Share-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Restricted Shares

The following table summarizes restricted shares activity under our share-based compensation plans for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


	Number of Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested as of December 31, 2023	353,455	$	25.82
Granted	135,481	$	24.56
Forfeited	(7,131)	$	26.01
Vested	(121,702)	$	26.06
Unvested as of March 31, 2024	360,103	$	25.26

Restricted shares granted to employees generally vest based on increments and over periods of time set forth under the terms of the respective awards provided that the employee remains employed by us. Restricted shares granted to non-employee Trustees vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the Trustee remains in his or her position.

The aggregate intrinsic value of restricted shares that vested was $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Profit Interest Units in CDPLP (“PIUs”)

We granted two forms of PIUs: time-based PIUs (“TB-PIUs”); and performance-based PIUs (“PB-PIUs”). TB-PIUs are subject to forfeiture restrictions until the end of the requisite service period, at which time the TB-PIUs automatically convert into vested PIUs. PB-PIUs are subject to a market condition in that the number of earned awards are determined at the end of the performance period (as described further below) and then settled in vested PIUs. Vested PIUs automatically convert into common units in CDPLP if, or when, a book-up event (as defined under federal income tax regulations) has occurred and carry substantially the same rights to distributions as common units.

TB-PIUs

The following table summarizes TB-PIUs activity under our share-based compensation plans for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


	Number of TB-PIUs	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested as of December 31, 2023	194,415	$	25.76
Granted	110,203	$	24.56

Vested	(75,485)	$	26.08
Unvested as of March 31, 2024	229,133	$	25.08

TB-PIUs granted to senior management team members vest based on increments and over periods of time set forth under the terms of the respective awards provided that the employee remains employed by us. TB-PIUs granted to non-employee Trustees vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the Trustee remains in his or her position. Prior to vesting, TB-PIUs carry substantially the same rights to distributions as common units but carry no redemption rights.

The aggregate intrinsic value of TB-PIUs that vested was $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

PB-PIUs

On January 1, 2024, we granted certain senior management team members 299,766 PB-PIUs with a three-year performance period concluding on the earlier of December 31, 2026 or the date of: (1) termination by us without cause, death or disability of the employee or constructive discharge of the employee (collectively, “qualified termination”); or (2) a sale event.

The number of earned awards following the end of the performance period will be determined based on the percentile rank of COPT Defense’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) relative to a peer group of companies, as set forth in the following schedule:


Percentile Rank						Earned PB-PIUs Payout %
75th or greater						100% of PB-PIUs granted
50th (target)						50% of PB-PIUs granted
25th						25% of PB-PIUs granted
Below 25th						0% of PB-PIUs granted

If the percentile rank exceeds the 25th percentile and is between two of the percentile ranks set forth in the table above, then the percentage of the earned awards will be interpolated between the ranges set forth in the table above to reflect any performance between the listed percentiles. If COPT’s TSR is negative when its TSR’s percentile rank exceeds the 50th percentile, then the earned PB-PIU payout percentage used to arrive at the earned awards would be reduced by 12.5 percentage points, but in no event to a payout percentage of less than 50% of PB-PIUs granted; however, the resulting reduction in earned awards would subsequently be deemed earned awards if COPT Defense’s TSR becomes positive on any date in the calendar year following the end of the performance period. In addition, regardless of COPT Defense’s TSR relative to the peer group, no less than 50% (target) of the PB-PIUs granted will be earned if COPT Defense’s TSR is at least 10% and no less than 25% of the PB-PIUs granted will be earned if COPT Defense’s TSR is at least 6%, with linear interpolation if COPT Defense’s TSR is between 6% and 10%.

During the performance period, PB-PIUs carry rights to distributions equal to 10% of the distribution rights of common units but carry no redemption rights.

Following the end of the performance period, we will settle the award by issuing vested PIUs equal to: the number of earned awards; and the excess, if any, of (1) the aggregate distributions that would have been paid with respect to vested PIUs issued in settlement of the earned awards through the date of settlement had such vested PIUs been issued on the grant date over (2) the aggregate distributions made on the PB-PIUs through the date of settlement, divided by the price of our common shares over a defined period of time. If a performance period ends due to a sale event or qualified termination, the number of earned awards is prorated based on the portion of the three-year performance period that has elapsed. If employment is terminated by the employee or by us for cause, all PB-PIUs are forfeited.

These PB-PIU grants had an aggregate grant date fair value of $5.4 million ($36.06 per target-level award associated with the grants) that is being recognized over the performance period. The grant date fair value was computed using a Monte Carlo model that included the following assumptions: baseline common share value of $25.63; expected volatility for common shares of 25.9%; and a risk-free interest rate of 4.13%.

Based on COPT Defense’s TSR relative to its peer group of companies, for the 2021 PB-PIUs issued to executives that vested on December 31, 2023, we issued 211,845 PIUs in settlement of the PB-PIUs on February 1, 2024.