EastGroup applies the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, to account for its stock-based compensation plans. ASC 718 requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements and that the cost be measured on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued.

Stock-based compensation cost for employees was $1,569,000 and $3,013,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, of which $396,000 and $777,000 were capitalized as part of the Company’s development costs. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, stock-based compensation cost for employees was $1,108,000 and $2,151,000, respectively, of which $245,000 and $459,000 were capitalized as part of the Company’s development costs.

In the second quarter of 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) approved a long-term equity compensation plan for certain of its executive officers that included three components based on total shareholder return and one component based only on continued service as of the vesting dates.

The three long-term equity compensation plan components based on total shareholder return are subject to bright-line tests that compare the Company’s total shareholder return to the Nareit Equity Index and to the member companies of the Nareit industrial index. The first plan measured the bright-line tests over the one-year period ended December 31, 2017; these shares were awarded during the first quarter of 2018.

The second plan measured the bright-line tests over the two-year period ended December 31, 2018. During the first quarter of 2019, the Committee measured the Company’s performance for the two-year period against bright-line tests established by the Committee on the grant date of May 10, 2017. The number of shares determined on the measurement date was 9,460. These shares vested 100% on February 14, 2019, the date the earned shares were determined. On the grant date of May 10, 2017, the Company began recognizing expense for this plan based on the grant date fair value of the awards which was determined using a simulation pricing model developed to specifically accommodate the unique features of the award.

The third plan will measure the bright-line tests over the three-year period ending December 31, 2019. During the first quarter of 2020, the Committee will measure the Company’s performance for the three-year period against bright-line tests established by the Committee on the grant date of May 10, 2017. The number of shares to be earned on the measurement date could range from zero to 18,917. These shares would vest 75% on the date the earned shares are determined in the first quarter of 2020 and 25% on January 1, 2021. On the grant date of May 10, 2017, the Company began recognizing expense for this plan based on the grant date fair value of the awards which was determined using a simulation pricing model developed to specifically accommodate the unique features of the award.

vesting dates. These shares, which have a grant date fair value of $78.18 per share, vested 25% in the first quarter of each of 2018 and 2019 and will vest 25% on January 1 in years 2020 and 2021. The shares are being expensed on a straight-line basis over the remaining service period.

In the second quarter of 2018, the Committee approved an equity compensation plan for the Company’s executive officers based upon certain annual performance measures for 2018, including funds from operations (“FFO”) per share, same property net operating income change, general and administrative costs, and fixed charge coverage. On February 14, 2019, the Committee measured the Company’s performance for 2018 against bright-line tests established by the Committee on the grant date of June 1, 2018 and determined that 24,690 shares were earned. These shares, which have a grant date fair value of $95.19, vested 20% on the date shares were determined and will vest 20% per year on January 1 in years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. On the grant date of June 1, 2018, the Company began recognizing expense for its estimate of the shares that may be earned pursuant to these awards; the shares are being expensed using the graded vesting attribution method which recognizes each separate vesting portion of the award as a separate award on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

Also in the second quarter of 2018, the Committee approved an equity compensation plan for EastGroup’s executive officers based upon the achievement of individual goals for each of the officers included in the plan. On February 14, 2019, the Committee evaluated the performance of the officers and, in its discretion, awarded 5,671 shares with a grant date fair value of $107.37. These shares vested 20% on the date shares were determined and awarded and will vest 20% per year on January 1 in years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Company began recognizing the expense for the shares awarded on the grant date of February 14, 2019, and the shares will be expensed on a straight-line basis over the remaining service period.

Also in the second quarter of 2018, the Committee approved a long-term equity compensation plan for the Company’s executive officers that includes one component based on total shareholder return and one component based only on continued service as of the vesting dates.

The component of the long-term equity compensation plan based on total shareholder return is subject to bright-line tests that will compare the Company’s total shareholder return to the Nareit Equity Index and to the member companies of the Nareit industrial index. The plan will measure the bright-line tests over the three-year period ending December 31, 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Committee will measure the Company’s performance for the three-year period against bright-line tests established by the Committee on the grant date of June 1, 2018. The number of shares to be earned on the measurement date could range from zero to 27,596. These shares would vest 75% on the date the earned shares are determined in the first quarter of 2021 and 25% on January 1, 2022. On the grant date of June 1, 2018, the Company began recognizing expense for this plan based on the grant date fair value of the awards which was determined using a simulation pricing model developed to specifically accommodate the unique features of the award.

