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Stock Based Compensation | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block |
Stock Based Compensation | NOTE 17 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION TDS Consolidated The following table summari zes stock-based compensation expense recognized during 2014, 2013 and 2012:
Year Ended December 31, | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
(Dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock option awards | $ | 15,802 |  | $ | 12,973 |  | $ | 20,884
Restricted stock unit awards |  | 17,968 |  |  | 15,535 |  |  | 19,025
Deferred compensation bonus and matching stock unit awards |  | 690 |  |  | 550 |  |  | 749
Awards under Non-Employee Director compensation plan |  | 1,333 |  |  | 1,280 |  |  | 1,213
Total stock-based compensation, before income taxes |  | 35,793 |  |  | 30,338 |  |  | 41,871
Income tax benefit |  | (13,519) |  |  | (11,459) |  |  | (15,848)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes | $ | 22,274 |  | $ | 18,879 |  | $ | 26,023
At December 31, 2014, unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards was $39.0 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years. The following table provides a summary of the stock-based compensation expense included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years ended:
December 31, |  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |  |  | 2012
(Dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative expense | $ | 32,505 |  | $ | 27,130 |  | $ | 38,563
Cost of services and products |  | 3,288 |  |  | 3,208 |  |  | 3,308
Total stock-based compensation | $ | 35,793 |  | $ | 30,338 |  | $ | 41,871
TDS' tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock options and other awards totaled $8.6 million in 2014. TDS (excluding U.S. Cellular) The information in this section relates to stock-based compensation plans using the equity instruments of TDS. Participants in these plans are employees of TDS Corporate and TDS Telecom an d Non-employee Directors of TDS. Information related to plans using the equity instruments of U.S. Cellular are shown in the U.S. Cellular section following the TDS section. Under the TDS Long-Term Incentive Plans, TDS may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. . TDS had reserved 17,971,000 Common Shares a t December 31, 2014 for equity awards granted and to be granted under the TDS Long-Term Incentive Plan s in effect. At December 31, 2014, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards. TDS has also established a Non-Employee Directors' compensation plan under which it has reserved 167,000 TDS Commo n Shares at December 31, 2014 for issuance as compensation to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of TDS. TDS uses treasury stock to satisfy requirements for shares issued pursuant to its various stock-based compensation plans. Long-Term Incentive Plan—Stock Options—Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over periods up to three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 expire between 2015 and 2024. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee's termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of TDS common stock on the date of grant.
TDS estimated the fair value of stock options granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 using the Black Scholes valuation model and the assumptions shown in the table below:
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Expected life | 5.8 Years |  |  | 5.7 Years |  |  | 5.5 Years |
Expected annual volatility rate | 39.6 | % |  | 41.0 | % |  | 41.1 | %
Dividend yield | 2.0 | % |  | 2.3 | % |  | 2.4 | %
Risk-free interest rate | 1.8 | % |  | 1.0 | % |  | 0.9 | %
Estimated annual forfeiture rate | 2.9 | % |  | 2.9 | % |  | 2.9 | %
Prior to 2013, the fair value of options was recognized as compensation cost using an accelerated attribution method over the requisite service periods of the awards, which was generally the vesting period. Beginning with grants in 2013, stock option awards cliff vest in three years. Therefore, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. A summary of TDS stock options (total and portion exercisable) and changes during the three years ended December 31, 2014, is presented in the table s and narrative below.
