v3.21.2
SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS  
SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

12. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

Prior to the Separation, certain employees participated in share-based compensation plans of ADS. Under these plans, shares are reserved for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance share awards, cash incentive awards, deferred stock units, and other stock-based and cash-based awards to selected officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants performing services for ADS or its affiliates. Terms of all awards are determined by ADS board of directors or the compensation committee of ADS board of directors or its designee at the time of award.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, ADS awarded both service-based and performance-based restricted stock units. For the service-based awards, the fair value of the restricted stock units is estimated using ADS closing share price on the date of grant and typically vest ratably over a three-year period. The performance-based awards contain pre-defined vesting criteria that permit a range from 0% to 170% to be earned, subject to a market-based condition. The fair market value of these awards is $92.62 and was estimated utilizing Monte Carlo simulations of ADS’ stock price correlation, expected volatility and risk-free rate over a three-year time horizon matching the performance period. If the performance targets are met, the restrictions will lapse with respect to the entire award on February 16, 2024, provided that the participant is employed by ADS on the vesting date.

In connection with the Separation and pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement with ADS, service-based awards granted to Loyalty Ventures employees more than a year prior to the Separation were accelerated and vested on October 22, 2021. Service-based awards and performance-based awards granted to Loyalty Ventures employees less than one year prior to the Separation were forfeited at the time of the Separation and will be replaced with a combination of Loyalty Ventures service-based restricted stock awards and long-term cash incentive awards, to be determined by the Loyalty Ventures Compensation Committee, and a cash payment to be paid by ADS.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s unaudited condensed combined statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

(in thousands)

Cost of operations

$

1,725

$

1,482

$

5,009

$

3,993

General and administrative

 

418

 

344

 

1,313

 

1,191

Total

$

2,143

$

1,826

$

6,322

$

5,184