The component of the long-term equity compensation plan based only on continued service as of the vesting dates was awarded on June 1, 2018. On that date, 7,884 shares were granted to the Company’s executive officers subject only to continued service as of the vesting dates. These shares, which have a grant date fair value of $95.19, vested 25% in the first quarter of 2019 and will vest 25% on January 1 in years 2020, 2021 and 2022. The shares are being expensed on a straight-line basis over the remaining service period.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Committee approved an equity compensation plan (the “2019 Annual Plan”) for the Company’s executive officers based upon certain annual performance measures for 2019; the plan is comprised of three components. The first component of the 2019 Annual Plan is based upon the following Company performance measures for 2019: (i) same property net operating income change, (ii) debt-to EBITDAre ratio, and (iii) fixed charge coverage. During the first quarter of 2020, the Committee will measure the Company’s performance for 2019 against bright-line tests established by the Committee on the grant date of March 7, 2019. The number of shares that may be earned for the achievement of the annual performance measures could range from zero to 9,594. These shares, which have a grant date fair value of $105.97, would vest 20% on the date shares are determined and 20% per year on each January 1 for the subsequent four years. On the grant date of March 7, 2019, the Company began recognizing expense for its estimate of the shares that may be earned pursuant to these awards; the shares are being expensed using the graded vesting attribution method which recognizes each separate vesting portion of the award as a separate award on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

The second component of the 2019 Annual Plan is based upon the Company’s FFO per share for 2019. Any shares issued pursuant to the FFO per share goals in this compensation plan will be determined by the Committee in its discretion, which is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2020. The number of shares to be issued on the grant date for the achievement of the performance goals could range from zero to 15,988. These shares would vest 20% on the date shares are determined and awarded and 20% per year on each January 1 for the subsequent four years. The Company will begin recognizing the expense for any shares awarded

The third component of the 2019 Annual Plan is based upon the achievement of individual goals for each of the officers included in the plan. Any shares issued pursuant to the individual goals in this compensation plan will be determined by the Committee in its discretion and issued in the first quarter of 2020. The number of shares to be issued on the grant date for the achievement of individual goals could range from zero to 6,394. These shares would vest 20% on the date shares are determined and awarded and 20% per year on each January 1 for the subsequent four years. The Company will begin recognizing the expense for any shares awarded on the grant date in the first quarter of 2020, and the shares will be expensed on a straight-line basis over the remaining service period.

Also in the first quarter of 2019, the Committee approved a long-term equity compensation plan for the Company’s executive officers that includes one component based on total shareholder return and one component based only on continued service as of the vesting dates.

The component of the long-term equity compensation plan based on total shareholder return is subject to bright-line tests that will compare the Company’s total shareholder return to the Nareit Equity Index and to the member companies of the Nareit industrial index. The plan will measure the bright-line tests over the three-year period ending December 31, 2021. During the first quarter of 2022, the Committee will measure the Company’s performance for the three-year period against bright-line tests established by the Committee on the grant date of March 7, 2019. The number of shares to be earned on the measurement date could range from zero to 34,812. These shares would vest 75% on the date the earned shares are determined in the first quarter of 2022 and 25% on January 1, 2023. On the grant date of March 7, 2019, the Company began recognizing expense for this plan based on the grant date fair value of the awards which was determined using a simulation pricing model developed to specifically accommodate the unique features of the award.

The component of the long-term equity compensation plan based only on continued service as of the vesting dates was awarded on March 7, 2019. On that date, 9,947 shares were granted to the Company’s executive officers subject only to continued service as of the vesting dates. These shares, which have a grant date fair value of $105.97, will vest 25% in the first quarter of 2020 and 25% on January 1 in years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The shares are being expensed on a straight-line basis over the remaining service period.

During the second quarter of 2019, 10,175 shares were granted to certain non-executive officers subject only to continued service as of the vesting dates. These shares, which have a grant date fair value of $112.14 per share, will vest 20% per year on January 1 in years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Following is a summary of the total restricted shares granted, forfeited and delivered (vested) to participants with the related weighted average grant date fair value share prices. Of the shares that vested in the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company withheld 28,955 shares to satisfy the tax obligations for those participants who elected this option as permitted under the applicable equity plan. As of the vesting dates, the aggregate fair value of shares that vested during the six months ended June 30, 2019, was $6,662,000.



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
Award Activity:	June 30, 2019				June 30, 2019
	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at beginning of period	121,245		$	80.41	143,525		$	70.29
Granted ^{(1) (2)}	10,175		112.14		59,943		94.62
Forfeited	(325	)	112.14		(3,010	)	86.19
Vested	—		—		(69,363	)	66.99
Unvested at end of period	131,095		$	82.79	131,095		$	82.79