Share-based compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Share-based compensation

Share-based compensation

The ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2004 LTIP) permits grants of both incentive and non-qualified stock options principally at an option price per share equal to the grant date fair value of Chubb's Common Shares. Stock options are generally granted with a 3-year vesting period and a 10-year term. Stock options typically vest in equal annual installments over the vesting period, which is also the requisite service period. On February 25, 2016, Chubb granted 1,926,842 stock options with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $21.52 each. The fair value of the options issued is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The 2004 LTIP also permits grants of service-based restricted stock and restricted stock units as well as performance-based restricted stock awards. Chubb generally grants service-based restricted stock and restricted stock units with a 4-year vesting period, based on a graded vesting schedule. The performance-based stock awards comprise target awards which have four installments that vest annually based on tangible book value (shareholders' equity less goodwill and intangible assets) per share growth compared to a defined group of peer companies, and premium awards, which are earned only if tangible book value per share growth over the cumulative 4-year period after the grant of the associated target awards exceeds a higher threshold compared to our peer group. The restricted stock is granted at market close price on the grant date. On February 25, 2016, Chubb granted 1,119,686 service-based restricted stock awards, 337,581 service-based restricted stock units, and 452,820 performance-based awards to employees and officers with a grant date fair value of $118.39 each. Each restricted stock unit represents our obligation to deliver to the holder one Common Share upon vesting.

In connection with the Chubb Corp acquisition, we assumed outstanding equity awards consisting of service-based restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock units, and stock options issued by Chubb Corporation to employees and directors with a fair value of approximately $525 million, of which $323 million is attributed to purchase consideration for the acquisition. These awards were generally granted with a 3-year vesting period, and the stock options generally have a 10-year term.