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Share-based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation

13 Share-based Compensation

We record share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with ASC 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation”. All share-based payments, including grants of stock options, performance share units, restricted share units and equity rights are recognized in our Consolidated Financial Statements based upon their respective grant date fair value.

Share-based compensation plans for employees were introduced in 2007. Subsequent to becoming a listed company in August 2010, the Company introduced additional share-based compensation plans for eligible employees since November 2010. The plans introduced since November 2010 are referred to as the “Post-IPO Plans” and the plans introduced prior to November 2010 are referred to as the “Pre-IPO Plans”.

Share-based compensation expense is included in the following line items in our statement of operations:

 

     2012      2011      2010  

Cost of revenue

     2         1         1   

Research and development

     5         2         —     

Selling, general and administrative

     45         28         11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     52         31         12   

Post-IPO Plan

Under the Post-IPO plan performance shares, stock options and restricted shares were granted to eligible employees. The options have a strike price equal to the closing share price on the grant date. The fair value of the options has been calculated with the Black-Scholes-Merton formula, using the following assumptions:

 

   

an expected life of 6.25 years, calculated in accordance with the guidance provided in SEC Staff bulletin No. 110 for plain vanilla options using the simplified method, since our equity shares have been publicly traded for only a limited period of time and we do not have sufficient historical exercise data;

 

   

a risk-free interest rate varying from 0.8% to 1.3% (2011 grant 1.2% to 2.78%; 2010: 1.67%);

 

   

no expected dividend payments; and

 

   

a volatility of 45% based on the volatility of a set of peer companies. Peer company data has been used given the short period of time our shares have been publicly traded.

Changes in the assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.

Stock options vest ratably on a yearly basis over 4 years from the date of grant. Performance share units and restricted share units vest, subject to relevant performance criteria being met, ratably on a yearly basis over 3 years from the date of grant.

A charge of $44 million was recorded in 2012 for Post-IPO Plans (2011: $17 million; 2010: $2 million).

A summary of the status of NXP’s Post-IPO stock options and share rights and changes during 2012 and 2011 is presented below.

Stock options

 

     2012      2011  
     Stock options     Weighted average
exercise

price in USD
     Stock options     Weighted average
exercise

price in USD
 

Outstanding at January 1

     7,366,908        15.49         3,749,932        13.27   

Granted

     4,972,081        23.36         4,045,537        17.35   

Exercised

     (637,858     14.14         (71,542     13.27   

Forfeited

     (791,017     15.94         (357,019     13.65   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31

     10,910,114        19.12         7,366,908        15.49   

Exercisable at December 31

     1,819,243        15.05         853,732        13.27   

The weighted average per share grant date fair value of stock options granted in 2012 was $10.44 (2011: $7.81; 2010: $6.04).

The intrinsic value of the exercised options was $7 million (2011: $0.3 million), whereas the amount received by NXP was $9 million (2011: $1 million).

The number of vested stock options at December 31, 2012 is 1,819,243 (2011: 853,732).

At December 31, 2012, there was a total of $64 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.3 years (2011: 3.5 years).

 

The outstanding options issued under the Post-IPO Plans are categorized by exercise price as follows:

USD-denominated

 

Year granted    Exercise price      Shares      Intrinsic value
in millions
     Weighted average
remaining
contractual term
 

2012

     23.49         4,047,450         11         9.8   

2012

     22.62         197,550         1         9.6   

2012

     26.32         158,930         —           9.3   

2012

     21.63         493,865         2         9.1   

2011

     25.01         86,492         —           8.1   

2011

     31.81         61,040         —           8.3   

2011

     19.78         82,365         1         8.6   

2011

     16.84         3,298,913         31         8.8   

2010

     13.27         2,483,509         32         7.8   

The aggregate intrinsic value in the tables and text above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of 2012 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders if the options had been exercised on December 31, 2012.

Performance share units

 

     2012      2011  
     Shares     Weighted average
grant date fair value

in USD
     Shares     Weighted average
grant date fair value

in USD
 

Outstanding at January 1

     1,487,149        16.00         846,819        13.27   

Granted

     1,171,600        23.35         987,225        17.38   

Vested

     (30,311     22.66         (249,962     13.27   

Forfeited

     (219,964     15.28         (96,933     13.27   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31

     2,408,474        19.55         1,487,149        16.00   

The weighted average grant date fair value of performance share units granted in 2012 was $23.35 (2011: $17.38; 2010: $13.27). The number of vested performance share units at December 31, 2012 is 280,273 (2011: 249,962). The fair value of the performance share units at the time of vesting was $1 million (2011: $4 million).

