Stock Option and Incentive Plan

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Stock Option and Incentive Plan

16. Stock Option and Incentive Plan

At Boston Properties, Inc.’s 2012 annual meeting of stockholders held on May 15, 2012, its stockholders approved the Boston Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”). The 2012 Plan replaced the 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “1997 Plan”). The material terms of the 2012 Plan include, among other things: (1) the maximum number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2012 Plan is the sum of (i) 13,000,000 newly authorized shares, plus (ii) the number of shares available for grant under the 1997 Stock Plan immediately prior to the effective date of the 2012 Plan, plus (iii) any shares underlying grants under the 1997 Plan that are forfeited, canceled or terminated (other than by exercise) in the future; (2) “full-value” awards (i.e., awards other than stock options) are multiplied by a 2.32 conversion ratio to calculate the number of shares available under the 2012 Plan that are used for each full-value award, as opposed to a 1.0 conversion ratio for each stock option awarded under the 2012 Plan; (3) shares tendered or held back for taxes will not be added back to the reserved pool under the 2012 Plan; (4) stock options may not be re-priced without stockholder approval; and (5) the term of the 2012 Plan is for 10 years from the date of stockholder approval.

On February 5, 2019, Boston Properties, Inc.’s Compensation Committee approved the 2019 MYLTIP awards under the 2012 Plan to certain officers and employees of Boston Properties, Inc. The 2019 MYLTIP awards utilize Boston Properties, Inc.’s TSR over a three-year measurement period, on an annualized, compounded basis, as the performance metric. Earned awards will be based on Boston Properties, Inc.’s TSR relative to the Nareit Office Index, adjusted to include Vornado Realty Trust. Earned awards will range from zero to a maximum of 220,734

LTIP Units depending on Boston Properties, Inc.’s TSR relative to the Nareit Office Index, adjusted to include Vornado Realty Trust, with a target of approximately 110,367 LTIP Units and linear interpolation between zero and maximum. Earned awards (if any) will vest 50% on February 4, 2022 and 50% on February 4, 2023, based on continued employment. Vesting will be accelerated in the event of a change in control, termination of employment by Boston Properties, Inc. without cause, or termination of employment by the award recipient for good reason, death, disability or retirement. If there is a change of control prior to February 4, 2022, earned awards will be calculated based on TSR performance up to the date of the change of control. The 2019 MYLTIP awards are in the form of LTIP Units issued on the grant date which (i) are subject to forfeiture to the extent awards are not earned and (ii) prior to the performance measurement date are only entitled to one-tenth (10%) of the regular quarterly distributions payable on common partnership units. Under ASC 718 “Compensation - Stock Compensation”, the 2019 MYLTIP awards have an aggregate value of approximately $13.5 million, which amount will generally be amortized into earnings over the four year plan period under the graded vesting method.

On February 9, 2019, the measurement period for the Company’s 2016 MYLTIP awards ended and, based on Boston Properties, Inc.’s relative TSR performance, the final awards were determined to be 69.5% of target or an aggregate of approximately $13.6 million (after giving effect to employee separations). As a result, an aggregate of 364,980 2016 MYLTIP Units that had been previously granted were automatically forfeited.

On February 4, 2018, the measurement period for the Company’s 2015 MYLTIP awards ended and, based on Boston Properties, Inc.’s relative TSR performance, the final awards were determined to be 22.0% of target or an aggregate of approximately $3.6 million (after giving effect to employee separations). As a result, an aggregate of 337,847 2015 MYLTIP Units that had been previously granted were automatically forfeited.

On February 3, 2017, the measurement period for the Company’s 2014 MYLTIP awards ended and, based on Boston Properties, Inc.’s relative TSR performance, the final awards were determined to be 27.7% of target or an aggregate of approximately $3.5 million (after giving effect to employee separations and the unallocated reserve). As a result, an aggregate of 447,386 2014 MYLTIP Units that had been previously granted were automatically forfeited.

