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EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract]  
EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
NOTE 11 - EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

Partnership Unit - Based LTIP Plan

On December 22, 2010, in connection with the closing of the IPO, the Board of Directors of QRE GP adopted the QRE GP, LLC Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) for employees, officers, consultants and directors and consultants of QRE GP and those of its affiliates, including QRM, who perform services for us. The Plan consists of unit options, restricted units, phantom units, unit appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, other unit-based awards and unit awards. The purpose of awards under the long-term incentive plan is to provide additional incentive compensation to employees providing services to us and to align the economic interests of such employees with the interests of our unitholders. The Plan limits the number of Common Units that may be delivered pursuant to awards under the plan to 1.8 million units. Common Units cancelled, forfeited or withheld to satisfy exercise prices or tax withholding obligations will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards.

On December 22, 2010, we granted restricted unit awards to individuals who performed services for us in support of the completion of our IPO. The fair value of the common unit award granted was calculated based on the closing price of our common units on the grant date, $20.03 per common unit, which we expect will be recognized in expense over vesting periods of up to five years.

We recognize the expense related to unvested restricted units using a straight-line amortization method over the entire award even though tranches vest annually over a three or five year period.  For the year ended December 31, 2011 and the period from December 22, 2010 to December 31, 2010, we recognized compensation expense related to these awards of $1.4 million and less than $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2011, we had 271,364 restricted unit awards outstanding and 30,731 vested common units with remaining unamortized costs which had a combined $4.8 million unamortized grant date fair value which we expect will be recognized in expense over a weighted average period of three years.

On January 4, 2011, we granted common unit awards of 3,750 units to each of our two independent directors. These units vested immediately upon grant. The fair value of the common unit awards granted was calculated based on the closing price of our common units on the grant date, $20.20 per common unit.

On March 9, 2011, we granted restricted common unit awards of 8,985 units each to two of our named executive officers. The fair value of the common unit awards granted was calculated based on the closing price of our common units on the grant date, $22.26 per common unit, and we expect to recognize this in expense over the three year vesting period.

On July 1, 2011, we granted a common unit award of 1,817 units to a newly elected independent director. These units vested immediately upon grant. The fair value of the common unit award granted was calculated based on the closing price of our common units on the grant date, $20.62 per common unit.

On November 1, 2011, we granted a restricted common unit award of 170,752 units to employees of QRM. The fair value of the common unit awards granted was calculated based on the closing price of our common units on the grant date, $20.28 per common unit and we expect to recognize this in expense over the three year vesting period. The common units awarded pursuant to this grant were issued to 96 total employees, of which only four were Section 16 officers, three of which Section 16 officers had previously not participated in the long-term incentive plan.

The following table summarizes the Partnership's unit-based awards for the year ended December 31, 2011 and from December 22, 2010 through December 31, 2010 (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

      
Weighted
 
   
Number of
  
Average
 
   
Unvested
  
Grant-Date
 
  
Restricted
  
Fair Value
 
   
Units
  
per unit
 
Unvested units, December 22, 2010
  -  $- 
Granted
  148  $20.03 
Forfeited
  -  $- 
Vested
  -  $- 
Unvested units, December 31, 2010
  148  $20.03 
Granted
  215  $20.51 
Forfeited
  (39) $20.75 
Vested
  (53) $20.31 
Unvested units, December 31, 2011
  271  $20.26 

Predecessor Compensation Plans

Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

In April 2009, the Predecessor adopted a Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan "Agreement" for its executive officers and other key employees. These employees receive certain interest, as defined below, in distributions received by the Predecessor through its subsidiaries. During the period ended December 21, 2010, the Predecessor recognized compensation expense of $1.6 million in equity-classified awards and $1.9 million in liability-classified awards.  These awards are based on certain performance measurements and service. Interests awarded are based on the type of interest held by the Predecessor or its subsidiaries as follows:

The Predecessor General Partnership (Funded) Interest

The Predecessor contributes to the Fund 3% of all equity contributions made to the Fund and receives 3% of any distributions made by the Fund ("GP Funded Interest").  A special class of limited partnership interest in the general partner of the Fund was created to give executive officers and other key employees an interest in the GP Funded Interest after the Predecessor has recouped a portion of its total capital contributed to the Fund until each employee has received a cumulative amount equal to his vested share of the GP Funded Interest. Employees awarded this interest vest 15% on each of the first five anniversaries of the effective date and the remaining 25% vests if employed upon the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Fund.

