Incentive Compensation Plans

2014 Performance Incentive Plan

We issue stock-based compensation and cash awards to our employees under a plan established by the Compensation and Leadership Talent Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) and approved by our shareholders. In May 2014, our shareholders approved the 2014 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2014 PIP”), replacing the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2009 PIP”) and previous incentive plans. The number of shares of common stock initially available for grants of all equity awards under the 2014 PIP is 28.8. Pursuant to the terms of the 2014 PIP, the number of shares that may be awarded to any one participant for each type of award is limited to 2.0. The vesting period of awards granted is generally commensurate with the requisite service period. We generally issue new shares to satisfy the exercise of stock options or the distribution of other stock-based awards.

Additionally, under the 2014 PIP, we have the ability to issue performance cash awards. Performance cash awards are granted to certain employees who otherwise would have been eligible to receive performance-based stock awards. These awards have a service period vesting condition and a performance vesting condition. The amount of the performance cash award received by an employee with a performance vesting condition can range from 0% to 300% of the target amount of the original grant value. Performance cash awards generally vest in three years. The Compensation Committee may grant performance cash awards to any eligible employee; however, no employee can receive more than $10.0 during a performance period.

The amounts of stock-based compensation expense as reflected in salaries and related expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the related tax benefit, are listed below.



	Years ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Stock options	$	1.0	$	2.1	$	3.7
Stock-settled awards	11.6		10.0		9.8
Cash-settled awards	0.7		0.6		1.5
Performance-based awards	57.7		42.2		29.6
Employee stock purchase plan	0.7		0.6		0.6
Other ¹	0.9		1.2		0.8
Stock-based compensation expense	$	72.6	$	56.7	$	46.0
Tax benefit	$	26.3	$	20.6	$	17.6


1	Represents charges recorded for severance expense related to stock-based compensation awards.

Stock Options

Stock options are granted with the exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date. They are generally first exercisable between two and four years from the grant date and expire ten years from the grant date (or earlier in the case of certain terminations of employment).

The following tables are a summary of stock option activity during 2015.



	Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price (per option)		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Stock options outstanding as of January 1, 2015	7.4		$	9.70
Exercised	(1.4	)	9.99
Stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2015	6.0		$	9.63	3.5	$	82.4
Stock options vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2015	6.0		$	9.63	3.5	$	82.4
Stock options exercisable as of December 31, 2015	5.8		$	9.51	3.4	$	80.1

	Options		Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value (per option)		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Non-vested as of January 1, 2015	0.6		$	4.16
Vested	(0.4	)	4.18
Non-vested as of December 31, 2015	0.2		$	4.14	7.2	$	2.4

There were 1.4, 1.7 and 5.2 stock options exercised in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $16.1, $10.7 and $26.2, respectively. The cash received from the stock options exercised in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $20.4, $25.2 and $59.5, respectively.

We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of options granted, which requires the input of subjective assumptions including the option’s expected term and the price volatility of the underlying stock. Changes in the assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value, and our results of operations could be materially impacted. There were no stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The weighted-average grant-date fair value per option during the year ended December 31, 2013 was $4.14.

The fair value of each option grant has been estimated with the following weighted-average assumptions.



	Year ended December 31, 2013
Expected volatility ¹	40.2	%
Expected term (years) ²	6.9
Risk-free interest rate ³	1.3	%
Expected dividend yield ⁴	2.4	%


1	The expected volatility used to estimate the fair value of stock options awarded is based on a blend of: (i) historical volatility of our common stock for periods equal to the expected term of our stock options and (ii) implied volatility of tradable forward put and call options to purchase and sell shares of our common stock.

The estimate of our expected term is based on the average of: (i) an assumption that all outstanding options are exercised upon achieving their full vesting date and (ii) an assumption that all outstanding options will be exercised at the midpoint between the current date (i.e., the date awards have ratably vested through) and their full contractual term. In determining the estimate, we considered several factors, including the historical option exercise behavior of our employees and the terms and vesting periods of the options.


3	The risk-free interest rate is determined using the implied yield currently available for zero-coupon U.S. government issuers with a remaining term equal to the expected term of the options.


4	The expected dividend yield was calculated based on an annualized dividend of $0.30 per share in 2013.

Stock-Based Compensation

We grant other stock-based compensation awards such as stock-settled awards, cash-settled awards and performance-based awards (settled in cash or shares) to certain key employees. The number of shares or units received by an employee for performance-based awards depends on Company performance against specific performance targets and could range from 0% to 300% of the target amount of shares originally granted. Incentive awards are subject to certain restrictions and vesting requirements as determined by the Compensation Committee. The fair value of the shares on the grant date is amortized over the vesting period, which is generally three years. Upon completion of the vesting period for cash-settled awards, the grantee is entitled to receive a payment in cash based on the fair market value of the corresponding number of shares of common stock. No monetary consideration is paid by a recipient for any incentive award. The fair value of cash-settled awards is adjusted each quarter based on our share price. The holders of stock-settled awards have absolute ownership interest in the underlying shares of common stock prior to vesting, which includes the right to vote and receive dividends. Dividends declared on common stock are accrued during the vesting period and paid when the award vests. The holders of cash-settled and performance-based awards have no ownership interest in the underlying shares of common stock until the awards vest and the shares of common stock are issued.

