Note 12 - Incentive Share Plan

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

12.  INCENTIVE SHARE PLAN

 The Company’s 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2008 Plan”) expired in July 2018. At the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders on May 11, 2017, our shareholders voted to approve the 2018 Long-Term Equity Incentive Ownership Plan (the “2018 Plan”). The 2018 Plan provides for the issuance of up to 3,433,831 common shares and OP units pursuant to awards under the 2018 Plan. The 2018 Plan became effective on July 30, 2018, which is the day after the 2008 Plan expired.

The Compensation Committee administered the 2008 Plan and administers the 2018 Plan except, in each case, with respect to awards to non-employee trustees, for which the 2008 Plan was and the 2018 Plan is administered by the Board of Trustees. The Compensation Committee is authorized to grant share options, including both incentive share options and non-qualified share options, as well as share appreciation rights, either with or without a related option. The Compensation Committee is also authorized to grant restricted common shares, restricted common share units, performance awards and other share-based awards. On September 6, 2017, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of an aggregate of 965,000 performance-based restricted common share units under the 2008 Plan. These units, which only vest immediately prior to the consummation of a Change in Control (as defined in the 2008 Plan) occurring on or before September 30, 2024 (the “CIC Units”), were granted to certain of our employees. Since the Change in Control did not occur on or before September 30, 2024, all 455,000 CIC Units have been forfeited.           

On June 30, 2021, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of an aggregate of 433,200 TSR Units and 433,200 time-based restricted common share units under the 2018 Plan to certain of our employees. Vesting of the TSR Units is contingent upon achieving Total Shareholder Return relative to the peer group defined in the TSR Unit award agreements over a three-year performance period. At the end of the performance period, the number of common shares awarded for each vested TSR Unit will vary from 0% to 200% depending on the Company’s TSR Peer Group Ranking. Continued employment is required through the vesting date. The grant date fair value for each TSR Unit of $4.17 was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation method and is being recognized as share-based compensation expense ratably from the June 30, 2021 grant date to the end of the performance period, December 31, 2023. The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award grant and calculates the fair value of the award. Expected volatilities utilized in the model were estimated using a historical period consistent with the performance period of approximately three years. The risk-free interest rate was based on the United States Treasury rate for a term commensurate with the expected life of the grant. The time-based restricted common share units have a grant date fair value of $7.51 and vest annually in three equal installments. The 433,200 TSR Units granted on June 30, 2021 include 111,465 TSR Units that will be converted into the right to receive cash in the amount of the fair market value of the common shares to the extent that common shares are not available for issuance under the 2018 Plan. On  January 1, 2024, the remaining unvested 210,400 TSR units that were granted on  June 30, 2021 vested at 200% achievement into 420,800 common shares. 

On September 30, 2021, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of an aggregate of 5,500 time-based restricted common share units under the 2018 Plan to certain of our employees. The time-based common share units had a grant date fair value of $9.06 each and vest annually in three equal installments.

On March 28, 2022, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of an aggregate of 162,556 TSR Units and 162,556 time-based restricted common share units under the 2018 Plan to certain of our employees. Vesting of the TSR Units is contingent upon achieving Total Shareholder Return relative to the peer group defined in the TSR Unit award agreements over a three-year performance period. At the end of the performance period, the number of common shares awarded for each vested TSR Unit will vary from 0% to 200% depending on the Company’s TSR Peer Group Ranking. Continued employment is required through the vesting date. The grant date fair value for each TSR Unit of $13.74 was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation method and is being recognized as share-based compensation expense ratably from the June 30, 2022 grant date to the end of the performance period, December 31, 2024. The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award grant and calculates the fair value of the award. Expected volatilities utilized in the model were estimated using a historical period consistent with the performance period of approximately three years. The risk-free interest rate was based on the United States Treasury rate for a term commensurate with the expected life of the grant. The time-based restricted common share units have a grant date fair value of $9.94 and vest annually in three equal installments.

