Compensation Plans

Jefferies sponsors our following share-based compensation plans: Incentive Compensation Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) and the Deferred Compensation Plan. The outstanding and future share-based awards relating to these plans relate to Jefferies common shares. The fair value of share-based awards is estimated on the date of grant based on the market price of the underlying common stock less the impact of market conditions and selling restrictions subsequent to vesting, if any, and is amortized as compensation expense over the related requisite service periods. We are allocated costs associated with awards granted to our employees under such plans.

In addition, we sponsor non-share-based compensation plans. Non-share-based compensation plans sponsored by us include a profit sharing plan and other forms of restricted cash awards.

The components of total compensation cost associated with certain of our compensation plans are as follows (in millions):



	Three Months Ended August 31,				Nine Months Ended August 31,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Components of compensation cost:
Restricted cash awards	$	60.0	$	65.2	$	183.6	$	188.5
Restricted stock and RSUs (1)	7.1		6.5		21.1		18.0
Profit sharing plan	1.1		1.2		5.6		5.2
Total compensation cost	$	68.2	$	72.9	$	210.3	$	211.7


(1)	Total compensation cost associated with restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) includes the amortization of sign-on, retention and senior executive awards, less forfeitures and clawbacks.

Remaining unamortized amounts related to certain compensation plans at August 31, 2018 are as follows (dollars in millions):



	Remaining Unamortized Amounts		Weighted Average Vesting Period (in Years)
Non-vested share-based awards	$	71.7	3
Restricted cash awards	446.9		2
Total	$	518.6

The following are descriptions of the compensation plans:

Incentive Compensation Plan. The Incentive Compensation Plan (“Incentive Plan”) allows for awards in the form of incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code), nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, performance awards, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents or other share-based awards. RSUs give a participant the right to receive fully vested common shares at the end of a specified deferral period, allowing a participant to hold an interest tied to common stock on a tax deferred basis. Prior to settlement, RSUs carry no voting or dividend rights associated with the stock ownership, but dividend equivalents are accrued to the extent there are dividends declared on the underlying common shares as cash amounts or as deemed reinvestments in additional RSUs. Awards issued and outstanding related to the Incentive Plan relate to shares of Jefferies.

Restricted stock and RSUs may be granted to new employees as sign-on awards, to existing employees as “retention” awards and to certain executive officers as awards for multiple years. Sign-on and retention awards are generally subject to annual ratable vesting over a four-year service period and are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the related four years. Restricted stock and RSUs are granted to certain senior executives with market, performance and service conditions. Market conditions are incorporated into the grant-date fair value of senior executive awards using a Monte Carlo valuation model. Compensation expense for awards with market conditions is recognized over the service period and is not reversed if the market condition is not met. Awards with performance conditions are amortized over the service period if we determine that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan. There is also an ESPP which we consider noncompensatory effective January 1, 2007. The ESPP permits all regular full-time employees and employees who work part time over 20 hours per week to purchase, at a discount, Jefferies common shares. Annual employee contributions are limited to $21,250, are voluntary and made through payroll deduction. The stock purchase price is equal to 95% of the closing price of common stock on the last day of the applicable session (monthly).

Deferred Compensation Plan. There is also a Deferred Compensation Plan (“Deferred Compensation Plan”), which was established in 2001. Eligible employees are able to defer compensation on a pre-tax basis, with deferred amounts deemed invested at a discount in Jefferies common shares, or by allocating among any combination of other investment funds available under the Deferred Compensation Plan. We often invest directly, as a principal, in investments corresponding to the other investment funds, relating to our obligations to perform under the Deferred Compensation Plan. The compensation deferred by our employees is expensed in the period earned. The change in fair value of our investments in assets corresponding to the specified other investment funds are recognized in Principal transaction revenues and changes in the corresponding deferred compensation liability are reflected as Compensation and benefits expense in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Profit Sharing Plan. We have a profit sharing plan, covering substantially all employees, which includes a salary reduction feature designed to qualify under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Restricted Cash Awards. We provide compensation to new and existing employees in the form of loans and/or other cash awards which are subject to ratable vesting terms with service requirements. We amortize these awards to compensation expense over the relevant service period, which is generally considered to start at the beginning of the annual compensation year.