Stock Option and Incentive Plan

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock Option and Incentive Plan

13. Stock Option and Incentive Plan

On January 25, 2023, BXP’s Compensation Committee approved the grant of 2023 MYLTIP awards under the Boston Properties, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to certain executive officers of BXP, effective February 7, 2023. The 2023 MYLTIP awards consist of two, equally weighted (50% each) components that utilize BXP’s TSR over a three-year measurement period as the performance metric.

Total earned awards under the 2023 MYLTIP, if any, will equal the sum of the number of LTIP Units earned under the first and second components and will range from zero to a maximum of 322,053 LTIP Units with a target of approximately 161,026 LTIP Units and linear interpolation between zero and maximum. Earned awards (if any) will vest 100% on February 6, 2026, but, in general, may not be converted, redeemed, sold or otherwise transferred for one additional year thereafter. The 2023 MYLTIP awards are in the form of LTIP Units issued on the grant date, and they are subject to forfeiture to the extent awards are not earned. Prior to the performance measurement date holders of the 2023 MYLTIP Units are only entitled to one-tenth (10%) of the regular quarterly distributions payable on common partnership units. Following the completion of the three-year performance period, the Company will also make a “catch-up” cash payment on the 2023 MYLTIP Units that are ultimately earned in an amount equal to the regular and special distributions, if any, declared during the performance period on BXP’s Common Stock, less the distributions actually paid to holders of 2023 MYLTIP Units during the performance period on all of the awarded 2023 MYLTIP Units. Under ASC 718 “Compensation - Stock Compensation,” the 2023 MYLTIP awards have an aggregate value of approximately $13.1 million, which amount will generally be amortized into earnings under the graded vesting method.

On February 3, 2023, the measurement period for the Company’s 2020 MYLTIP awards ended and, based on BXP’s relative TSR performance, the final payout was determined to be 50% of target, or an aggregate of approximately $3.8 million (after giving effect to employee separations). As a result, an aggregate of 152,460 2020 MYLTIP Units that had been previously granted were automatically forfeited.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, BXP issued 73,414 shares of restricted common stock and BPLP issued 430,824 LTIP Units and 322,053 2023 MYLTIP Units to employees and non-employee directors under the 2021 Plan. Employees and non-employee directors paid $0.01 per share of restricted common stock and $0.25 per LTIP Unit and 2023 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 of BXP and BPLP. A substantial majority of the grants of restricted common stock and LTIP Units to employees vest in four equal annual installments. Restricted common stock is measured at fair value on the date of grant based on the number of shares granted and the closing price of BXP’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. The shares of restricted common stock granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were valued at approximately $5.4 million. The LTIP Units granted were valued at approximately $29.4 million using a Monte Carlo simulation method model. Because the 2012 OPP Units and 2013 - 2023 MYLTIP Units are subject to both a service condition and a market condition, the Company recognizes the related compensation expense 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, LTIP Units and MYLTIP Units was approximately $4.8 million and $7.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $45.7 million and $43.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. At September 30, 2023, there was (1) an aggregate of approximately $25.1 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock, LTIP Units and 2020 MYLTIP Units and (2) an aggregate of approximately $0.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested 2021 - 2023 MYLTIP Units that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.5 years.