Earnings per Share

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. The diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation includes the impact of dilutive common stock options, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance share unit awards and convertible securities, if applicable.

A reconciliation of basic average common shares outstanding to diluted average common shares outstanding is as follows (in millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31,		Six Months Ended March 31,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
Basic average common shares outstanding	72.4	73.4	72.3	75.8
Impact of restricted shares, restricted share units and performance share units	1.0	1.1	1.0	1.3


Impact of convertible notes	—	0.8	—	0.9
Diluted average common shares outstanding	73.4	75.3	73.3	78.0

In November 2020, the Board of Directors approved a grant of 0.3 million performance share units to all executives eligible to participate in the long-term incentive plan. Each performance share unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock or its cash equivalent upon achievement of certain performance and time vesting criteria. The fair value of each performance share unit was $26.98, which was the company’s share price on the grant date of December 1, 2020. The Board of Directors also approved a grant of 0.3 million restricted share units to these executives. The restricted share units vest at the earlier of three years from the date of grant or upon termination of employment with the company under certain circumstances. The fair value of each restricted share unit was $26.98, which was the company's share price on the grant date of December 1, 2020.

The actual number of performance share units that will vest depends upon the company’s performance relative to the established performance metrics for the three-year performance period of October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023, measured at the end of the performance period. The number of performance share units that vest will depend on adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (which, solely for purposes of our long-term incentive plan, includes an adjustment for the value of deferred tax assets in jurisdictions with net operating loss carry forwards or tax credits) which are each weighted at 50%. The number of performance share units that vest will be between 0% and 200% of the grant date amount of 0.3 million performance share units.

On December 1, 2020, in response to retention and attrition concerns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the company’s incentive compensation plans, and to continue to incentivize executive performance in a difficult and uncertain environment, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors adjusted the threshold level of the performance metrics required to be achieved for payout for the fiscal 2019-2021 performance cycle. The target and maximum levels were not modified. The impact of this adjustment did not have a material impact on the company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.