Equity-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Equity-Based Compensation

Equity-Based Compensation

(10)  Equity-Based Compensation

(a) Summary of Equity-Based Compensation

Effective March 12, 2019, the Board of Directors of Antero Midstream Corporation (the “Board”) adopted the Antero Midstream Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan under which awards may be granted to employees, directors, and other service providers of the Company and its affiliates. On June 5, 2024, that Company’s stockholders approved the AM LTIP. This amendment increased the number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for awards from 15,398,901 shares to 28,735,901 shares, and extended the term of the plan from March 12, 2029 to June 5, 2034. The AM LTIP provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards, cash awards and substitute awards. The terms and conditions of the awards granted are established by the compensation committee of the Board. As of December 31, 2024, a total of 16,302,531 shares were available for future grant under the AM LTIP.

The Company’s equity-based compensation expense, by type of award, is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2022		2023		2024
Restricted stock units	$	16,039		24,409		33,666
Performance share units		2,770		6,266		9,669
Equity awards issued to directors		845		931		997
Total expense	$	19,654		31,606		44,332

The total fair value of the Company’s vested equity awards for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2023 and 2024 were $18 million, $22 million and $37 million, respectively.

(b) Restricted Stock Unit Awards

RSU awards vest subject to the satisfaction of service requirements. Expense related to each RSU award is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award. The grant date fair values of these awards are determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The weighted average grant date fair value per share for RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2023 and 2024 were $11.28, $10.59 and $13.45, respectively.

A summary of the RSU awards activity is as follows:

		Weighted Average
	Number	Grant Date
	of Units	Fair Value
Total awarded and unvested—December 31, 2023	5,877,170	$	10.28
Granted	2,476,696		13.45
Vested	(2,641,854)		9.97
Forfeited	(69,751)		12.12
Total awarded and unvested—December 31, 2024	5,642,261	$	11.79

As of December 31, 2024, unamortized equity-based compensation expense of $40 million related to the unvested RSUs is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

(c) Performance Share Unit Awards

Performance Share Unit Awards Based on Return on Invested Capital

In April 2019, the Company granted performance share units (“PSUs”) to certain of its employees and executive officers that vest based on the Company’s actual return on invested capital (“ROIC”) (as defined in the award agreement) over a three-year period as compared to a targeted ROIC (“2019 ROIC PSUs”). The number of shares of the Company’s common stock that could be earned with respect to the 2019 ROIC PSUs ranged from zero to 200% of the target number of the 2019 ROIC PSUs originally granted. The performance condition for the 2019 ROIC PSUs was met at 200% of target as of December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the 2019 ROIC PSUs vested and converted into approximately 0.3 million shares of the Company’s common stock.

In April 2022, the Company granted PSUs to certain of its employees and executive officers that vest based on the Company’s actual ROIC (as defined in the award agreement) over a three-year period concluding on December 31, 2024 as compared to a targeted ROIC (“2022 ROIC PSUs”). The number of shares of the Company’s common stock that can be earned with respect to the 2022 ROIC PSUs ranges from zero to 200% of the target number of 2022 ROIC PSUs originally granted. The performance condition related to 2022 ROIC PSUs was met at 200% of target as of December 31, 2024. During the first quarter of 2025, the 2022 ROIC PSUs will vest and convert into approximately 0.9 million shares of common stock.

In March 2023, the Company granted PSUs to certain of its employees and executive officers that vest based on the Company’s actual ROIC (as defined in the award agreement) over a three-year period concluding on December 31, 2025 as compared to a targeted ROIC (“2023 ROIC PSUs”). The number of shares of the Company’s common stock that can be earned with respect to the 2023 ROIC PSUs ranges from zero to 200% of the target number of 2023 ROIC PSUs originally granted. The likelihood of achieving the performance conditions related to 2023 ROIC PSUs was probable as of December 31, 2024.

In March 2024, the Company granted PSUs to certain of its executive officers that vest based on the Company’s actual ROIC (as defined in the award agreement) over a three-year period concluding on December 31, 2026 as compared to a targeted ROIC (“2024 ROIC PSUs”). The number of shares of the Company’s common stock that can be earned with respect to the 2024 ROIC PSUs ranges from zero to 200% of the target number of 2024 ROIC PSUs originally granted. The likelihood of achieving the performance conditions related to 2024 ROIC PSUs was probable as of December 31, 2024.

Summary Information for Performance Share Unit Awards

PSU awards vest subject to the satisfaction of certain performance and service requirements. Expense related to each PSU award is recognized on a straight-line basis over the performance period of the entire award. The grant date fair value of these awards was based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant, assuming target achievement of the performance condition. Expense related to PSU awards is recognized based on the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that are expected to be issued at the end of the measurement period, and such expense is reversed if the likelihood of achieving the performance condition decreases. The grant date fair value per share for PSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2023 and 2024 were $11.05, $10.58 and $13.44, respectively.

A summary of the PSU awards activity is as follows:

		Weighted Average
	Number	Grant Date
	of Units	Fair Value
Total awarded and unvested—December 31, 2023	952,101	$	10.90
Granted	350,237		13.44
Total awarded and unvested—December 31, 2024	1,302,338	$	11.59

As of December 31, 2024, unamortized equity-based compensation expense of $12 million related to the unvested PSUs is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.