XML 25 R10.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.21.2
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN: Under SJI's Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (Plan), shares may be issued to SJI’s officers (Officers), non-employee directors (Directors) and other key employees. SJI grants time-based shares of restricted stock, one-third of which vest annually over a three-year period and which are limited to a 100% payout. The vesting and payout of time-based shares of restricted stock is solely contingent upon the service requirement being met in years one, two, and three of the grant. Performance-based restricted shares vest over a three-year period and are subject to SJI achieving certain market and earnings-based performance targets, which can cause the actual amount of shares that ultimately vest to range from 0% to 200% of the original shares granted. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, SJI granted a total of 243,540 and 225,278 restricted shares, respectively, to Officers and other key employees under the Plan. No options were granted or outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. No stock appreciation rights have been issued under the Plan.
Grants containing market-based performance targets use SJI's TSR relative to a peer group to measure performance. As TSR-based grants are contingent upon market and service conditions, SJI is required to measure and recognize stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value at the date of grant on a straight-line basis over the requisite three-year period of each award. In addition, SJI identifies specific forfeitures of share-based awards, and compensation expense is adjusted accordingly over the requisite service period. Compensation expense is not adjusted based on the actual achievement of market goals. The fair value of TSR-based restricted stock awards on the date of grant is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

Earnings-based performance targets include pre-defined EGR goals to measure performance. Performance targets include pre-defined CEGR for SJI. As EGR-based and CEGR-based grants are contingent upon performance and service conditions, SJI is required to measure and recognize stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value at the date of grant over the requisite three-year period of each award. The fair value is measured as the market price at the date of grant. The initial accruals of compensation expense are based on the estimated number of shares expected to vest, assuming the requisite service is rendered and probable outcome of the performance condition is achieved. That estimate is revised if subsequent information indicates that the actual number of shares is likely to differ from previous estimates. Compensation expense is ultimately adjusted based on the actual achievement of service and performance targets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, SJI granted 54,419 and 38,456 restricted shares, respectively, to its Directors. Shares issued to Directors vest over twelve months and contain no performance conditions. As a result, 100% of the shares granted generally vest.

The following table summarizes the nonvested restricted stock awards outstanding at September 30, 2021, and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards:
 GrantsShares OutstandingFair Value Per ShareExpected VolatilityRisk-Free Interest Rate
Officers & Key Employees -2019 - TSR32,292 $32.88 23.2 %2.40 %
2019 - CEGR, Time69,265 $31.38 N/AN/A
2020 - TSR38,813 $25.51 34.8 %0.21 %
2020 - CEGR, Time123,686 $25.19 N/AN/A
2021 - TSR42,716 $28.11 39.9 %0.27 %
2021 - CEGR, Time186,746 $25.33 N/AN/A
Directors - 202154,419 $24.75 N/AN/A

Expected volatility is based on the actual volatility of SJI’s share price over the preceding three-year period as of the valuation date. The risk-free interest rate is based on the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Bond, with a term equal to the three-year term of the Officers’ and other key employees’ restricted shares. As notional dividend equivalents are credited to the holders during the three-year service period, no reduction to the fair value of the award is required. As the Directors’ restricted stock awards contain no performance conditions and dividends are paid or credited to the holder during the twelve month service period, the fair value of these awards is equal to the market value of the shares on the date of grant.

The following table summarizes the total stock-based compensation cost to SJI for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
 Three Months Ended
September 30,		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 2021202020212020
Officers & Key Employees$1,123 $1,220 $3,804 $3,671 
Directors317 302 561 899 
Total Cost1,440 1,522 4,365 4,570 
Capitalized(33)(12)(101)(35)
Net Expense$1,407 $1,510 $4,264 $4,535 
The table above does not reflect the reversal of approximately $1.3 million in 2020 of previously recorded costs associated with TSR and CEGR-based grants for which performance goals were not met.

As of September 30, 2021, there was $7.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation awards granted under the Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

The following table summarizes information regarding restricted stock award activity for SJI during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, excluding accrued dividend equivalents:
 Officers and Other Key EmployeesDirectorsWeighted
Average
Fair Value
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2021449,786 38,456 $28.88 
  Granted243,540 54,419 $25.66 
  Cancelled/Forfeited(27,790)— $25.72 
  Vested(172,019)(38,456)$30.37 
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, September 30, 2021
493,517 54,419 $26.71 

SJI has a policy of issuing new shares to satisfy its obligations under the Plan; therefore, there are no cash payment requirements resulting from the normal operation of the Plan. However, a change in control could result in such shares becoming non-forfeitable or immediately payable in cash. At the discretion of the Officers, Directors and other key employees, the receipt of vested shares can be deferred until future periods. These deferred shares are included in Treasury Stock on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, SJI issued 146,270 shares to its Officers and other key employees at a market value of $3.6 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, SJI issued 72,470 shares at a market value of $2.1 million. These issued shares include shares deferred for payout in prior periods.

SJI also issued 38,456 and 30,961 service-based award shares to its Directors at a market value of $1.2 million and $0.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively.
SJG - Officers and other key employees of SJG participate in the stock-based compensation plans of SJI. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, SJG Officers and other key employees were granted 23,010 and 7,902 shares of SJI restricted stock, respectively, which had an immaterial impact to SJG's financial statements for both periods.