XML 31 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.10.0.1
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

In July 2007, the general partner adopted the Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”), which is administered by the compensation committee of the Board. Effective April 29, 2014, the Partnership’s unitholders approved an amendment to the LTIP to increase the number of common units reserved for issuance under the incentive plan to 4,100,000 common units, subject to adjustments for certain events.  Although other types of awards are contemplated under the LTIP, currently outstanding awards include “phantom” units, which convey the right to receive common units upon vesting, and “restricted” units, which are grants of common units restricted until the time of vesting. The phantom unit awards also include distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”).
 
Subject to applicable earning criteria, a DER entitles the grantee to a cash payment equal to the cash distribution paid on an outstanding common unit prior to the vesting date of the underlying award. Recipients of restricted and phantom units are entitled to receive cash distributions paid on common units during the vesting period which are reflected initially as a reduction of partners’ capital. Distributions paid on units which ultimately do not vest are reclassified as compensation expense.  Awards granted to date are equity awards and, accordingly, the fair value of the awards as of the grant date is expensed over the vesting period.  

In connection with each anniversary of joining the Board, restricted common units are granted to the independent directors. The units vest in one-third increments over three years. The following table includes information on outstanding grants made to the directors under the LTIP:
Grant Date
Number of Units
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value(1)
 
Grant Date Total Fair Value
(in thousands)
December 2016
10,950

 
$
6.85

 
$
75

December 2017
15,306

 
$
4.85

 
$
74

_________________
(1)    Fair value is the closing market price on the grant date of the awards.

In addition, the independent directors received common unit grants that have no vesting requirement as part of their compensation. The following table includes information on grants made to the directors under the LTIP that have no vesting requirement:
Grant Date
Number of Units
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value(1)
 
Grant Date Total Fair Value
(in thousands)
December 2016
10,220

 
$
6.85

 
$
70

December 2017
14,286

 
$
4.85

 
$
69

_________________
(1)    Fair value is the closing market price on the grant date of the awards.

The Partnership also grants phantom units to employees. These grants are equity awards under ASC 718 – Stock Compensation and, accordingly, the fair value of the awards as of the grant date is expensed over the vesting period. The following table includes information on the outstanding grants:
Grant Date
Number of Units
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value(1)
 
Grant Date Total Fair Value
(in thousands)
March 2016
416,131

 
$
4.77

 
$
1,985

October 2016
9,960

 
$
5.85

 
$
58

March 2017
323,339

 
$
7.15

 
$
2,312

March 2018
457,984

 
$
4.77

 
$
2,185

_________________
(1)    Fair value is the closing market price on the grant date of the awards.

The unrecognized estimated compensation cost of outstanding phantom and restricted units at June 30, 2018, was $3.1 million, which will be expensed over the remaining vesting period.

The Partnership’s equity-based incentive compensation expense for each of the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018, was $0.6 million. The Partnership’s equity-based incentive compensation expense for each of the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018 was $1.1 million.

Activity pertaining to phantom and restricted common unit awards granted under the LTIP is as follows: 
 
Number of Units
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2017
923,551

 
$
6.29

Granted
457,984

 
4.77

Vested
241,629

 
7.46

Forfeited
10,865

 
5.39

Nonvested at June 30, 2018
1,129,041

 
$
5.88