Employees of the Predecessor received GP Funded Interest grants in 2010 and 2009.  The estimated fair value, at the date of the grant, is recognized as long-term incentive compensation in general and administrative expense in the statement of operations ratably as the awards vest. Estimated forfeitures will be adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures in future periods. We account for these profits interests as equity awards, and we estimated the fair value of these interests using a Probability Weighted Expected Return Model (“PWERM”). The PWERM forecasts expected cash flow scenarios specific to each award, assigns probability weights to these scenarios, then discounts the sum of the probability weighted cash flows to a grant date present value using a risk adjusted discount rate.  The scenarios represent possible outcomes for each award based on assumptions about investment horizon, cash flow amounts and timing, asset values, commodity prices, equity investment amounts, and return on investment. The Predecessor assumed a zero percentage forfeiture rate for all years when determining the fair value of the GP Funded Interest.

The estimated aggregate fair value of the equity component of the awards at the date of grant was $0.3 million and $0.7 million for awards granted during the periods ended December 21, 2010 and December 31, 2009 respectively.  The Predecessor incurred non-cash compensation expense related to the GP Funded Interest awards of $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the periods ended December 21, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  The 2009 expense was recorded in 2010.  Refer to “Out-of-Period Adjustments” further below.  In addition there is a liability component to the award related to the 25% that vests and will be expensed upon substantial disposition of the Fund assets with a fair value of $0.7 million at December 21, 2010.

      
Weighted
 
      
Average
 
   
% of
  
Grant Date
 
   
Interest
  
Fair Value
 
Activity related to the GP Funded Interests is as follows:
 
Granted
  
Per 1%
 
Nonvested GP Funded Interests as of December 31, 2008
  0.00% $- 
Granted
  72.82%  57,512 
Forfeited
  0.00%    
Nonvested GP Funded Interests as of December 31, 2009
  72.82% $57,512 
Granted
  22.05%  88,206 
Forfeited
  0.00%    
Nonvested GP Funded Interests as of December 21, 2010
  94.87% $145,718 
 
Activity related to the GP Funded Interests is as follows:
   
Nonvested GP Funded Interests as of December 31, 2008
  0.00%
Granted
  72.82%
Vested
  0.00%
Forfeited
  0.00%
Nonvested GP Funded Interests as of December 31, 2009
  72.82%
Granted
  22.05%
Vested
  -10.92%
Forfeited
  0.00%
Nonvested GP Funded Interests as of December 21, 2010
  83.95%

The Predecessor General Partner Promote Interest

After all investors in the Fund have received a return of their equity contributions plus a return of 8%, the Predecessor is entitled to receive 14% of all amounts distributed thereafter, including a catch-up on the amount distributed as part of the 8% return to all investors ("GP Promote"). A special class of limited partnership interest was created to award executive officers and other key employees 100%  of the interest in the GP Promote until distributions attributable to the GP Promote aggregate $12,800,000  and, thereafter 39% of the distributions attributable solely to the GP Promote. Employees awarded this interest vest 15% on each of the first five anniversaries of the effective date and the remaining 25% vests if employed upon the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Fund.
 
Employees of the Predecessor received GP Promote grants in 2010 and 2009.The estimated fair value, at the date of the grant, is recognized as compensation in general and administrative expense in the statement of operations ratably as the awards vest. Estimated forfeitures will be adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures in future periods.  In accordance with GAAP, we estimated the fair value of these interests using a Probability Weighted Expected Return Model (“PWERM”). The PWERM forecasts expected cash flow scenarios specific to each award, assigns probability weights to these scenarios, then discounts the sum of the probability weighted cash flows to a grant date present value using a risk adjusted discount rate.  The scenarios represent possible outcomes for each award based on assumptions about investment horizon, cash flow amounts and timing, asset values, commodity prices, equity investment amounts, and return on investment. The Predecessor assumed a zero percentage forfeiture rate for all years when determining the fair value of the GP Promote.

The estimated aggregate fair value of the equity component of the awards at the date of grant was $0.3 million and $0.9 million for awards granted during the periods ended, December 21, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The Predecessor incurred non-cash compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the periods ended December 21, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  The 2009 expense was recorded in 2010. Refer to “Out –of-Period-Adjustments” further below.  No amounts have been forfeited.  In addition, there is a liability component to the award related to the 25% that vests and will be expensed upon substantial disposition of the Fund assets with a fair value of $1.1 million at December 21, 2010.

Activity related to the GP Promote Interests is as follows:
      
      
Weighted
 
      
Average
 
   
% of
  
Grant Date
 
   
Interest
  
Fair Value
 
   
Granted
  
Per 1%
 
Nonvested GP Promote Interests as of December 31, 2008
  0.00% $- 
Granted
  78.83%  71,534 
Forfeited
  0.00%    
Nonvested GP Promote Interests as of December 31, 2009
  78.83% $71,534 
Granted
  17.45%  97,544 
Forfeited
  0.00%    
Nonvested GP Promote Interests as of December 21, 2010
  96.28% $169,078 

Activity related to the GP Promote Interests is as follows:
   