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Weighted
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Average
|  |  |  | Weighted |  | Weighted |  |  |  |  | Remaining
|  |  |  | Average |  | Average |  | Aggregate |  | Contractual
|  | Number of |  | Exercise |  | Grant Date |  | Intrinsic |  | Life
Common Share Options |  | Options |  | Prices |  | Fair Value |  | Value |  | (in years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2011 |  | 7,216,000 |  | $ | 33.89 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(4,865,000 exercisable) |  |  |  |  | 36.67 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  | 1,702,000 |  |  | 20.79 |  | $ | 6.28 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  | (1,000) |  |  | 20.65 |  |  |  |  | $ | 4,000 |  |
Forfeited |  | (106,000) |  |  | 23.81 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expired |  | (298,000) |  |  | 30.12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2012 |  | 8,513,000 |  | $ | 31.53 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(5,782,000 exercisable) |  |  |  |  | 35.12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  | 1,259,000 |  |  | 22.60 |  | $ | 7.01 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  | (683,000) |  |  | 25.33 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,450,000 |  |
Forfeited |  | (81,000) |  |  | 23.75 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expired |  | (228,000) |  |  | 34.10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2013 |  | 8,780,000 |  | $ | 30.74 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(6,160,000 exercisable) |  |  |  |  | 34.13 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  | 930,000 |  |  | 26.83 |  | $ | 8.66 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  | (40,000) |  |  | 21.28 |  |  |  |  | $ | 174,000 |  |
Forfeited |  | (73,000) |  |  | 23.05 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expired |  | (457,000) |  |  | 34.55 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 |  | 9,140,000 |  | $ | 30.25 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,651,000 |  | 5.6
(6,487,000 exercisable) |  |  |  | $ | 32.93 |  |  |  |  | $ | 4,143,000 |  | 4.5
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between TDS' closing stock prices and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that was received by the option holders upon exercise or that would have been received by option holders had all options been exercised on December 31, 2014. Long-Term Incentive Plan s—Restricted Stock Units—TDS also grants restricted stock unit awards to key employees. Each outstanding restricted stock unit is convertible into one Common Share Award. The restricted stock unit awards currently outstanding were granted in 2013 and 2014 and will vest in May 2016 and 2017, respectively. TDS estimates the fair value of restricted stock units by reduc ing the grant-date price of TDS' shares by the present value of the dividends expected to be paid on the underlying shares during the requisite service period, discounted at the appropriate risk-free interest rate, since employees are not entitled to dividends declared on the underlying shares while the restricted stock or RSU is unvested. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
A summary of TDS nonvested restricted stock units and changes during the year ended December 31, 2014 is presented in the table below:
Common Restricted Stock Units |  | Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2013 |  | 663,000 |  | $ | 20.43
Granted |  | 355,000 |  | $ | 25.26
Vested |  | (300,000) |  | $ | 19.68
Forfeited |  | (26,000) |  | $ | 21.31
Nonvested at December 31, 2014 |  | 692,000 |  | $ | 23.20
The total fair values as of the respective vesting dates of restricted stock units vested during 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $7.5 million, $5.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $25.26, $21.09 and $19.62, respectively. Long-Term Incentive Plan s—Deferred Compensation Stock Units—Certain TDS employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units. The amount of TDS' matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% stock unit match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units. The total fair values of deferred compensation stock units that vested during 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of deferred compensation stock units granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $23.27, $21.99 and $24.18, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there were 249,000 vested but unissued deferred compensat ion stock units valued at $6.3 million. Compensation of Non-Employee Directors—TDS issued 33,000, 33,000 and 22,000 Common Shares u nder its Non-Employee Director plan in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Dividend Reinvestment Plans (“DRIP”)—T DS had reserved 1,028,000 Common Shares at December 31, 2014, for issuance under Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plans and 141,000 Series A Common Shares for issuance under the Series A Common Share Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan. These plans enable d holders of TDS' Commo n Shares and Preferred Shares to reinvest cash divid ends in Common Shares and holders of Series A Common Shares to reinvest cash dividends in Series A Common Shares. The purchase price of the shares is 95% of the market value, based on the average of the daily high and low sales p rices for TDS' Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten trading days preceding the date on which the purchase is made. T hese plans are considered non-compensatory plans, therefore no compensation expense is recognized for stock issued under these plans. U.S. Cellular The information in this section relates to stock-based compensation plans using the equity instruments of U.S. Cellular. Participants in these plans are empl oyees of U.S. Cellular and Non-e mployee D irectors of U.S. Cellular. Information related to plans using the equity instruments of TDS are shown in the previous section. U.S. Cellular has established the following stock-based compensation pla ns: long-term incentive plan s and a Non-E mployee D irector compensation plan. Under the U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans, U.S. Cellular may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. At December 31, 2014, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards. On June 25, 2013, U.S. Cellular paid a special cash dividend to all holders of U.S. Cellular Common Shares and Series A Common Shares as of June 11, 2013. Outstanding U.S. Cellular stock options, restricted stock unit awards and deferred compensation stock units were equitably adjusted for the special cash dividend. The impact of such adjustments are fully reflected for all years presented. See Note 5 – Earnings Per Share for additional information. At December 31, 2014, U.S. Cellular had reserved 9,782,000 Common Shares for equity awards granted and to be granted under the Long-Term Incentive P lan s. U.S. Cellu lar also has established a Non-E mployee Direc tor compensation p lan under which it has reserved 197,000 Common Shares at December 31, 2014 for issuance as compensation to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of U.S. Cellular or TDS. U.S. Cellular uses treasury stock to satisfy requirements for Common Shares issued pursuant to its various stock-based compensation plans. Long-Term Incentive Plan s—Stock Options—Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over a period of three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 expire between 2015 and 2024. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee's termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of U.S. Cellular Common Shares on the date of grant.
U.S. Cellular estimated the fair value of stock options granted during 2014, 2013, and 2012 using the Black-Scholes valuation model and the assumptions shown in the table below.
