6. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

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Our 2015 RLI Corp. Long-Term Incentive Plan (2015 LTIP) was in place from 2015 to 2023. The 2015 LTIP provided for equity-based compensation, including stock options and restricted stock units, up to a maximum of 8,000,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment for changes in our capitalization and other events). Between 2015 and 2023, we granted 6,582,776 awards under the 2015 LTIP. The 2015 LTIP was replaced in 2023.

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In 2023, our shareholders approved the 2023 RLI Corp. Long-Term Incentive Plan (2023, LTIP), which provides for equity-based compensation. In conjunction with the adoption of the 2023 LTIP, effective May 4, 2023, awards are no longer granted under the 2015 LTIP. Awards under the 2023 LTIP may be in the form of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options (incentive or non-qualified), stock appreciation rights, performance units as well as other stock-based awards. Eligibility under the 2023 LTIP is limited to employees, directors, consultants and independent contractors of the Company or any affiliate. The granting of awards under the 2023 LTIP is solely at the discretion of the Human Capital and Compensation Committee of the board of directors or its delegate. The maximum number of shares of common stock available for distribution under the 2023 LTIP is 8,009,782 shares (subject to adjustment for changes in our capitalization and other events). Since the plan’s approval in 2023, we have granted 1,557,569 awards under the 2023 LTIP, including 376,931 thus far in 2026.

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Compensation expense is based on the probable number of awards expected to vest. Total compensation expense related to equity awards was $2 million and $3 million in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2026, respectively, compared with $2 million and $4 million for the corresponding periods in 2025. The related income tax benefit was less than $1 million for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2026 and 2025. As of June 30, 2026, total unrecognized compensation expense related to outstanding and unvested awards was $8 million, which will be recognized over the weighted average vesting period of 2.56 years.

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Stock Options

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Under the 2023 LTIP, as under the 2015 LTIP, we grant stock options for shares with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the shares at the date of grant (subject to adjustments for changes in our capitalization, special dividends and other events as set forth in such plans). Options generally vest and become exercisable over a five-year period and expire eight years after grant.

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For most participants, the requisite service period and vesting period will be the same. For participants who are retirement eligible, defined by the plan as those individuals whose age and years of service equals 75 or greater, the requisite service period is deemed to be met and options are immediately expensed on the date of grant. For participants who will

become retirement eligible during the vesting period, the requisite service period over which expense is recognized is the period between the grant date and the attainment of retirement eligibility. Shares issued upon option exercise are newly issued shares.

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On May 14, 2026, the board of directors declared a $2.00 special cash dividend, payable on June 12, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 29, 2026. To preserve the intrinsic value of the options, the board also approved, pursuant to the terms of our stock option plans, a proportional adjustment to the exercise price of all outstanding non-qualified options equal to the special dividend. The adjustment did not result in any incremental compensation expense.

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The following tables summarize option activity for the six-month period ended June 30, 2026:

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The intrinsic value of options exercised, which is the difference between the fair value and the exercise price, was $3 million in the first six months of both 2026 and 2025.

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The fair value of options was estimated using a Black-Scholes based option pricing model with the following weighted average grant-date assumptions and weighted average fair values as of June 30:

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The risk-free rate was determined based on U.S. treasury yields that most closely approximated the options’ expected life. The dividend yield was determined based on the average annualized quarterly dividends paid during the most recent five-year period and incorporated a consideration for special dividends paid in recent history. The expected volatility was calculated based on the median of the rolling volatilities for the expected life of the options. The expected option life was determined based on historical exercise behavior and the assumption that all outstanding options will be exercised at the midpoint of the current date and remaining contractual term, adjusted for the demographics of the current year’s grant.

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Restricted Stock Units

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In addition to stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) are granted with a value equal to the closing stock price of the Company’s stock on the dates the units are granted. For employees, these units generally have a three-year cliff vesting, but have an accelerated vesting feature for participants who are retirement eligible, defined by the plan as those individuals whose age and years of service equals 75 or greater. For directors, these units vest on the earlier of one year from the date of grant or the next annual shareholders meeting. In addition, the RSUs have dividend participation, which accrue as additional units and are settled with granted stock units at the end of the vesting period. The total fair value of restricted stock units that vested was $2 million and $3 million during the first six months of 2026 and 2025, respectively.

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