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Share-Based and Other Deferred Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Share-Based and Other Deferred Compensation
Share-Based and Other Deferred Compensation
LP Units
Equities business - In conjunction with the acquisition of the operating businesses of International Strategy & Investment ("ISI") in 2014, the Company issued Evercore LP units and interests which have been treated as compensation.
In July 2017, the Company exchanged all of the previously outstanding 4,148 Class H limited partnership interests of Evercore LP ("Class H LP Interests") for 1,012 vested (963 of which were subject to certain liquidated damages and continued employment provisions) and 938 unvested Class J LP Units. These units convert into an equal amount of Class E LP Units, and become exchangeable into Class A Shares of the Company, ratably on February 15, 2018, 2019 and 2020. These Class J LP Units have the same vesting and delivery schedule, acceleration and forfeiture triggers, and distribution rights as the Class H LP Interests. In connection with this exchange, one share of Class B common stock has been issued to each holder of Class J LP Units, which entitles each holder to one vote on all matters submitted generally to holders of Class A and Class B common stock for each Class E LP Unit and Class J LP Unit held. As the number of Class J LP Units exchanged was within the number of Class H LP Interests that the Company determined were probable of being exchanged on the date of modification, the Company is expensing the previously unrecognized grant date fair value of the Class H LP Interests ratably over the remaining vesting period of the Class J LP Units. Compensation expense related to the Class J LP Units was $4,049 and $3,872 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
On February 15, 2019, 632 Class J LP Units vested and were converted to an equal amount of Class E LP Units.
Other Performance-based Awards - In November 2016, the Company issued 400 Class I-P Units in conjunction with the appointment of the Executive Chairman. These Class I-P Units convert into a specified number of Class I LP Units, which are exchangeable on a one-for-one basis to Class A Shares, contingent on the achievement of certain market and service conditions, subject to vesting upon specified termination events (including retirement, upon satisfying certain eligibility criteria, on or following January 15, 2022, subject to a one year prior written notice requirement) or a change in control. These Class I-P Units are segregated into two groups of 200 units each, with share price threshold vesting conditions which are required to exceed a certain level for 20 consecutive trading days (which were met as of March 31, 2017). The Company determined the fair value of the award to be $24,412 and is expensing the award ratably over the implied service period, which ends on March 1, 2022. As the award contains market-based conditions, the entire expense will be recognized if the award does not vest for any reason other than the service conditions. Compensation expense related to this award was $1,139 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
In November 2017, the Company issued 64 Class K-P Units to an employee of the Company. These Class K-P Units convert into a specified number of Class K LP Units, which are exchangeable on a one-for-one basis to Class A Shares, contingent upon the achievement of certain defined benchmark results and continued service through December 31, 2021. An additional 16 Class K-P Units may be issued contingent upon the achievement of certain defined benchmark results and continued service through December 31, 2021. The Company determined the fair value of the award probable to vest to be $5,000 and records expense for these units over the service period. Compensation expense related to this award was $296 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Stock Incentive Plan
During 2016, the Company's stockholders approved the Amended and Restated 2016 Evercore Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the "2016 Plan"). The 2016 Plan, among other things, authorizes an additional 10,000 shares of the Company's Class A Shares. The 2016 Plan permits the Company to grant to key employees, directors and consultants incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs and other awards based on the Company's Class A Shares. The Company intends to use newly-issued Class A Shares to satisfy any awards under the 2016 Plan and its predecessor plan. Class A Shares underlying any award granted under the 2016 Plan that expire, terminate or are canceled or satisfied for any reason without being settled in stock again become available for awards under the plans. The total shares available to be granted in the future under the 2016 Plan was 2,901 and 5,484 as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company also grants, at its discretion, dividend equivalents, in the form of unvested RSU awards, or deferred cash dividends, concurrently with the payment of dividends to the holders of Class A Shares, on all unvested RSU grants awarded in conjunction with annual bonuses, as well as new hire awards. The dividend equivalents have the same vesting and delivery terms as the underlying RSU award.
