services or vehicles caused damage or injury, claims that our services did not achieve the desired results, claims related to acquisitions and allegations by federal, state or local authorities, including taxing authorities, of violations of regulations or statutes. In addition, we are parties to employment-related cases and claims from time to time, which may include claims on a representative or class action basis alleging wage and hour law violations. We are also involved from time to time in certain environmental matters primarily arising in the normal course of business. We evaluate pending and threatened claims and establish loss contingency reserves based upon outcomes we currently believe to be probable and reasonably estimable.
The Company retains, up to specified limits, certain risks related to general liability, workers’ compensation and auto liability. The estimated costs of existing and future claims under the retained loss program are accrued based upon historical trends as incidents occur, whether reported or unreported (although actual settlement of the claims may not be made until future periods) and may be subsequently revised based on developments relating to such claims. The Company contracts with an independent third party to provide the Company an estimated liability based upon historical claims information. The actuarial study is a major consideration in establishing the reserve, along with management’s knowledge of changes in business practice and existing claims compared to current balances. Management’s judgment is inherently subjective as a number of factors are outside management’s knowledge and control. Additionally, historical information is not always an accurate indication of future events. The accruals and reserves we hold are based on estimates that involve a degree of judgment and are inherently variable and could be overestimated or insufficient. If actual claims exceed our estimates, our operating results could be materially affected, and our ability to take timely corrective actions to limit future costs may be limited.
Management does not believe that any pending claim, proceeding or litigation, regulatory action or investigation, either alone or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity; however, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual quarter or year.
NOTE 12.PENSION PLANS
In September 2019, the Company settled its fully-funded Rollins, Inc. pension plan, and during 2021, all remaining assets were reverted to the Company per ERISA regulations. The Company continues to sponsor its Waltham, Inc. defined benefit plan. This plan had assets of $2.2 million, a projected liability of $2.9 million and an unfunded status of $0.7 million as of September 30, 2022. The Company has not made any employer contributions to its Waltham defined benefit retirement plan in 2022.
NOTE 13.STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company paid $147.6 million, or $0.30 per share, in cash dividends compared to $119.7 million, or $0.24 per share, during the same period in 2021.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and during the same period in 2021, the Company did not repurchase shares on the open market.
The Company repurchases shares from employees for the payment of their taxes on restricted shares that have vested. The Company repurchased $0.0 million and $0.3 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and $7.0 million and $10.6 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
As more fully discussed in Note 15 of the Company’s notes to the consolidated financial statements in its 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, time-lapse restricted awards and restricted stock units (“restricted shares”) have been issued to officers and other management employees under the Company’s Employee Stock Incentive Plans. Beginning with the 2022 grant, restricted shares vest in 20 percent increments over five years from the date of the grant. Prior grants vest over six years from the date of grant. The Company issues new shares from its authorized but unissued share pool. As of September 30, 2022, approximately 5.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance.