Stock-Based Compensation Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

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

Summary Description of Stock Incentive Plans

As of December 31, 2019, AWR has three active stock incentive plans: the 2016 stock incentive plan for its employees, and the 2003 and 2013 non-employee directors plans for its Board of Directors, each more fully described below.

2016 Employee Plans — AWR adopted this employee plan, following shareholder approval, to provide stock-based incentive awards in the form of restricted stock units, stock options and restricted stock to employees as a means of promoting the success of Registrant by attracting, retaining and more fully aligning the interests of employees with those of customers and shareholders. The 2016 employee plan also provides for the grant of performance awards. There are no stock options or restricted stock grants currently outstanding. For restricted stock unit awards, the Compensation Committee determines the specific terms, conditions and provisions relating to each restricted stock unit. Each employee who has been granted a time-vested restricted stock unit is entitled to dividend equivalent rights in the form of additional restricted stock units until vesting of the time-vested restricted stock units. In general, time-vested restricted stock units vest over a period of 3 years. Restricted stock units may also vest upon retirement if the grantee is at least 55 and the sum of the grantee's age and years of service are equal to or greater than 75, or upon death or total disability. In addition, restricted stock units may vest following a change in control if the Company terminates the grantee other than for cause or the employee terminates employment for good reason. Each restricted stock unit is non-voting and entitles the holder of the restricted stock unit to receive one Common Share.

The Compensation Committee also has the authority to determine the number, amount or value of performance awards, the duration of the performance period or performance periods applicable to the award and the performance criteria applicable to each performance award for each performance period. Each outstanding performance award granted by the Compensation Committee has been in the form of restricted stock units that generally vest over a period of three years as provided in the performance award agreement. The amount of the performance award paid to an employee depends upon satisfaction of performance criteria following the end of a three-year performance period. Performance awards may also vest and be payable upon retirement if the grantee is at least 55 and the sum of the grantee's age and years of service are equal to or greater than 75, or upon death or total disability. In addition, performance awards may vest following a change in control if the Company terminates the grantee other than for cause or the employee terminates employment for good reason. The amount of the payment for performance awards granted will be at target in the event of death or a termination of employment (other than for cause) by the Company or termination by the employee for good reason within 24 months after a change in control. In all other circumstances, adjustments will be made to the amount of the payment to take into account the shortened performance period

2003 and 2013 Directors Plans — The Board of Directors and shareholders of AWR have approved the 2003 and 2013 directors plans in order to provide the non-employee directors with supplemental stock-based compensation to encourage them to increase their stock ownership in AWR. Grants may not be made under the 2003 directors plan. Non-employee directors are entitled to receive restricted stock units in an amount determined by the Board of Directors. This amount may not exceed two times the annual retainer paid to directors. Effective for grants of restricted stock units to non-employee directors after 2012, such units are convertible to AWR's Common Shares 90 days after the grant date.

All non-employee directors of AWR who were directors of AWR at the 2003 annual meeting have also received restricted stock units, which will be distributed upon termination of the director's service as a director.

All restricted stock units and performance awards have been granted with dividend equivalent rights payable in the form of additional restricted stock units.

Recognition of Compensation Expense

Registrant recognizes compensation expense related to the fair value of stock-based compensation awards. Share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). Immediate vesting occurs if the employee is at least 55 years old and the sum of the employee’s age and years of employment is equal to or greater than 75. Registrant assumes that pre-vesting forfeitures will be minimal, and recognizes pre-vesting forfeitures as they occur, which results in a reduction in compensation expense.

The following table presents share-based compensation expenses for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. These expenses resulting from restricted stock units, including performance awards, are included in administrative and general expenses in AWR's and GSWC’s statements of income:



	AWR						GSWC
	For The Years Ended December 31,						For The Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2019		2018		2017		2019		2018		2017
Stock-based compensation related to:
Restricted stock units	$	2,517	$	3,851	$	2,885	$	2,253	$	3,397	$	2,420
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	2,517	$	3,851	$	2,885	$	2,253	$	3,397	$	2,420

Equity-based compensation cost capitalized as part of GSWC's utility plant for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $265,000, $199,000 and $195,000, respectively, for both AWR and GSWC. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, AWR recorded approximately $1.8 million, $1.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of tax benefits from stock-based awards. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, GSWC recorded approximately $1.8 million, $1.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of tax benefits from stock-based awards.

Registrant amortizes stock-based compensation over the requisite (vesting) period for the entire award. Time-vesting restricted stock units vest and become nonforfeitable in installments of 33% the first two years and 34% in the third year, starting one year from the date of the grant. Outstanding performance awards vest and become nonforfeitable in installments of 33% the first two years and 34% in the third year and are distributed at the end of the performance period if the performance criteria set forth in the award agreement are satisfied.

Restricted Stock Units (Time-Vested) — A restricted stock unit (“RSU”) represents the right to receive a share of AWR’s Common Shares and are valued based on the fair market value of AWR's Common Shares on the date of grant. The fair value of RSUs were determined based on the closing trading price of Common Shares on the grant date. A summary of the status of Registrant’s outstanding RSUs, excluding performance awards, to employees and directors as of December 31, 2019, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2019, is presented below:



	Number of Restricted Share Units		Weighted Average Grant-Date Value
Restricted share units at January 1, 2019	102,235		$	34.73
Granted	23,550		67.57
Vested	(48,017	)	30.99
Forfeited	(2,697	)	48.64
Restricted share units at December 31, 2019	75,071		$	46.92

As of December 31, 2019, there was approximately $390,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to time-vested restricted stock units granted under AWR’s employee stock plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.55 years.

Restricted Stock Units (Performance Awards) – During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Compensation Committee granted performance awards in the form of restricted stock units to officers of the Registrant. A performance award represents the right to receive a share of AWR's Common Shares if specified performance goals are met over the performance period specified in the grant (generally three years). Each grantee of any outstanding performance award may earn between 0% and 200% of the target amount depending on Registrant's performance against performance goals, which are determined by the Compensation Committee on the date of grant. As determined by the Compensation Committee, the performance awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 included various performance-based conditions and one market-based condition related to total shareholder return ("TSR") that will be earned based on Registrant’s TSR compared to the TSR for a specific peer group of investor-owned water companies.

A summary of the status of Registrant’s outstanding performance awards to officers as of December 31, 2019, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2019, is presented below:



	Number of Performance awards		Weighted Average Grant-Date Value
Performance awards at January 1, 2019	95,661		$	45.36
Granted	22,035		65.86
Performance criteria adjustment	1,772		38.14
Vested	(33,080	)	41.15
Forfeited	(1,739	)	61.74
Performance awards at December 31, 2019	84,649		$	51.85

A portion of the fair value of performance awards was estimated at the grant date based on the probability of satisfying the market-based condition using a Monte-Carlo simulation model, which assesses the probabilities of various outcomes of the market condition. The portion of the fair value of the performance awards associated with performance-based conditions was based on the fair market value of AWR's Common Shares at the grant date. The fair value of each outstanding performance award grant is amortized into compensation expense in installments of 33% the first two years and 34% in the third year of their respective vesting periods, which is generally over 3 years unless earlier vested pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The accrual of compensation costs is based on the estimate of the final expected value of the award and is adjusted as required for the portion based on the performance-based condition. Unlike the awards with performance-based conditions, for the portion based on the market-based condition, compensation cost is recognized, and not reversed, even if the market condition is not achieved, as required by the accounting guidance for share-based awards. As of December 31, 2019, $245,000 of unrecognized compensation costs related to performance awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.07 years.