     
Nonvested GP Promote Interests as of December 31, 2008
  0.00%
Granted
  78.83%
Vested
  0.00%
Forfeited
  0.00%
Nonvested GP Promote Interests as of December 31, 2009
  78.83%
Granted
  17.45%
Vested
  -10.92%
Forfeited
  0.00%
Nonvested GP Promote Interests as of December 21, 2010
  85.36%

Purchase/Carry Interests

The Predecessor, through a subsidiary purchases a 2% interest in each property acquired by the Fund and also receives a 2 % carried interest in each property acquired by the Fund. A special class of limited partnership interests in the Predecessor was created and awarded on April 1, 2009 to two senior executive officers in the aggregate of 19.5% of the distributions made by the subsidiary ("Purchase/Carry Interest") excluding an amount that represented the net agreed value of the subsidiary assets on the date of grant. The Purchase/Carry Interests vest (i) 50% upon the effective date of the grant (ii) an additional 7.5% on each of the first five anniversaries following April 1, 2009 and (iii) the remaining 12.5%  vest if employed upon the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Fund.  In addition, the executives must be employed as of the Fund's investment period, currently June 30, 2011, and the Fund must achieve a 1.5X return on its total capital investment, as defined by the Agreement.

The estimated fair value, at the date of the grant, is recognized as compensation in general and administrative expense in the statement of operations ratably as the awards vest. Estimated forfeitures will be adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures in future periods.  In accordance with GAAP, we have accounted for the fair value of the Purchase/Carry Interests as equity awards, and we estimated the fair value of these interests using a Probability Weighted Expected Return Model (“PWERM”). The PWERM forecasts expected cash flow scenarios specific to each award, assigns probability weights to these scenarios, then discounts the sum of the probability weighted cash flows to a grant date present value using a risk adjusted discount rate.  The scenarios represent possible outcomes for each award based on assumptions about investment horizon, cash flow amounts and timing, asset values, commodity prices, equity investment amounts, and return on investment. The Predecessor assumed a zero percentage forfeiture rate for all years when determining the fair value of the Purchase/Carry Interests.

The estimated aggregate fair value of the equity component of the awards at the date of grant was $1.8 million The Predecessor incurred non-cash compensation expense of $0.6 million and $0.4 million for the periods ended December 21, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  The 2009 expense was recorded in 2010.  Refer to “Out-of-Period Adjustments” further below.  No amounts have been forfeited.  In addition, there is a liability component to the award related to the 12.5% that vests and will be expensed upon substantial disposition of the Fund assets with a fair value of $0.3 million at December 21, 2010.

Activity related to the Purchase/Carry Interests is as follows:
      
      
Weighted
 
      
Average
 
   
% of
  
Grant Date
 
   
Interest
  
Fair Value
 
   
Granted
  
Per 1%
 
Nonvested Purchase/Carry Interests as of December 31, 2008
  0.00% $- 
Granted
  100.00%  13,278 
Forfeited
  0.00%    
Nonvested Puchase/Carry Interests as of December 31, 2009
  100.00% $13,278 
Granted
  0.00%  - 
Forfeited
  0.00%    
Nonvested Purchase/Carry Interests as of December 21, 2010
  100.00% $13,278 

Nonvested Purchase/Carry Interests as of December 31, 2008
  0.00%
Granted
  100.00%
Vested
  0.00%
Forfeited
  0.00%
Nonvested Puchase/Carry Interests as of December 31, 2009
  100.00%
Vested
  -7.50%
Forfeited
  0.00%
Nonvested Purchase/Carry Interests as of December 21, 2010
  92.50%

Performance Cash Deferred Compensation Plan

In April 2009, the Predecessor established a bonus plan ("Bonus Pool") for certain key employees to award these employees upon the Fund achieving certain performance targets and service by the employee. If the Fund achieves a 1.75X return on its total capital investment ("1.75X ROI") as defined in the plan, a Bonus Pool of $12.5 million will be established for the employees. If the Fund achieves a 2.0X return on its capital investment the Bonus Pool will be increased to $15 million.

Each employee will vest in a pro-rata share of the Bonus Pool, as determined by their offer letter, 15% per year from the date of the grant for five years and 25% upon the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Fund.  The employee must remain employed for the vesting period and must be employed on the date upon which the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Fund occurs.

During the fourth quarter 2010, the Predecessor determined that it was probable to meet the 1.75X ROI and has recorded $1.9 million of compensation expense in general and administrative expenses in the statement of operations for the year ended December 21, 2010.  These awards are liability-classified awards as they will ultimately settle in cash.

Out of Period Adjustments

During 2010 the Predecessor recorded adjustments related to 2009 which decreased its income for 2010 by $0.6 million as a result of compensation expense which should have been recorded in 2009.

After evaluating the quantitative and qualitative aspects of these errors, the Predecessor concluded its previously issued financial statements were not materially misstated and the effect of recognizing these adjustments in the 2010 financial statements were not material to the 2010 results of operations, financial position and cash flows.