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Share-Based Compensation Plans
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Share-Based Compensation Plans SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
We use various share-based compensation plans to provide incentives for our key employees and directors. Currently, these incentives primarily consist of RSUs and performance shares.
On May 2, 2006, our stockholders approved the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Equity Plan”). The 2006 Equity Plan is an omnibus plan that provides for a variety of equity and equity-based award vehicles, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, RSUs, performance shares, and other share-based awards. Shares subject to awards that terminate without vesting or exercise are available for future awards under the 2006 Equity Plan. Certain of the awards under the 2006 Equity Plan may qualify as “performance-based” compensation under the IRC.
As amended, there are 13,475,265 total shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2006 Equity Plan, and at October 31, 2020, there were 2,086,078 shares of common stock available for grant for future equity-based compensation awards. In addition, there are certain plans under which we can no longer issue awards, although awards outstanding under these plans may still vest and be exercised.
We also maintain an employee stock purchase plan, which our stockholders approved on March 9, 2004 (the “2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan”). As amended, there are 4,000,000 total shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Effective May 1, 2006, the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is no longer considered compensatory and the values of the awards are no longer treated as share-based compensation expense. Additionally, as of that date, the purchase price became 95% of the fair value of our common stock price on the last trading day of the month. Employees may designate up to 10% of their compensation for the purchase of stock, subject to a $25,000 annual limit. Employees are required to hold their shares for a minimum of six months from the date of purchase. At October 31, 2020, there were 599,159 remaining unissued shares under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Compensation Expense by Type of Award and Related Income Tax Benefit
Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)202020192018
RSUs$11.5 $9.5 $9.3 
Performance shares8.8 8.0 7.7 
Share-based compensation expense before income taxes20.3 17.5 17.0 
Income tax benefit(5.7)(4.9)(5.1)
Share-based compensation expense, net of taxes$14.6 $12.5 $11.8 
RSUs and Dividend Equivalent Rights
We award RSUs to eligible employees and our directors (each, a “Grantee”) that entitle the Grantee to receive shares of our common stock as the units vest. RSUs granted to eligible employees in 2020 generally vest ratably over three years. RSUs granted to eligible employees prior to 2020 generally vest with respect to 50% of the underlying award on the second and fourth anniversary of the award. RSUs granted to directors vest over three years. In general, the receipt of RSUs is subject to the Grantee’s continuing employment or service as a director.
RSUs are credited with dividend equivalent rights that are converted to RSUs at the fair market value of our common stock on the dates the dividend payments are made and are subject to the same terms and conditions as the underlying award.
RSU Activity
Number of
Shares
(in millions)
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at October 31, 20190.7 $36.92 
Granted0.7 36.11 
Vested (including 0.1 shares withheld for income taxes)
(0.2)37.24 
Forfeited(0.1)37.63 
Outstanding at October 31, 20201.1 $36.32 
At October 31, 2020, total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to RSUs was $25.2 million, which is expected to be recognized ratably over a weighted-average vesting period of 1.9 years. In 2020, 2019, and 2018, the weighted-average grant date fair value per share of awards granted was $36.11, $34.48, and $37.98, respectively. In 2020, 2019, and 2018, the total grant date fair value of RSUs vested and converted to shares of ABM common stock was $6.1 million, $10.7 million, and $7.4 million, respectively.
Performance Shares, Including TSR Performance Shares
Performance shares consist of a contingent right to receive shares of our common stock based on performance targets adopted by our Compensation Committee. Performance shares are credited with dividend equivalent rights that will be converted to performance shares at the fair market value of our common stock beginning after the performance targets have been satisfied and are subject to the same terms and conditions as the underlying award.
For certain performance share awards, the number of performance shares that will vest is based on pre-established internal financial performance targets and typically a three-year service and performance period. The number of TSR awards and TSR-modified awards that will vest over the respective three-year performance period is based on our total shareholder return relative to the S&P 600 Small Cap Index for awards that were granted in 2018 and is based on the S&P 1500 Commercial Services & Supplies Index for awards that were granted in 2019 or 2020. Vesting of 0% to 150% of the awards originally granted may occur depending on the respective performance metrics under both award types.
Performance Share Activity
Number of Shares
(in millions)
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
per Share
Outstanding at October 31, 20190.8 $38.06 
Granted0.4 35.92 
Vested (including 0.1 shares withheld for income taxes)
(0.2)37.72 
Performance adjustments(0.1)36.85 
Forfeited(0.1)36.58 
Outstanding at October 31, 20200.8 $37.35 
At October 31, 2020, total unrecognized compensation cost related to performance share awards was $14.4 million, which is expected to be recognized ratably over a weighted-average vesting period of 1.9 years. Except for TSR performance shares, these costs are based on estimated achievement of performance targets and estimated costs are periodically reevaluated. For our TSR performance shares, these costs are based on the fair value of awards at the grant date and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of three years.
In 2020, 2019, and 2018, the weighted-average grant date fair value per share of awards granted was $35.92, $35.44, and $38.53, respectively. In 2020, 2019, and 2018, the total grant date fair value of performance shares vested and converted to shares of ABM common stock was $6.1 million, $6.8 million, and $7.3 million, respectively.
In 2020, 2019, and 2018, we used the Monte Carlo simulation valuation technique to estimate the fair value of TSR performance share grants, which used the assumptions in the table below.
Monte Carlo Assumptions
202020192018
Expected life(1)
2.81 years2.81 years2.81 years
Expected stock price volatility(2)
28.7 %27.7 %21.6 %
Risk-free interest rate(3)
1.5 %2.5 %2.0 %
Stock price(4)
$37.99 $34.92 $39.02 
(1) The expected life represents the remaining performance period of the awards.
(2) The expected volatility for each grant is determined based on the historical volatility of our common stock over a period equal to the remaining term of the performance period from the date of grant for all awards.
(3) The risk-free interest rate is based on the continuous compounded yield on U.S. Treasury Constant Maturity Rates with varying remaining terms; the yield is determined over a time period commensurate with the performance period from the grant date.
(4) The stock price is the closing price of our common stock on the valuation date.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 Years Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)202020192018
Weighted-average fair value of granted purchase rights per share$1.75 $1.77 $1.70 
Common stock issued0.1 0.1 0.1 
Fair value of common stock issued per share$33.18 $33.60 $32.34 
Aggregate purchases$3.5 $4.1 $4.7