Share-based compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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

Share-based compensation

Share-based compensation

The Chubb Limited 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2016 LTIP) permits grants of incentive and non-qualified stock options; restricted stock and restricted stock units; and performance-based restricted stock awards. The incentive and non-qualified stock options are granted 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 and typically vest in equal annual installments over the vesting period, which is also the requisite service period. On February 23, 2017, Chubb granted 2,065,620 stock options with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $22.97 each estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The service-based restricted stock and restricted stock units are generally granted with a 4-year vesting period, based on a graded vesting schedule.

Performance-based restricted stock awards granted prior to January 2017 comprised target awards which have four installments that vest annually based on tangible book value (shareholders' equity less goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax) 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 terms of performance-based restricted stock awards granted beginning in January 2017 were updated to now include a 3-year cliff vesting provision in place of the 4-year graded vesting period. In addition, these awards now include an additional vesting criteria based on the P&C combined ratio compared to a defined group of peer companies as well as an additional vesting provision for premium awards based on total shareholder return (TSR) compared to a defined group of peer companies.

Chubb's restricted stock is granted at market close price on the grant date. On February 23, 2017, Chubb granted 1,105,118 service-based restricted stock awards, 326,272 service-based restricted stock units, and 202,251 performance-based stock awards to employees and officers with a grant date fair value of $139.01 each. Each restricted stock unit represents our obligation to deliver to the holder one Common Share upon vesting.