Note 10. Share-based Compensation

The Company’s 2017 Stock Plan (the “Plan”) provides for granting stock options and restricted stock awards to employees, directors, contractors and consultants of the Company. A total of 3,182,335 shares of common stock are authorized to be issued pursuant to the Plan. As of March 31, 2021, there were 2,739,261 shares available for future grants under the Plan.

The Company’s 2019 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) provides for granting stock options and restricted stock awards to employees, directors, agents, contractors and consultants of the Company. A total of 1,060,778 shares of common stock are authorized to be issued pursuant to the 2019 Plan. As of March 31, 2021, there were 460,033 shares available for future grants under the 2019 Plan.

Restricted Stock Awards

 

In March 2021, pursuant to the 2019 Plan, the Company granted 82,003 restricted stock awards to certain employees and agents, of which 4,564 awards vested immediately and the remaining 77,439 awards will vest three years from the grant date subject to continuous service with the Company. The fair value of these restricted stock awards was $32.87 per share based on the Company’s closing stock price on the grant date.

In March 2021 , pursuant to the 2019 Plan, in connection with the Acquisitions (See Note 3), the Company granted 44,568 restricted stock awards to former founders of the target companies in the Acquisitions who are now employees of the Company, of which 10,478 will vest one year from the grant date , and the remaining 34,090 will 18 months from the grant date. The fair value of the Company’s restricted stock awards granted in March 2021 was $44.00 per share based on the Company’s closing stock price on the grant date.

The Company recognized stock compensation expense for restricted stock awards to employees in the amount of $556,709, net of forfeitures of $1,264, and $9,051, net of forfeitures of $0, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which is included in general and administrative expense. The Company recognized stock compensation expense for restricted stock awards to agents in the amount of $272,186, net of forfeitures of $18,455, and $94,107, net of forfeitures of $2,371,  for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which is included in cost of revenue.

At March 31, 2021, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards granted was $8,437,964, which the Company expects to recognize over a period of approximately 2.05 years.

Stock Option Awards

A summary of stock option activity under the Plans are as follows:

 

In March 2021, pursuant to the 2019 Plan, the Board granted stock option awards to the independent directors to acquire   shares of common stock with an exercise price of $44.00 per share. The stock options will vest on the earlier of (a) one year from the date of grant and (b) the next annual stockholder meeting, subject to the director’s continued service on the Board.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $41,180 and $21,563, respectively, of share-based compensation expense for stock options in general and administrative expense. At March 31, 2021, the total unrecognized compensation related to unvested stock option awards granted was $280,574, which the Company expects to recognize over a period of approximately 0.78 years. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, was $18.64 and $0, respectively.