The Company estimates forfeitures in the aggregate compensation cost to be amortized over the requisite service period of its awards. The Company periodically monitors its estimated forfeiture rate and adjusts its assumptions to the actual occurrence of forfeited awards. A change in estimated forfeitures is recognized through a cumulative adjustment in the period of the change. 
Equity Grants
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the 2016 Plan, the Company granted employees 2,467 RSUs that are Service-based Awards. Service-based Awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2019 had grant date fair values of $72.11 to $93.53 per share, with an average value of $90.11 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, 2,298 Service-based Awards vested and 19 Service-based Awards were forfeited. Compensation expense related to Service-based Awards, including RSUs granted to the Executive Chairman in November 2016, was $55,618 and $42,731 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Deferred Cash
The Company's deferred cash compensation program provides participants the ability to elect to receive a portion of their deferred compensation in cash, which is indexed to notional investment portfolios selected by the participant and vests ratably over four years and requires payment upon vesting. The Company granted $93,366 of deferred cash awards pursuant to the deferred cash compensation program during the first quarter of 2019.
In November 2016, the Company granted a restricted cash award in conjunction with the appointment of the Executive Chairman with a target payment amount of $35,000, of which $11,000 vested on March 1, 2019 and $6,000 is scheduled to vest on each of the first four anniversaries of March 1, 2019, provided that the Executive Chairman continues to remain employed through each such vesting date, subject to vesting upon specified termination events (including retirement, upon satisfying certain eligibility criteria, on or following May 1, 2019, subject to a six month prior written notice requirement) or a change in control. The Company has the discretion to increase (by an amount up to $35,000) or decrease (by an amount up to $8,750) the total amount payable under this award.
In 2017, the Company granted deferred cash awards of $29,500 to certain employees. These awards vest in five equal installments over the period ending June 30, 2022, subject to continued employment. The Company records expense for these awards ratably over the vesting period.
Compensation expense related to deferred cash awards was $27,393 and $12,591 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Long-term Incentive Plan
The Company's Long-term Incentive Plan provides for incentive compensation awards to Advisory Senior Managing Directors, excluding executive officers of the Company, who exceed defined benchmark results over four-year performance periods beginning January 1, 2013 (the "2013 Long-term Incentive Plan") and January 1, 2017 (the "2017 Long-term Incentive Plan"). The 2013 Long-term Incentive Plan was paid in cash in installments in 2017, 2018 and the first quarter of 2019. The 2017 Long-term Incentive Plan, which aggregates $73,823 of long-term liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2019, is due to be paid, in cash or Class A Shares, at the Company's discretion, in three equal installments in the first quarter of 2021, 2022 and 2023, subject to employment at the time of payment. These awards are subject to retirement eligibility requirements. The Company periodically assesses the probability of the benchmarks being achieved and expenses the probable payout over the requisite service period of the award. The compensation expense related to these awards was $8,410 and $7,127 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In conjunction with this plan, the Company distributed cash payments of $19,516 and $4,532 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
As of March 31, 2019, for the 2017 Long-term Incentive Plan, based on the Company's current assessment of the probability of the level of benchmarks being achieved, the total remaining expense to be accrued for this plan over the future vesting period ending March 15, 2023 is $86,170.
Employee Loans Receivable
Periodically, the Company provides new and existing employees with cash payments in the form of loans and/or other cash awards which are subject to ratable vesting terms with service requirements ranging from one to five years and in certain circumstances, subject to the achievement of performance requirements. Generally, the terms of these awards include a requirement of either full or partial repayment of these awards based on the terms of their employment agreements with the Company. In circumstances where the employee meets the Company's minimum credit standards, the Company amortizes these awards to compensation expense over the relevant service period which is generally the period they are subject to forfeiture. Compensation expense related to these awards was $3,605 and $3,322 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The remaining unamortized amount of these awards was $36,357 as of March 31, 2019.
Separation and Transition Benefits
The Company granted separation benefits to certain employees, resulting in expense included in Employee Compensation and Benefits of approximately $3,275 and $3,418 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In conjunction with these arrangements, the Company distributed cash payments of $1,724 and $2,875 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.