QEP issues stock options and restricted shares under its LTSIP and awards performance share units under its CIP to certain officers, employees, and non-employee directors. QEP recognizes expense over time as the stock options, restricted shares, and performance share units vest. Deferred equity-based compensation is included in additional paid-in capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There were 10.8 million shares available for future grants under the LTSIP at December 31, 2014. Equity-based compensation expense is recognized in "General and administrative" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and expenses related to discontinued operations (including compensation expense related to the QEP Midstream Long Term Incentive Plan) are reflected in "Discontinued operations, net of income tax". During the year ended December 31, 2014 for continuing operations, QEP recognized $21.4 million in total compensation expense related to equity-based compensation compared to $25.7 million and $25.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. For discontinued operations during the year ended December 31, 2014, QEP recognized $5.8 million in total compensation expense related to equity based compensation, compared to $1.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2013.

Stock Options

QEP uses the Black-Scholes-Merton mathematical model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards at the date of the grant. Fair-value calculations rely upon subjective assumptions used in the mathematical model and may not be representative of future results. The Black-Scholes-Merton model is intended for measuring the value of options traded on an exchange. The Company utilizes the "simplified" method to estimate the expected term of the stock options granted as there is limited historical exercise data available in estimating the expected term of the stock options. QEP uses a historical volatility method to estimate the fair value of stock options awards and the risk-free interest rate is based on the yield on U.S. Treasury strips with maturities similar to those of the expected term of the stock options. The stock options typically vest in equal installments over a three-year period from the grant date and are exercisable immediately upon vesting through the seventh anniversary of the grant date. To fulfill options exercised, QEP either reissues treasury stock or issues new shares.

The calculated fair value of options granted and major assumptions used in the model at the date of grant are listed below:



	Stock Option Variables
	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of awards granted during the period	$	10.11		$	15.16		$	14.29
Risk-free interest rate range	1.31% - 1.34%			0.97% - 1.84%			0.63% - 1.04%
Weighted-average risk-free interest rate	1.3		%	1.0		%	0.8		%
Expected price volatility range	36.1% - 37.3%			51.5% - 58.5%			55.9% - 56.5%
Weighted-average expected price volatility	37.1		%	58.3		%	55.9		%
Expected dividend yield	0.25		%	0.27		%	0.26		%
Expected term in years at the date of grant	4.5			5.5			5.0

Stock option transactions under the terms of the LTSIP are summarized below:



	Options Outstanding		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
			(per share)		(in years)	(in millions)
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,794,187		$	27.90
Granted	282,236		31.67
Exercised	(65,366	)	22.24
Forfeited	(14,842	)	30.53
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	1,996,215		$	28.60	3.18	$	0.1
Options Exercisable at December 31, 2014	1,494,061		$	27.80	2.39	$	0.1
Unvested Options at December 31, 2014	502,154		$	30.98	5.51	$	—

The total intrinsic value (the difference between the market price at the exercise date and the exercise price) of options exercised was $0.6 million, $4.3 million and $9.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company realized no income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2014, and $1.4 million, and $4.6 million of income tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which increased its Additional Paid-in-Capital (APIC) pool by $6.5 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, $2.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options granted under the LTSIP is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.87 years. During the year ended December 31, 2014, QEP issued shares for stock option exercises from its treasury stock and received $1.5 million in cash in relation to the exercise of stock options.

Restricted Shares

Restricted share grants typically vest in equal installments over a three-year period from the grant date. The grant date fair value is determined based on the closing bid price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. The total fair value of restricted stock that vested during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $26.8 million, $19.8 million and $16.7 million, respectively. The Company realized an income tax expense of $0.5 million, $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Restricted stock increased the Company's APIC pool by $0.3 million as of December 31, 2014. The weighted average grant-date fair value of restricted stock granted during the years was $31.40 per share, $30.06 per share and $30.54 per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, $18.3 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted shares granted under the LTSIP is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average vesting period of 2.10 years.

Transactions involving restricted shares under the terms of the LTSIP are summarized below:



	Restricted Shares Outstanding		Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
			(per share)
Unvested balance at December 31, 2013	1,388,953		$	30.96
Granted	1,033,023		31.40
Vested	(855,720	)	31.39
Forfeited	(139,803	)	31.00
Unvested balance at December 31, 2014	1,426,453		$	31.02

Performance Share Units

The performance share units' cash payouts are dependent upon the Company's total shareholder return compared to a group of its peers over a three-year period. The awards are denominated in share units but delivered in cash at the end of the performance period. The weighted average grant-date fair values of the performance share units granted during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, were $31.57, $30.12, and $30.75 per unit, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, $2.3 million of unrecognized compensation cost classified as a liability, or the fair market value, related to performance shares granted under the CIP is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average vesting period of 1.90 years.

Transactions involving performance share units under the terms of the CIP are summarized below:



	Performance Share Units Outstanding		Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested balance at December 31, 2013	480,660		$	32.33
Granted	256,101		31.57
Vested	(73,956	)	37.17
Canceled	(83,545	)	35.84
Forfeited	(27,051	)	30.60
Unvested balance at December 31, 2014	552,209		$	30.85