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SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION Share-Based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock Award Plans.  The Third Amended 2003 Plan adopted by the stockholders of Southern Union Company allowed for awards in the form of stock options (either incentive stock options or non-qualified options), SARs, stock bonus awards, restricted stock, performance units or other equity-based rights.  The persons eligible to receive awards under the Third Amended 2003 Plan included all of the employees, directors, officers and agents of, and other service providers to, Southern Union Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries.  Under the Third Amended 2003 Plan: (i) no participant may receive any calendar year awards covering more than 500,000 shares; (ii) the exercise price for a stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant; and (iii) no award may be granted after September 28, 2013.
The fair value of each stock option and SAR award was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company’s expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of Southern Union Company’s common stock. The expected dividend yield was considered for each grant on the date of grant.  The Company used the simplified method in determining the expected term of stock options and SARs granted, which resulted in the use of the average midpoint between vesting of the awards and their contractual term for such estimate.  The Company utilized the simplified method primarily because Southern Union had experienced several acquisitions and divestitures during the contractual period, resulting in a change in the employee mix and an acceleration of certain stock option and SAR exercise activity.  Additionally, Southern Union had not experienced a full life cycle of exercise activity for employees associated with certain of its acquisitions.  Because of the impact of these significant structural changes in Southern Union’s business operations and the resulting variations in employee exercise activity, the historical patterns of such exercise activity was not believed to be indicative of future behavior.  The risk-free rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
All outstanding stock awards vested and were settled in 2012 in connection with the ETE Merger on March 26, 2012; therefore, no 2012 or 2013 amounts have been presented in the following sections.
Stock Options.  The following table provides information on stock options granted, exercised, forfeited, outstanding and exercisable:
 
 
Shares
Under
Option
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Outstanding December 31, 2010
 
203,903

 
$
20.27

Exercised
 
(38,596
)
 
17.56

Outstanding December 31, 2011
 
165,307

 
$
20.90

 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable December 31, 2011
 
165,307

 
20.90


SARS.  The following table provides information on SARs granted, exercised, forfeited, outstanding and exercisable:
 
 
SARs
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Outstanding December 31, 2010
 
616,803

 
$
20.71

Exercised
 
(27,389
)
 
15.87

Forfeited
 
(30,512
)
 
27.41

Outstanding December 31, 2011
 
558,902

 
$
20.58

 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable December 31, 2011
 
423,815

 
19.61


The SARs were scheduled to vest in equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date. Each SAR entitled the holder to shares of Southern Union’s common stock equal to the fair market value of Southern Union’s common stock on the applicable exercise date in excess of the grant date price for each SAR.
The total fair value of options and SARs vested as of December 31, 2011 was $4 million.  Compensation expense recognized related to stock options and SARs was approximately $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The aggregate intrinsic value of total options and SARs outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2011 was $16 million and $13 million, respectively.  The intrinsic value of options and SARs exercised during the year ended December 31, 2011 was approximately $1 million.
Restricted Stock Equity and Liability Units.  The Third Amended 2003 Plan also provided for grants of restricted stock equity units, which were settled in shares of Southern Union Company common stock, and restricted stock liability units, which were settled in cash.  The restrictions associated with a grant of restricted stock equity units under the Third Amended 2003 Plan generally expired equally over a period of three years.  Restrictions on restricted stock liability units expired at the end of the applicable period, which was also the requisite service period.
There were no restricted stock equity awards granted during the year ended December 31, 2011.
The following table provides information on restricted stock liability awards granted, released and forfeited for the periods presented.
 
 
Number of Restricted
Stock Liability Units
Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Restricted shares at December 31, 2010
 
165,870

 
$
20.68

Granted
 
51,611

 
42.08

Released
 
(87,509
)
 
18.47

Forfeited
 
(4,918
)
 
18.97

Restricted shares at December 31, 2011
 
125,054

 
$
31.15


The total fair value of restricted stock liability units that were released during the year ended December 31, 2011 was $4 million.  Compensation expense recognized related to restricted stock equity and liability units totaled $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.
The Company settled the restricted stock liability units released in 2011 with cash payments of $4 million.