Stock Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock Based Compensation

STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

Washington REIT maintains short-term (“STIP”) and long-term (“LTIP”) incentive plans that allow for stock based awards to officers and non-officer employees. Stock based awards are provided to officers and non-officer employees, as well as trustees, under the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan which allows for awards in the form of restricted shares, restricted share units, options and other awards up to an aggregate of 2,400,000 shares over the ten-year period in which the plan will be in effect. Restricted share units are converted into shares of our stock upon full vesting through the issuance of new shares.

During the first quarter of 2019, we amended the STIP for executive officers and the STIP and LTIP for non-executive officers and staff to replace the use of core funds available for distribution as a performance metric and performance goal, respectively, with a Leasing Target performance metric and performance goal. Leasing Target means the aggregate annual leasing target amount (measured in square feet of leasing space) as approved by the compensation committee of our board of trustees for a given performance period and performance year, respectively, with respect to our office and retail properties. The amendment became effective as of March 18, 2019 for performance periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

Total Compensation Expense

Total compensation expense recognized in the consolidated financial statements for all outstanding share based awards was $2.8 million and $1.5 million for the 2019 Quarter and 2018 Quarter, respectively.

Restricted Share Awards

The total fair values of restricted share awards vested was $1.3 million and $0.7 million for the 2019 Quarter and 2018 Quarter, respectively.

The total unvested restricted share awards at March 31, 2019 was 447,908 shares, which had a weighted average grant date fair value of $28.00 per share. As of March 31, 2019, the total compensation cost related to unvested restricted share awards was $10.3 million, which we expect to recognize over a weighted average period of 28 months.