 0.4 million, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense. For the six-month periods ended March 2024 and March 2023, we recognized $0.7 million and $1.0 million, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense. Associated with the compensation cost are income tax benefits recognized of $33 thousand and $0.2 million, respectively, for each of the three months ended March 2024 and March 2023. Income tax benefits of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, were recognized for each of the six months ended March 2024 and March 2023.

During the December 2023 quarter, restricted stock units representing 70,150 shares of our common stock were issued and are scheduled to vest with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 2025. Of these restricted stock units, one-half are payable in common stock and one-half are payable in cash. There were no restricted stock units issued during the March 2024 quarter.

During the December 2023 quarter, performance stock units representing 70,150 shares of our common stock were issued and are scheduled to vest with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 2025. Of these performance stock units, one-half are payable in common stock and one-half are payable in cash. There were no performance stock units issued during the March 2024 quarter.

During the December 2023 quarter, restricted stock units representing 67,063 shares of our common stock vested with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2023 and were issued in accordance with their respective agreements. Of these vested awards, all were payable in common stock. There were no restricted stock units issued in the March 2024 quarter.

During the December 2023 quarter, performance stock units representing 34,812 shares of our common stock were forfeited due to the Company’s failure to meet certain threshold requirements. During the March 2024 quarter, restricted stock units representing 1,200 shares of our common stock and performance stock units representing 1,200 shares of our common stock were forfeited due to employee resignation. 

As of March 2024, there was $1.0 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 1.7 years.