Table:
|  |  | YearEnded |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | June 30, 2019 | June 24, 2018 | June 25, 2017 |
|  |  | (in thousands) |  |
| Equity-based compensation expense | $187,234 | $172,216 | $149,975 |
| Income tax benefit recognized related to equity-based compensation | $47,396 | $87,505 | $38,381 |
| Income tax benefit realized from the exercise and vesting of options and RSUs | $49,242 | $90,297 | $92,749 |
Paragraphs:
Note 5: Equity-based Compensation Plans
The Company has stock plans that provide for grants of equity-based awards to eligible participants, including stock options and restricted stock units, of the Company’s Common Stock. An option is a right to purchase Common Stock at a set price. An RSU award is an agreement to issue a set number of shares of Common Stock at the time of vesting. The Company’s options and RSU awards typically vest over a period of three years or less. The Company also has an employee stock purchase plan that allows employees to purchase its Common Stock at a discount through payroll deductions.
The Lam Research Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, and the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (collectively the “Stock Plans”), provide for the grant of non-qualified equity-based awards to eligible employees, consultants and advisors, and non-employee directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. The 2015 Stock Incentive Plan was approved by shareholders authorizing up to 18,000,000 shares available for issuance under the plan. Additionally, 1,232,068 shares that remained available for grants under the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan were added to the shares available for issuance under the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan. As of June 30, 2019, there were a total of 9,379,904 shares available for future issuance under the Stock Plans. New shares are issued from the Company’s balance of authorized Common Stock from the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan to satisfy stock option exercises and vesting of awards.
The Company recognized the following equity-based compensation expense and benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:
The estimated fair value of the Company’s equity-based awards, less expected forfeitures, is amortized over the awards’ vesting terms on a straight-line basis.
Question:
What is the employee stock purchase plan?
Answer: allows employees to purchase its Common Stock at a discount through payroll deductions