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Stock-Based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company's stock-based compensation plans include performance shares, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock options. Although the Company has discretion, shares distributed under these plans are issued from treasury stock.

In fiscal 2022, the Company changed the terms of its annual performance share awards that were issued in the first quarter. The new terms meet the criteria for equity classification in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, and therefore expense will be recognized on a fixed basis over the three-year performance period. The terms of the performance share awards issued in fiscal 2020 and 2021 are unchanged and therefore continue to be accounted for as liability awards and marked-to-market each period based on changes in the stock price.

AspenTech also has stock-based compensation plans that are settled in its own stock. These plans consist of restricted stock units and stock options.

Total compensation expense and income tax benefits for Emerson and AspenTech stock options and incentive shares follows.

2020 2021 2022
Performance shares$98 203 89 
Restricted stock and restricted stock units11 21 23 
Stock options—  
AspenTech stock-based compensation plans  32 
     Total stock compensation expense$110 224 144 
Income tax benefits recognized$18 27 19 

As of September 30, 2022, total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested shares awarded under Emerson plans was $153, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years, while the total future unrecognized compensation cost related to AspenTech stock options and RSUs was $41 and $97, respectively, which is expected to be recorded over a weighted average period of 2.1 years and 1.8 years, respectively.

Emerson Performance Shares, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
The Company's incentive shares plans include performance shares awards which distribute the value of common stock to key management employees at the conclusion of a three-year period subject to certain operating performance conditions and other terms and restrictions. The form of distribution is primarily shares of common stock, with a portion in cash in the first quarter following the end of the applicable three-year performance period. Dividend equivalents are only paid on earned awards after the performance period has concluded. Compensation expense for performance shares is recognized over the service period based on the number of shares ultimately expected to be earned.
Information related to performance share payouts for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2022 follows (shares in thousands):
2021 2022
Performance period2018 - 20202019 - 2021
Percent payout100 %101 %
Total shares earned1,5351,341
Shares distributed in cash, primarily for tax withholding672586
As of September 30, 2022, approximately 1,469,000 shares awarded primarily in 2020 were outstanding, contingent on the Company achieving its performance objectives through 2022. The objectives for these shares were met at the 106 percent level and the shares will be distributed in early fiscal 2023.
Additionally, the rights to receive approximately 1,057,000 and 1,481,000 common shares awarded in 2022 and 2021, respectively, are outstanding and contingent upon the Company achieving its performance objectives through 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Incentive shares plans also include restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. Restricted stock awards involve distribution of common stock to key management employees subject to cliff vesting at the end of service periods ranging from three to ten years while restricted stock units granted to employees cliff vest at the end of a three-year period. The fair value of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units is determined based on the average of the high and low market prices of the Company's common stock on the date of grant, with compensation expense recognized ratably over the applicable vesting period. In 2022, approximately 116,000 shares of restricted stock vested as a result of participants fulfilling the applicable service requirements. Consequently, approximately 76,000 shares were issued while 40,000 shares were withheld for income taxes in accordance with minimum withholding requirements. As of September 30, 2022, there were approximately 1,272,000 shares of unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units outstanding.

In addition to the employee stock option and incentive shares plans, in 2022 the Company awarded approximately 19,000 shares of restricted stock under the restricted stock plan for non-management directors. As of September 30, 2022, approximately 79,000 shares were available for issuance under this plan.

As of September 30, 2022, 3.8 million shares remained available for award under incentive shares plans.

Changes in shares outstanding but not yet earned under incentive shares plans during the year ended September 30, 2022 follow (shares in thousands; assumes 100 percent payout of unvested awards):
 SharesAverage Grant Date
Fair Value Per Share
Beginning of year5,641 $70.22 
     Granted1,451 $95.54 
     Earned/vested(1,614)$67.65 
     Canceled(198)$79.08 
End of year5,280 $77.58 

Information related to Emerson incentive shares plans follows:
2020 2021 2022 
Total fair value of shares earned/vested$164 131 158 
Share awards distributed in cash, primarily for tax withholding$81 58 69 

