Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(Unaudited)
would not be adversely affected by the characterization of the securitization as a taxable mortgage pool. Certain categories of stockholders, however, such as foreign stockholders eligible for treaty or other benefits, stockholders with net operating losses, and certaintax-exempt stockholders that are subject to unrelated business income tax, or UBTI, could be subject to increased taxes on a portion of their dividend income from us that is attributable to the taxable mortgage pool. We currently own no UBTI producing assets and we do not intend to purchase or generate assets that produce UBTI distributions in the future.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded a current income tax provision of $101,000 and $120,000, respectively, primarily related to activities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries and various state and local taxes. We did not have any deferred tax assets or liabilities as of March 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018.
Effective January 1, 2018, under legislation from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the maximum U.S. federal corporate income tax rate was reduced from 35% to 21%. Accordingly, to the extent that the activities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries generate taxable income in future periods, they may be subject to lower U.S. federal income tax rates.
We have net operating losses, or NOLs, generated by our predecessor business that may be carried forward and utilized in current or future periods. As a result of our issuance of 25,875,000 shares of class A common stock in May 2013, the availability of our NOLs is generally limited to $2.0 million per annum by change of control provisions promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the ownership of Blackstone Mortgage Trust. As of December 31, 2018, we had estimated NOLs of $159.0 million that will expire in 2029, unless they are utilized by us prior to expiration.
As of March 31, 2019, tax years 2015 through 2018 remain subject to examination by taxing authorities.
13. | STOCK-BASED INCENTIVE PLANS |
We are externally managed by our Manager and do not currently have any employees. However, as of March 31, 2019, our Manager, certain individuals employed by an affiliate of our Manager, and certain members of our board of directors were compensated, in part, through the issuance of stock-based instruments.
We had stock-based incentive awards outstanding under nine benefit plans as of March 31, 2019. Seven of such benefit plans have expired and no new awards may be issued under them. Under our two current benefit plans, a maximum of 5,000,000 shares of our class A common stock may be issued to our Manager, our directors and officers, and certain employees of affiliates of our Manager. As of March 31, 2019, there were 3,977,788 shares available under the Current Plans.
The following table details the movement in our outstanding shares of restricted class A common stock and the weighted-average grant date fair value per share:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Restricted Class A Common Stock | | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share |
Balance as of December 31, 2018 | | | | 1,614,907 | | | | $ | 32.94 | |
Granted | | | | 334,904 | | | | | 31.54 | |
Vested | | | | (153,653 | ) | | | | 31.13 | |
Forfeited | | | | (14,001 | ) | | | | 31.52 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of March 31, 2019 | | | | 1,782,157 | | | | $ | 32.84 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
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