At December 31, 2012, there was a total of $29 million (2011: $19 million) of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested performance share units. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years (2011: 2.5 years).

Restricted share units

 

     2012      2011  
     Shares     Weighted average
grant date fair
value in USD
     Shares     Weighted average
grant date fair
value in USD
 

Outstanding at January 1

     2,360,806        16.08         1,283,295        13.27   

Granted

     2,021,918        23.31         1,571,236        17.52   

Vested

     (849,289     15.72         (400,835     13.27   

Forfeited

     (233,312     16.74         (92,890     13.81   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31

     3,300,123        20.56         2,360,806        16.08   

The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted share units granted in 2012 was $23.31 (2011: $17.52; 2010: $13.27). The number of vested restricted share units at December 31, 2012 is 1,250,124 (2011: 400,835). The fair value of the restricted share units at the time of vesting was $21 million (2011: $7 million; 2010: $0 million).

At December 31, 2012, there was a total of $54 million (2011: $31 million) of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted share units. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years (2011: 2.5 years).

Pre-IPO Plans

Under these plans, stock options were issued to certain employees of the Company. In addition, certain members of our management have the right to purchase depository receipts of shares of common stock of NXP Semiconductors N.V. upon exercise and payment of the exercise price, after these rights have vested and only upon a sale of shares by the Private Equity Consortium or upon a change of control (in particular, the Private Equity Consortium no longer jointly holding at least 30% of our common stock). In addition, exercise of stock options is also contingent upon a sale of shares by the Private Equity Consortium or upon a change of control as defined above.

 

The exercise prices of stock options granted in 2007 and 2008 range from €20.00 to €50.00 after taking into account the reverse stock split in August, 2010. Also, equity rights were granted to certain non-executive employees containing the right to acquire our shares of common stock for no consideration after the rights have vested and upon a change of control (in particular, the Private Equity Consortium no longer jointly holding 30% of our common stock).

Since none of our stock options, equity rights or shares of common stock were traded on any stock exchange until August 2010, and exercise is dependent upon certain conditions, employees can receive no value nor derive any benefit from holding these options or rights without the fulfillment of the conditions for exercise. We have concluded that the fair value of the share-based payments could best be estimated by the use of a binomial option-pricing model because such model takes into account the various conditions and subjective assumptions that determine the estimated value. In addition to the estimated value of the Company based on projected cash flows, the assumptions used until 2010 were:

 

   

Expected life of the options and equity rights is calculated as the difference between the grant dates and an exercise triggering event not before the end of 2012. For the options granted under the Pre-IPO Plans, expected lives varying from 4.25 to 3 years have been assumed;

 

   

Risk-free interest rate, varying from 4.1% to 1.6%;

 

   

Expected asset volatility, varying from 27% to 38% (based on the average volatility of comparable companies over an equivalent period from valuation date to exit date);

 

   

Dividend pay-out ratio of nil;

 

   

Lack of marketability discounts of 26% to 35%;

 

   

The Business Economic Value of the Company based on projected discounted cash flows as derived from our business plan for the next 3 years, extrapolated until 2021 with 3% terminal growth rates (the discount factor was based on a weighted average cost of capital of 12.4%).

Because the options and rights are not traded, an option-based approach (the Finnerty model) was used to calculate an appropriate discount for lack of marketability. The expected life of the options and rights is an estimate based on the time period private equity on average takes to liquidate its investment. The volatility assumption has been based on the average volatility of comparable companies over an equivalent period from valuation date to exit date.

In May 2009, we executed a stock option exchange program for stock options previously granted which were deeply out of the money. Under this stock option exchange program, stock options with new exercise prices, different volumes and, in certain cases, revised vesting schedules, were granted to eligible individuals, in exchange for their owned stock options. By accepting the new stock options, all stock options (vested and unvested) owned by the eligible individuals were cancelled. The number of employees eligible for and affected by the stock option exchange program was approximately 120. Since May 2009, stock options have been granted to eligible individuals under the revised stock options program. The exercise prices of these stock options range from €2.00 to €40.00. No modifications occurred with respect to the equity rights of the non-executive employees.

After the Company’s initial public offering, it amended the terms of its Pre-IPO plan for those participants who voluntarily exchanged the right to accelerated vesting of their Pre-IPO options upon an exit event for a five year exercise period commencing upon the date of an exit event. This modification resulted in an additional cost of $4 million.

In accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, the unrecognized portion of the compensation costs of the cancelled options continues to be recognized over their remaining requisite vesting period. For the replacement options the incremental compensation costs are determined as the difference between the fair value of the cancelled options immediately before the grant date of the replacement options and the fair value of these replacement options at the grant date. This incremental compensation cost will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.

A charge of $8 million was recorded in 2012 (2011: $14 million, 2010: $10 million) for Pre-IPO Plans, of which $8 million related to incremental compensation costs for the modified stock option scheme (2011: $6 million; 2010: $6 million) and including the $4 million modification described above.

The requisite service period for stock options is 4 years.

 

The following table summarizes the information about NXP’s outstanding Pre-IPO stock options and changes during 2012 and 2011.

Stock options

 

     2012      2011  
     Stock options     Weighted average
exercise price in
EUR
     Stock options     Weighted average
exercise price in
EUR
 

Outstanding at January 1

     16,128,196        24.46         18,050,123        23.30   

Granted

     —          —           —          —     

Exercised

     (544,462     7.65         (1,051,993     6.61   

Forfeited

     (469,518     21.86         (869,934     22.08   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31

     15,114,216        25.14         16,128,196        24.46   

Exercisable at December 31

     2,372,254        11.96         2,875,053        12.46   

The exercise prices range from €2.00 to €50.00

The intrinsic value of exercised options was $8 million (2011: $19 million), whereas the amount received by NXP was $6 million (2011: $9 million).

The number of vested options at December 31, 2012 was 13,603,205 (2011: 12,194,166 vested options) with a weighted average exercise price of €22.96 (2011: €25.78 weighted average exercise price).

Upon completion of the secondary offering on April 5, 2011, in total up to 22% of the options under the Pre-IPO Plans became exercisable, subject to the applicable laws and regulations.

Upon completion of the secondary offering on February 7, 2013, in total up to 38% of the options under the Pre-IPO Plans became exercisable, subject to applicable laws and regulations. If the secondary offering had occurred before end of 2012, then the exercisable number of options would have been 5,173,338 with a weighted average exercise price of €14.65.

 

     Weighted average
fair value in EUR
 

Weighted average grant-date fair value in euros of options granted during:

  

2010

     1.20   

2009

     1.80   

None of the options will expire as a result of exceeding the maximum contractual term because such maximum term is not applicable.

The outstanding options issued under the Pre-IPO plans are categorized by exercise prices as follows:

Euro-denominated

 

exercise price    Shares      Intrinsic value
in millions
 

2.00 – 9.50

     1,260,268         29   

15.00

     4,957,155         32   

20.00

     1,479,889         —     

30.00

     3,083,343         —     

40.00

     3,612,921         —     

50.00

     720,640         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     15,114,216         61   

The aggregate intrinsic value in the tables and text above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of 2012 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders if the options had been exercised on December 31, 2012.

At December 31, 2012, there was a total of $1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1 year.

A summary of the status of NXP’s Pre-IPO equity rights and changes during 2012 and 2011 is presented below. All equity rights have an exercise price of nil.

 

Equity rights

 

     2012      2011  
     Shares     Weighted average grant
date fair value

in EUR
     Shares     Weighted average grant
date fair value

in EUR
 

Outstanding at January 1

     444,395        9.34         472,742        9.13   

Granted

     —          —           —          —     

Released

     (381,630     9.10         —          —     

Forfeited

     —          —           (28,347     5.80   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31

     62,765        10.80         444,395        9.34   

Exercisable at December 31

     —          —           —          —     

In 2012 and 2011 there were no new equity rights issued. The number of vested equity rights at December 31, 2012 was 62,765 (December 31, 2011: 444,395).

At December 31, 2012, no amount of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested equity rights remains.

As resolved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Equity Rights of participants still employed by the Company were automatically exercised on April 27, 2012. As a consequence, 381,630 NXP shares were delivered to these participants. The remaining equity rights outstanding as of December 31, 2012 relate to vested rights of former employees subject to the original terms and conditions of the Pre-IPO plan and are only exercisable upon a sale of shares by the Private Equity Consortium or upon a change of control (in particular, the Private Equity Consortium no longer jointly holding at least 30% of our common stock). The accelerated exercise of the equity rights was not foreseen in the terms and conditions of the Pre-IPO plan and was accounted for as a modification resulting in an additional cost of $1.0 million.