Share-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stockholder Approved Share-Based Incentive Compensation Plan

As of September 30, 2021, we maintained one share-based incentive compensation plan, the Kilroy Realty 2006 Incentive Award Plan, as amended (the “2006 Plan”). The Company has a currently effective registration statement registering 10.7 million shares of our common stock for possible issuance under our 2006 Plan. As of September 30, 2021, approximately 1.4 million shares were available for grant under the 2006 Plan. The calculation of shares available for grant is presented after taking into account a reserve for a sufficient number of shares to cover the vesting and payment of 2006 Plan awards that were outstanding on that date, including performance-based vesting awards at (i) levels actually achieved for the performance conditions (as defined below) for which the performance period has been completed and (ii) at maximum levels for the other performance and market conditions (as defined below) for awards still in a performance period.

2021 Share-Based Compensation Grants

In January and February 2021, the Executive Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors awarded 332,707 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain officers of the Company under the 2006 Plan, which included 172,430 RSUs (at the target level of performance) that are subject to market and/or performance-based vesting requirements (the “2021 Performance-Based RSUs”) and 160,277 RSUs that are subject to time-based vesting requirements (the “2021 Time-Based RSUs”).

2021 Performance-Based RSU Grant

The 2021 Performance-Based RSUs are scheduled to vest at the end of a three year period (consisting of calendar years 2021-2023). A target number of 2021 Performance-Based RSUs were awarded, and the final number of 2021 Performance-Based RSUs that vest (which may be more or less than the target number) will be based upon (1) the achievement of pre-set FFO per share goals for the year ending December 31, 2021 that applies to 100% of the Performance-Based RSUs awarded (the “FFO performance condition”) and (2) a performance measure that applies to 50% of the award based upon a measure of the Company’s average debt to EBITDA ratio for the three year performance period (the “debt to EBITDA ratio performance condition”) and a market measure that applies to the other 50% of the award based upon the relative ranking of the Company’s total stockholder return for the three year performance period compared to the total stockholder returns of an established comparison group of companies over the same period (the “market condition”). The 2021 Performance-Based RSUs are also subject to a three year service vesting provision (the “service vesting condition”) and are scheduled to cliff vest on the date the final vesting percentage is determined following the end of the three year performance period under the awards. The number of 2021 Performance-Based RSUs ultimately earned could fluctuate from the target number of 2021 Performance-Based RSUs granted based upon the levels of achievement for the FFO performance condition, the debt to EBITDA ratio performance condition, the market condition, and the extent to which the service vesting condition is satisfied. The estimate of the number of 2021 Performance-Based RSUs earned is evaluated quarterly during the performance period based on our estimate for each of the performance conditions measured against the applicable goals. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized $5.5 million of compensation expense for the 2021 Performance-Based RSU grant. In the event we achieve a lower level of performance or fail to meet the FFO performance condition, we would reverse a portion or all of the $5.5 million of compensation expense. Compensation expense for the 2021 Performance-Based RSU grant is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each participant, which is generally the three year service vesting period, except for one participant whose compensation expense is recognized on a rolling twelve-month basis.

Each 2021 Performance-Based RSU represents the right, subject to the applicable vesting conditions, to receive one share of our common stock in the future. The determination of the grant date fair value of the portion of the 2021 Performance-Based RSU grants covered by the debt to EBITDA ratio performance condition was based on the $57.85 share price on the February 18, 2021 grant date. The determination of the grant date fair value of the portion of the 2021 Performance-Based RSU grants covered by the market condition was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation pricing model based on the assumptions in the table below, which resulted in the following grant date fair value per share.


			Fair Value Assumptions
Valuation date			February 18, 2021
Expected share price volatility			35.0%
Risk-free interest rate			0.20%
Fair value per share on valuation date (1)			$63.93

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(1)Using the same Monte Carlo methodology and assumptions, the grant date fair value of one participant’s 2021 Performance-Based RSU grants was calculated as $66.95 per share.

The computation of expected volatility is based on a blend of the historical volatility of our shares of common stock over approximately 2.9 years, as that is expected to be most consistent with future volatility and equates to the approximate 2.9-year performance period of the RSUs, and implied volatility data based on the observed pricing of six month publicly-traded options on our shares of common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield curve on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury STRIP securities in effect at February 18, 2021.

The total grant date fair value of the 2021 Performance-Based RSU awards was $10.6 million on the February 18, 2021 grant date of the awards. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recorded compensation expense based upon the grant date fair value per share for each component multiplied by the estimated number of RSUs to be earned.

2021 Time-Based RSU Grant

The 2021 Time-Based RSUs are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 5, 2022 through January 5, 2024. Compensation expense for the 2021 Time-Based RSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each participant, which is generally the three year service vesting period, except for one participant whose compensation expense is recognized on a rolling twelve-month basis. Each 2021 Time-Based RSU represents the right to receive one share of our common stock in the future. The total grant date fair value of the 2021 Time-Based RSU awards was $9.1 million, which was based on the $56.63 and $57.85 closing share prices of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE on the January 29, 2021 and February 18, 2021 grant dates, respectively.

2020 and 2019 Performance-Based RSUs

Compensation cost for the 2020 performance-based RSUs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 assumes the 2020 debt to EBITDA ratio performance condition is met at 150% of the target level of achievement (175.0% for one participant). Compensation cost for the 2019 performance-based RSUs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 assumes the 2019 debt to EBITDA ratio performance condition is met at the maximum level of achievement.

Share-Based Compensation Cost Recorded During the Period

The total compensation cost for all share-based compensation programs was $11.5 million and $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $32.3 million and $30.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Share-based compensation costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 include $0.2 million and $4.5 million, respectively, of accelerated share-based compensation costs related to severance packages, including for an executive officer departure. Of the total share-based compensation costs, $2.4 million and $5.8 million was capitalized as part of real estate assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and $1.8 million and $5.7 million was capitalized as part of the real estate assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. As of September 30, 2021, there was approximately $33.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested incentive awards granted under share-based compensation arrangements that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. The remaining compensation cost related to these nonvested incentive awards had been recognized in periods prior to September 30, 2021.