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Expected life |  | 4.5 years |  | 4.6-9.0 years |  | 4.5 years
Expected annual volatility rate |  | 28.0%-28.1% |  | 29.2%-39.6% |  | 40.7%-42.6%
Dividend yield |  | 0% |  | 0% |  | 0%
Risk-free interest rate |  | 1.4%-1.5% |  | 0.7%-2.4% |  | 0.5%-0.9
Estimated annual forfeiture rate |  | 9.4% |  | 0.0%-8.1% |  | 0.0%-9.1%
The fair value of options is recognized as compensation cost using an accelerated attribution method over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. A summary of U.S. Cellular stock options outstanding (total and portion exercisable) and changes during the three years ended December 31, 2014, is presented in the table below:
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Weighted
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Average
|  |  |  | Weighted |  | Weighted |  |  |  |  | Remaining
|  |  |  | Average |  | Average |  | Aggregate |  | Contractual
|  | Number of |  | Exercise |  | Grant Date |  | Intrinsic |  | Life
Common Share Options |  | Options |  | Price |  | Fair Value |  | Value |  | (in years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2011 |  | 2,834,000 |  | $ | 43.07 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(1,533,000 exercisable) |  |  |  |  | 46.23 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  | 677,000 |  |  | 34.91 |  | $ | 12.61 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  | (47,000) |  |  | 29.82 |  |  |  |  | $ | 205,000 |  |
Forfeited |  | (117,000) |  |  | 38.45 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expired |  | (133,000) |  |  | 46.17 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2012 |  | 3,214,000 |  | $ | 41.58 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(1,928,000 exercisable) |  |  |  |  | 43.99 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  | 1,213,000 |  |  | 32.45 |  | $ | 11.53 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  | (892,000) |  |  | 34.78 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,787,000 |  |
Forfeited |  | (574,000) |  |  | 34.17 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expired |  | (247,000) |  |  | 48.35 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2013 |  | 2,714,000 |  | $ | 42.22 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(1,359,000 exercisable) |  |  |  |  | 46.91 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  | 1,116,000 |  |  | 41.21 |  | $ | 10.68 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  | (233,000) |  |  | 32.80 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,966,000 |  |
Forfeited |  | (144,000) |  |  | 35.09 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expired |  | (65,000) |  |  | 45.68 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 |  | 3,388,000 |  | $ | 41.51 |  |  |  |  | $ | 7,495,000 |  | 6.70
(1,586,000 exercisable) |  |  |  | $ | 45.28 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,984,000 |  | 4.40
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between U.S. Cellular's closing stock price and the exercise price multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that was received by the option holders upon exercise or that would have been received by option holders had all options been exercised on December 31, 2014. Long-Term Incentive Plan s—Restricted Stock Units—U.S. Cellular grants restricted stock unit awards, which generally vest after three years, to key employees. U.S. Cellular estimates the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing market price of U.S. Cellular shares on the date of grant. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
A summary of U.S. Cellular nonvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2014 and changes during the year then ended is presented in the table below:
Common Restricted Stock Units |  | Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2013 |  | 1,170,000 |  | $ | 36.46
Granted |  | 370,000 |  |  | 41.24
Vested |  | (274,000) |  |  | 41.92
Forfeited |  | (124,000) |  |  | 34.38
Nonvested at December 31, 2014 |  | 1,142,000 |  | $ | 35.60
The total fair value of restricted stock units that vested during 2014, 2013 and 2012 w as $11.1 million, $8.8 million and $8.9 million, respectively, as of the respective vesting dates. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $41.24, $32.06 and $34.09, respectively. Long-Term Incentive Plan s—Deferred Compensation Stock Units—Certain U.S. Cellular employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units. The amount of U.S. Cellular's matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units. There were no deferred compensation stock units granted or that vested during 2014. The total fair value of deferred compensation stock units that vested during 2013 and 2012 was less than $0.1 million in each year. The weighted average grant date fair value of deferred compensation stock units granted in 2013 and 2012 was $31.50 and $36.34, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there were no vested or unissued deferred c ompensation stock units outstanding. Compensation of Non-Employee Directors—U.S. Cellular issued 14,200, 13,000 and 7,600 C ommon S hares in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, u nder its Non-Employee Director compensation p lan.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for compensation-related costs for equity-based compensation, which may include disclosure of policies, compensation plan details, allocation of equity compensation, incentive distributions, equity-based arrangements to obtain goods and services, deferred compensation arrangements, employee stock ownership plan details and employee stock purchase plan details. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 50 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6406099&loc=d3e25284-112666 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5444-113901 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 14 + Details
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