Boston Properties, Inc. issued 26,503, 20,320 and 37,414 shares of restricted common stock and Boston Properties Limited Partnership issued 181,919, 205,838 and 113,918 LTIP Units to employees and non-employee directors under the 2012 Plan during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Boston Properties, Inc. did not issue any non-qualified stock options under the 2012 Plan during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. Boston Properties Limited Partnership issued 220,734 2019 MYLTIP Units, 342,659 2018 MYLTIP Units and 400,000 2017 MYLTIP Units to employees under the 2012 Plan during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Employees and non-employee directors paid $0.01 per share of restricted common stock and $0.25 per LTIP Unit, OPP Unit and MYLTIP Unit. When issued, LTIP Units are not economically equivalent in value to a share of Common Stock, but over time can increase in value to one-for-one parity with Common Stock if there is sufficient appreciation in the value of the Company’s assets. The aggregate value of the LTIP Units is included in noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Grants of restricted stock and LTIP Units to employees vest in four equal annual installments. Restricted stock is measured at fair value on the date of grant based on the number of shares granted and the closing price of Boston Properties, Inc.’s Common Stock on the date of grant as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. Such value is recognized as an expense ratably over the corresponding employee service period. Non-qualified stock options, which are valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, are recognized as an expense ratably over the corresponding employee service period. As the 2012 OPP Awards, 2013 MYLTIP Awards, 2014 MYLTIP Awards, 2015 MYLTIP Awards, 2016 MYLTIP Awards, 2017 MYLTIP Awards, 2018 MYLTIP Awards and 2019 MYLTIP Awards are subject to both a service condition and a market condition, the Company recognizes the compensation expense related to the 2012 OPP Awards, 2013 MYLTIP Awards, 2014 MYLTIP Awards, 2015 MYLTIP Awards 2016 MYLTIP Awards, 2017 MYLTIP Awards, 2018 MYLTIP Awards and 2019 MYLTIP Awards under the graded vesting attribution method. Under the graded vesting attribution method, each portion of the award that vests at a different date is accounted for as a separate award and recognized over the period appropriate to that portion so that the compensation cost for each portion should be recognized in full by the time that portion vests. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur on its awards of stock-based compensation. Dividends paid on both vested and unvested shares of restricted stock are charged directly to Dividends in Excess of Earnings in Boston Properties, Inc.’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and Partners’ Capital in Boston Properties Limited Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Aggregate stock-based compensation expense associated with restricted stock, non-qualified stock options, LTIP Units, 2013 MYLTIP Units, 2014 MYLTIP Units, 2015 MYLTIP Units, 2016 MYLTIP Units, 2017 MYLTIP Units, 2018 MYLTIP Units and 2019 MYLTIP Units was approximately $39.8 million, $38.0 million and $33.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At December 31,

2019, there was (1) an aggregate of approximately $23.3 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock and LTIP Units and (2) an aggregate of approximately $12.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested 2017 MYLTIP Units, 2018 MYLTIP Units and 2019 MYLTIP Units that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.4 years.

The shares of restricted stock were valued at approximately $3.5 million ($131.27 per share weighted-average), $2.4 million ($119.27 per share weighted-average) and $4.9 million ($130.32 per share weighted-average) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

LTIP Units were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation method model in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718. LTIP Units issued during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were valued at approximately $22.1 million, $22.7 million and $13.6 million, respectively. The weighted-average per unit fair value of LTIP Unit grants in 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $121.50, $110.29 and $119.41, respectively. The per unit fair value of each LTIP Unit granted in 2019, 2018 and 2017 was estimated on the date of grant using the following assumptions; an expected life of 5.7 years, 5.7 years and 5.7 years, a risk-free interest rate of 2.68%, 2.63% and 2.14% and an expected price volatility of 27.0%, 27.0% and 28.0%, respectively. 

There were no non-qualified stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

A summary of the status of Boston Properties, Inc.’s stock options as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and changes during the years then ended are presented below:

	Shares		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	547,129		$	96.38
Exercised	(6,688	)	$	99.15
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	540,441		$	96.35
Exercised	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2018	540,441		$	96.35
Exercised	(145,088	)	$	96.27
Outstanding at December 31, 2019	395,353		$	96.37

 

The following table summarizes information about Boston Properties, Inc.’s stock options outstanding at December 31, 2019: 

Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Number Outstanding at 12/31/19	Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	Exercise Price		Number Exercisable at 12/31/19	Exercise Price
81,458	1.1 years	$	86.86	81,458	$	86.86
54,282	3.3 years	$	95.69	54,282	$	95.69
142,422	3.1 years	$	98.46	142,422	$	98.46
117,191	2.1 years	$	100.77	117,191	$	100.77

 

The total intrinsic value of the outstanding and exercisable stock options as of December 31, 2019 was approximately $16.4 million. In addition, Boston Properties, Inc. had 540,441 options exercisable at a weighted-average exercise price of $96.35 at December 31, 2018 and 2017. 

Boston Properties, Inc. adopted the 1999 Non-Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Stock Purchase Plan”) to encourage the ownership of Common Stock by eligible employees. The Stock Purchase Plan became effective on January 1, 1999 with an aggregate maximum of 250,000 shares of Common Stock available for issuance. The Stock Purchase Plan provides for eligible employees to purchase on the business day immediately following the end of the biannual purchase periods (i.e., January 1-June 30 and July 1-December 31) shares of Common Stock at a purchase price equal to 85% of the average closing prices of the Common Stock during the last ten business days of the purchase period. Boston Properties, Inc. issued 5,862, 6,268 and 6,317 shares with the weighted-average purchase price equal to $104.11 per share, $107.20 per share and $105.97 per share under the Stock Purchase Plan during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.