Stock-based compensation awards expected to be settled in cash have been classified as liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.



	Years ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Stock-Settled Awards:
Awards granted	0.8		1.2		1.1
Weighted-average grant-date fair value (per award)	$	22.07	$	17.77	$	13.51
Total fair value of vested awards distributed	$	18.8	$	12.6	$	35.4
Cash-Settled Awards:
Awards granted	0.1		0.1		0.1
Weighted-average grant-date fair value (per award)	$	20.46	$	18.20	$	16.35
Total fair value of vested awards distributed	$	0.2	$	0.6	$	5.4
Performance-Based Awards:
Awards granted	2.9		3.5		1.5
Weighted-average grant-date fair value (per award)	$	20.88	$	16.56	$	11.97
Total fair value of vested awards distributed	$	18.7	$	15.3	$	0.2

In conjunction with common stock dividends declared in 2015 and 2014, we accrued dividends of $0.9 and $0.8, respectively, on non-vested stock-settled awards and paid dividends of $0.6 and $0.5 for stock-settled awards that vested during 2015 and 2014, respectively.

A summary of the activity of our non-vested stock-settled awards, cash-settled awards and performance-based awards during 2015 is presented below (performance-based awards are shown at 100% of the shares originally granted).



	Stock-Settled Awards					Cash-Settled Awards					Performance-Based Awards
	Awards			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value (per award)		Awards			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value (per award)		Awards			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value (per award)
Non-vested as of January 1, 2015	2.2			$	15.47	0.1			$	16.99	5.8			$	14.39
Granted	0.8			22.07		0.1			20.46		2.9			20.88
Vested	(0.9		)	14.10		(0.1		)	11.99		(0.8		)	11.09
Forfeited	(0.1		)	17.92		0.0			0.00		(0.8		)	13.36
Non-vested as of December 31, 2015	2.0			$	18.53	0.1			$	18.75	7.1			$	17.50
Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining	$	16.2				$	1.8				$	87.1
Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over	1.3					1.7					1.8

During 2015, 2014 and 2013, additional performance cash awards with a total target value of $1.2, $2.9 and $35.6, respectively, were awarded under the 2014 PIP and 2009 PIP and will be settled in shares upon vesting, which is three years from the grant date. The total fair value of the vested awards distributed during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $16.6 and $19.8, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there was $1.6 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards, which is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of 0.2 years.

In conjunction with our annual grant of long-term incentive compensation awards, we reviewed our estimates and assumptions in 2015, which resulted in a forfeiture rate consistent with prior years.

2009 Restricted Cash Plan

In March 2009, the Compensation Committee approved the Interpublic Restricted Cash Plan (the “Cash Plan”). Under the Cash Plan, the Board, the Compensation Committee or the Plan Administrator may grant cash awards to certain employees eligible to receive stock-settled and cash-settled awards. Cash awards, when granted, have a service period vesting condition and generally vest in three years.

Cash Awards

During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Compensation Committee granted cash awards under the Cash Plan with a total target value of $1.3, $5.8 and $4.6, respectively, and we recognized $3.0, $3.1 and $4.0, respectively, in salaries and related expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Compensation Committee granted performance awards to be settled in cash under the 2014 PIP and 2009 PIP with a total target value of $31.8, $33.0, and $47.4, respectively, and we recognized $35.8, $27.3 and $18.3, respectively, in salaries and related expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

We amortize the present value of the amount expected to vest for cash awards and performance cash awards over the vesting period using the straight-line method, less an assumed forfeiture rate. Cash awards do not fall within the scope of the authoritative guidance for stock compensation as they are not paid in equity and the value of the award is not correlated with our stock price. Due to the cash nature of the payouts and the vesting period, we account for these awards in accordance with authoritative guidance for deferred compensation arrangements.

Employee Stock Purchase Plans

In December 2015, the Board approved The Interpublic Group of Companies Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2016) (the “New ESPP”), replacing the prior employee stock purchase plan under which, prior to its expiration on December 31, 2015, 3.0 shares were issued. The issuance of shares under the New ESPP is subject to shareholder approval of the plan at the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Subject to receiving shareholder approval, under the New ESPP eligible employees may purchase our common stock through payroll deductions not exceeding 10% of their eligible compensation or 900 (actual number) shares each offering period, consistent with the prior employee stock purchase plan. The price an employee pays for a share of common stock under the New ESPP continues to be 90% of the lesser of the average market price of a share on the first business day of the offering period or the average market price of a share on the last business day of the offering period of three months. An aggregate of 10.0 shares are reserved for issuance under the New ESPP.