Emerson Stock Options
There were no stock option grants in 2022, 2021 and 2020. The Company's stock option plans expired in fiscal year 2021. Previously awarded stock options allow key officers and employees to purchase common stock at specified prices, which are equal to 100 percent of the closing market price of the Company's stock on the date of grant. Options generally vest one-third in each of the three years subsequent to grant and expire 10 years from the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period based on the number of options expected to vest.
Changes in shares subject to options during the year ended September 30, 2022 follow (shares in thousands):
Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per ShareSharesTotal
Intrinsic Value of Shares
Average Remaining Life (Years)
Beginning of year$57.96 2,017 
     Options granted$  
     Options exercised$57.21 (315)
     Options canceled$57.98 (10)
End of year$58.10 1,692 $27 2.2
Exercisable at end of year$58.10 1,692 $27 2.2
Information related to Emerson stock options follows:
2020 2021 2022 
Cash received for option exercises$126 114 15 
Intrinsic value of options exercised$47 53 11 
Tax benefits related to option exercises$7 
AspenTech Stock-Based Compensation
As discussed in Note 4, Emerson completed the acquisition of Heritage AspenTech in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. AspenTech, as defined in Note 4, operates as a separate publicly traded company and has various stock-based compensation plans, including stock options and restricted stock units, which are settled in their own common stock and are accounted for as equity awards. Restricted stock units generally vest over four years. Option awards have been granted with an exercise price equal to the market closing price of AspenTech's stock on the trading day prior to the grant date. These options generally vest over 4 years and expire within 7 years or 10 years of grant. AspenTech's policy is to issue new shares upon the exercise of vested stock awards.

Pursuant to the terms of the transaction agreement between Emerson and Heritage AspenTech, each outstanding option to purchase shares of Heritage AspenTech common stock, whether vested or unvested, that was unexercised as of immediately prior to the closing date was converted into an option to acquire shares of AspenTech. Each converted option is subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the original option. In addition, each outstanding award of restricted stock units with respect to shares of Heritage AspenTech common stock that were unvested as of immediately prior to the closing date was converted into an award of restricted stock units with respect to shares of AspenTech. Each converted restricted stock unit is also subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the original restricted stock unit.

ASC 805 required the Company to determine the fair value of the AspenTech share-based payment awards related to the replacement of the Heritage AspenTech share-based payment awards, and allocate the total fair value based on the services that are attributable to the pre- and post-combination service periods, respectively. The portion that is attributable to the pre-combination service period was considered part of the consideration transferred for Heritage AspenTech and included as part of the purchase price. The portion that is attributable to the post-combination service period is recognized as stock-based compensation expense in the post-combination consolidated financial statements over the remaining requisite service period.

AspenTech Stock Options
AspenTech utilizes the Black-Scholes option valuation model for estimating the fair value of options granted. The Black-Scholes option valuation model incorporates assumptions regarding expected stock price volatility, the expected life of the option, the risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and the market value of AspenTech's common stock. The expected stock price volatility is determined based on AspenTech's stock’s historic prices over a period commensurate with the expected life of the award. The expected life of an option represents the period for which options are expected to be outstanding as determined by historic option exercises and cancellations. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve for notes with terms approximating the expected life of the options granted. The expected dividend yield is zero, based on AspenTech's history and expectation of not paying dividends on common shares. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis, net of forfeitures as they occur, over the requisite service period for time-vested awards.
The weighted-average assumptions used in valuations for 2022 are: risk-free interest rate, 3.0 percent; dividend yield, none; expected volatility, 36.6 percent; and expected life, approximately 5.1 years.

A summary of AspenTech stock option activity in fiscal 2022 is as follows (shares in thousands):

Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per ShareSharesTotal
Intrinsic Value of Shares
Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Beginning of year$  
     Issuance of replacement awards$101.44 1,165 
     Issuance of non-replacement awards$204.27 238 
     Exercised$108.96 (137)
     Canceled/Forfeited$149.16 (10)
End of year$131.26 1,256 $134 7.0
Exercisable at end of year$101.76 727 $99 5.6
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2022
$131.20 1,252 $134 7.0

The weighted average estimated fair value of option awards granted during fiscal 2022 was $72.26. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2022 was $13. Cash proceeds of $14 from issuances of shares of AspenTech common stock were received during fiscal 2022.

AspenTech Restricted Stock Units
A summary of AspenTech restricted stock unit activity in fiscal 2022 is as follows (shares in thousands):

Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair ValueShares
Beginning of year$  
     Issuance of replacement awards$166.30 454 
     Issuance of non-replacement awards$202.39 288 
     Settled$190.07 (136)
     Canceled/forfeited$188.48 (17)
End of year$193.82 589 
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2022
$177.58 556 

During fiscal 2022, the total fair value of vested shares from AspenTech RSU grants amounted to $34. Withholding taxes of $5 were paid on vested RSUs during fiscal 2022.

At September 30, 2022, common stock reserved for future issuance under all AspenTech equity compensation plans was 4.1 million shares.