On March 7, 2023, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of an aggregate of 228,025 TSR Units and 228,025 time-based restricted common share units under the 2018 Plan to certain of our employees. Vesting of the TSR Units is contingent upon achieving Total Shareholder Return relative to the peer group defined in the TSR Unit award agreements over a three-year performance period. At the end of the performance period, the number of common shares awarded for each vested TSR Unit will vary from 0% to 200% depending on the Company’s TSR Peer Group Ranking. Continued employment is required through the vesting date. The grant date fair value for each TSR Unit of $9.55 was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation method and is being recognized as share-based compensation expense ratably from the June 30, 2023 grant date to the end of the performance period, December 31, 2025. The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award grant and calculates the fair value of the award. Expected volatilities utilized in the model were estimated using a historical period consistent with the performance period of approximately three years. The risk-free interest rate was based on the United States Treasury rate for a term commensurate with the expected life of the grant. The time-based restricted common share units have a grant date fair value of $8.72 and vest annually in three equal installments.

On March 4, 2024, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of an aggregate of 203,518 TSR Units and 169,065 time-based restricted common share units under the 2018 Plan to certain of our employees. Vesting of the TSR Units is contingent upon achieving Total Shareholder Return relative to the peer group defined in the TSR Unit award agreements over a three-year performance period. At the end of the performance period, the number of common shares awarded for each vested TSR Unit will vary from 0% to 200% depending on the Company’s TSR Peer Group Ranking. Continued employment is required through the vesting date. The grant date fair value for each TSR Unit of $15.12 was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation method and is being recognized as share-based compensation expense ratably from the June 30, 2024 grant date to the end of the performance period, December 31, 2026. The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award grant and calculates the fair value of the award. Expected volatilities utilized in the model were estimated using a historical period consistent with the performance period of approximately three years. The risk-free interest rate was based on the United States Treasury rate for a term commensurate with the expected life of the grant. The time-based restricted common share units have a grant date fair value of $12.29 and vest annually in three equal installments.

A summary of the share-based incentive plan activity as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 is as follows: 

				Weighted Average
				Grant Date
	Shares			Fair Value
Non-vested at January 1, 2023		1,452,433		$	10.12
Granted		372,583			13.84
Vested		(404,171	)		6.30
Forfeited		(475,604	)		12.94
Non-vested at September 30, 2024		945,241			11.80
Available for grant at September 30, 2024		772,581

A summary of our non-vested and vested shares activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is presented below:

	Shares Granted				Shares Vested
	Non-Vested Shares Issued		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Vested Shares			Total Vest-Date Fair Value
								(in thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024		372,583	$	13.84		(404,171	)	$	2,546
Year Ended December 31, 2023		480,184	$	9.30		(231,600	)	$	1,841
Year Ended December 31, 2022		360,334	$	11.61		(519,003	)	$	3,442

Total compensation recognized in earnings for share-based payments was $ 1,281,000 and $ 1,083,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $ 3,105,000 and $ 2,712,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Based on our current financial projections, we expect approximately 100% of the unvested awards to vest over the next 33 months. As of September 30, 2024, there was approximately $4.0 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding non-vested TSR Units, which are expected to vest over a period of 27 months, and approximately $3.4 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding non-vested time-based shares, which are expected to be recognized over a period of approximately 33 months beginning on October 1, 2024.

We expect to record approximately $4.5 million in non-cash share-based compensation expense in 2024 and $6.3 million subsequent to 2024. The unrecognized share-based compensation cost is expected to vest over a weighted average period of 25 months. The dilutive impact of the performance-based shares will be included in the denominator of the earnings per share calculation beginning in the period that the performance conditions are expected to be met. The dilutive impact of the TSR Units is based on the Company’s TSR Peer Group Ranking as of the reporting date and weighted according to the number of days outstanding in the period. As of September 30, 2024, the TSR Peer Group Ranking called for attainment of 200%, 150%, and 0% for the shares issued in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.