NOTE 12. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

In February 2017, a former employee forfeited 100,000 shares of unvested restricted stock and paid us $35,000 in connection with the exercise of 150,000 fully-vested stock options.

On August 31, 2017, in accordance with the Lipparelli Agreement, the Board authorized the issuance of 800,000 restricted shares of our common stock, which shares vest as follows: (i) as to the first 200,000 shares, on August 31, 2017, (ii) as to the next 200,000 shares, on January 2, 2018, and (iii) as to the next 400,000 shares, on January 2, 2019.  

During the year ended December 31, 2018, we issued 52,000 restricted shares of our common stock (13,000 shares in quarterly installments) valued at $64,220, to each of Messrs. Norm DesRosiers, Bryan Waters and William Zender, in consideration of their service on the Board.  These shares vested immediately on the grant date.

On April 24, 2018, our Board authorized the repurchase of shares of our common stock in an amount not to exceed $1.0 million. Such repurchases may be made from time to time based on market conditions and may be completed in the open market or in privately-negotiated transactions. Repurchase transactions will be executed only when we believe that we will remain in compliance with the covenants of the NSB Credit Agreement.  Finally, execution of share repurchases may require regulatory approval in one or more jurisdictions. We have not repurchased any of our common stock as of December 31, 2018.