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Equity-Based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Equity Based Compensation [Abstract]  
Equity-Based Compensation

Note 21. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

Partnership Equity-Based Awards

The maximum number of common units that may be delivered with respect to awards under the Plan is 1,505,000. Generally, the Plan provides for grants of restricted units, unit options, performance awards, phantom units, unit awards, unit appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, and other unit-based awards, with various limits and restrictions attached to these awards on a grant-by-grant basis. The Plan is administered by the Board or a committee thereof.

The Board may terminate or amend the Plan at any time with respect to any common units for which a grant has not yet been made. The Board also has the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part of the Plan from time to time, including increasing the number of common units that may be granted, subject to unitholder approval as required by the exchange upon which common units are listed at that time; however, no change in any outstanding grant may be made that would adversely affect the rights of a participant with respect to awards granted to a participant prior to the effective date of such amendment or termination, except that the Board may amend any award to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan will expire on the tenth anniversary of its approval, when common units are no longer available under the Plan for grants or upon its termination by the Board, whichever occurs first.

The table below summarizes our equity-based award activity:

 

 

Employees

 

 

Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phantom Units

 

 

Phantom Performance Units

 

 

Phantom Units

 

 

Total

 

Nonvested at December 31, 2018

 

 

827

 

 

 

13,607

 

 

 

15,580

 

 

 

30,014

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

14,712

 

 

 

18,481

 

 

 

33,193

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

(717

)

 

 

 

 

 

(717

)

Vested

 

 

(827

)

 

 

(27,602

)

 

 

(32,020

)

 

 

(60,449

)

Nonvested at December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,041

 

 

 

2,041

 

Granted

 

 

48,112

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,306

 

 

 

60,418

 

Vested

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,041

)

 

 

(2,041

)

Nonvested at December 31, 2020

 

 

48,112

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,306

 

 

 

60,418

 

The GP Purchase constituted a change in control under the Partnership’s 2012 Incentive Award Plan and accelerated vesting of all outstanding equity-based awards under the Plan, converting such awards into the same number of common units of the Partnership.

Phantom Units

In July 2020, the Partnership granted 4,102 phantom units to each of three non-employee directors of the Board as a portion of director compensation. Such awards will vest in July 2021, conditioned upon continuous service as non-employee directors. These awards were accompanied by tandem distribution equivalent rights that entitle the holder to cash payments equal to the amount of unit distributions authorized to be paid to the holders of our common units.

In November 2020, the Partnership granted 48,112 phantom units to employees of the Topper Group. Of these awards, 50% vest ratably over three years through December 31, 2023 and 50% vest upon the employee’s death, disability or retirement. These awards were accompanied by tandem distribution equivalent rights that entitle the holder to cash payments equal to the amount of unit distributions authorized to be paid to the holders of our common units.

Performance-Based Awards

In November 2020, the Partnership granted performance-based awards with an initial target value of $0.9 million. The performance-based awards vest on December 31, 2023 based on attainment of the performance goals set forth in the award agreements. The performance-based awards are weighted 65% for the increase of funds flow from operations per unit (as defined in the award agreements) and 35% for leverage (as defined in the award agreements), with a performance period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023 and the reference period for the year ended December 31, 2020. The payout value for both performance conditions will be interpolated on a linear basis ranging from 0% to 200%, which will then be multiplied by the initial target value to determine the value of the units to be issued. The value of the units will then be divided by the 20-day volume-weighted average closing price of our common units as of the close of trading on the day before the conversion date to determine the actual number of units to be issued.

Overall

Since we grant awards to employees of the Topper Group who provide services to us under the Topper Group Omnibus Agreement and non-employee directors of the Board, and since the grants may be settled in cash at the discretion of our Board, unvested phantom units and unvested performance-based awards receive fair value variable accounting treatment. As such, they are measured at fair value at each balance sheet reporting date and the cumulative compensation cost recognized is classified as a liability, which is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The balance of the accrual was insignificant at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

We record equity-based compensation as a component of general and administrative expenses in the statements of income. Equity-based compensation expense was $0.1 million for 2020 and $0.9 million for 2019, which includes approximately $0.5 million of expense recognized upon the accelerated vesting of awards concurrent with the GP Purchase. Equity-based compensation expense was insignificant for 2018.

CST Equity-Based Awards

Equity-based compensation expense charged to us under the Circle K Omnibus Agreement amounted to $0.3 million for 2019 and 2018.