Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stock Plans

v2.3.0.15
Stock Plans
12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011
Stock Plans [Abstract]  
Stock Plans

Note 14.    Stock Plans

Stock options may be granted to officers and key employees under the Actuant Corporation 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). At August 31, 2011, 5,400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock were authorized for issuance under the Plan of which 2,166,380 shares were available for future award grants. The Plan permits the Company to grant share-based awards, including stock options and restricted stock, to employees and directors. Options generally have a maximum term of ten years, an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Company's common stock at the date of grant and generally vest 50% after three years and 100% after five years. The Company's restricted stock grants generally have similar vesting provisions. The provisions of share-based awards may vary by individual grant with respect to vesting period, dividend and voting rights, performance conditions and forfeitures.

A summary of stock option activity during fiscal 2011 is as follows:

 

     Shares     Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
(Per Share)
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
     Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 

Outstanding on September 1, 2010

     5,932,988      $ 19.87         

Granted

     423,977        27.50         

Exercised

     (479,610     9.01         

Forfeited

     (231,550     24.08         
  

 

 

         

Outstanding on August 31, 2011

     5,645,805      $ 21.23         5.4 years       $ 10.2 million   
  

 

 

         

Exercisable on August 31, 2011

     3,053,165      $ 20.44         3.6 years       $ 8.3 million   

 

Intrinsic value is the difference between the market value of the stock at August 31, 2011 and the exercise price which is aggregated for all options outstanding and exercisable. A summary of the weighted-average grant-date fair value of options, total intrinsic value of options exercised, and cash receipts from options exercised is shown below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2011      2010      2009  

Weighted-average fair value of options granted (per share)

   $ 10.74       $ 7.56       $ 6.78   

Intrinsic value gain of options exercised

     7,540         2,607         5,881   

Cash receipts from exercise of options

     4,324         1,732         365   

A summary of restricted stock activity during fiscal 2011 is as follows:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average Fair Value
at Grant Date
(Per Share)
 

Outstanding August 31, 2010

     829,036      $ 19.78   

Granted

     565,259        27.36   

Forfeited

     (117,148     22.49   

Vested

     (83,225     23.12   
  

 

 

   

Outstanding August 31, 2011

     1,193,922      $ 22.87   
  

 

 

   

As of August 31, 2011, there was $27.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation for stock options and restricted stock outstanding. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.5 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2011 and 2010 was $2.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The Company issues previously unissued shares of Class A common stock to satisfy stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting.

The Company generally records compensation expense (over the vesting period) for restricted stock awards based on the market value of Actuant common stock on the grant date. Stock based compensation expense was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for options granted in the first half of fiscal 2005 and a binomial pricing model for options granted thereafter. Assumptions used to determine the fair value of each option were based upon historical data and standard industry valuation practices and methodology. The following weighted-average assumptions were used in each fiscal year:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended August 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  

Dividend yield

     0.15     0.23     0.22

Expected volatility

     39.62     40.01     38.07

Risk-free rate of return

     2.53     2.76     1.70

Expected forfeiture rate

     15     15     15

Expected life

     6.1 years        6.1 years        6.0 years