Equity-Based Compensation

We record compensation expense for equity-based awards, such as restricted stock, deferred stock and performance awards, based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant, adjusted if appropriate based on the award’s eligibility to receive dividends. The fair value of stock options and stock appreciation rights is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

Compensation expense related to equity-based awards with service-only conditions and terms that provide for a graded vesting schedule is recognized on a straight-line basis over the required service period for the entire award. Compensation expense related to equity-based awards with performance conditions and terms that provide for a graded vesting schedule is recognized over the requisite service period for each separately vesting tranche of the award, and is based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions at each reporting date. Compensation expense is adjusted for assumptions with respect to the estimated amount of awards that will be forfeited prior to vesting, and for employees who have met certain retirement eligibility criteria. Compensation expense for common stock awards granted to employees meeting early retirement eligibility criteria is fully expensed and accrued on the grant date.

Dividend equivalents for certain equity-based awards are paid on stock units on a current basis prior to vesting and distribution.

As of December 31, 2015, a cumulative total of 60.9 million shares had been awarded under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, or 2006 Plan, compared with cumulative totals of 56.9 million shares and 52.4 million shares as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The 2006 Plan allows for shares withheld in payment of the exercise price of an award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements, shares forfeited due to employee termination, shares expired under options awards, or shares not delivered when performance conditions have not been met, to be added back to the pool of shares available for awards. As of December 31, 2015, 21.1 million shares had been awarded under the 2006 Plan but not delivered, and have become available for reissue. A total of 20.8 million shares is available for issuance under the 2006 Plan.

The exercise price of non-qualified and incentive stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be less than the fair value of such shares on the date of grant. Stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, or 1997 Plan, and the 2006 Plan, collectively the Plans, generally vest over four years and expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. No common stock options or stock appreciation rights have been granted since 2009. For restricted stock awards granted under the Plans, common stock is issued at the time of grant and recipients have dividend and voting rights. In general, these grants vest over three to four years. As of December 31, 2015 there are no outstanding stock options or restricted stock awards.

For deferred stock awards granted under the Plans, no common stock is issued at the time of grant and the stock does not have dividend and voting rights. Generally, these grants vest over one to four years. Performance awards granted are earned over a performance period based on the achievement of defined goals, generally over one to four years. Payment for performance awards is made in shares of our common stock equal to its fair market value per share, based on certain financial ratios, after the conclusion of each performance period.

Beginning with 2012, malus-based forfeiture provisions were included in deferred stock awards granted to employees identified as “material risk-takers,” as defined by management. These malus-based forfeiture provisions provide for the reduction or cancellation of unvested deferred compensation, such as deferred stock awards, if it is determined that a material risk-taker made risk-based decisions that exposed State Street to inappropriate risks that resulted in a material unexpected loss at the business-unit, line-of-business or corporate level.

Compensation expense related to stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, deferred stock awards and performance awards, which we record as a component of compensation and employee benefits expense in our consolidated statement of income, was $319 million, $329 million and $355 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Such expense for 2015, 2014 and 2013 excluded $10 million, $20 million and $3 million, respectively, associated with acceleration of expense in connection with targeted staff reductions. This expense was included in the severance-related portion of the associated restructuring charges recorded in each respective year.

The following table presents information about the Plans as of December 31, 2015, and related activity during the years indicated:



	Shares (in thousands)		Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights:
Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	2,664		$	68.45
Exercised	(801	)	55.33
Forfeited or expired	(2	)	52.78
Outstanding as of December 31, 2014	1,861		74.12
Exercised	(398	)	62.63
Forfeited or expired	(257	)	81.71
Outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2015 ⁽¹⁾	1,206		$	76.29	1.6

⁽¹⁾ Consists of zero shares subject to stock options and 1,206 stock appreciation rights.

The total intrinsic value of options and stock appreciation rights exercised during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $5 million, $14 million and $42 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options and stock appreciation rights.

The following tables present activity related to other common stock awards during the years indicated:



	Shares (in thousands)		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted Stock Awards:
Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	1,245		$	44.47
Vested	(1,211	)	44.56
Forfeited	(3	)	42.57
Outstanding as of December 31, 2014	31		41.27
Vested	(31	)	41.22
Forfeited	—		—
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015	—		$	—

The total fair value of restricted stock awards vested for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, based on the weighted average grant date fair value in each respective year, was $1 million, $54 million, and $57 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, all awards had vested.



	Shares (in thousands)		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Deferred Stock Awards:
Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	15,094		$	45.07
Granted	4,282		65.40
Vested	(6,730	)	46.03
Forfeited	(215	)	49.87
Outstanding as of December 31, 2014	12,431		51.47
Granted	3,461		72.98
Vested	(6,910	)	49.17
Forfeited	(246	)	59.22
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015	8,736		$	61.59

The total fair value of deferred stock awards vested for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, based on the weighted average grant date fair value in each respective year, was $340 million, $310 million and $259 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, total unrecognized compensation cost related to deferred stock awards, net of estimated forfeitures, was $301 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years.



	Shares (in thousands)		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Performance Awards:
Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	2,224		$	43.24
Granted	437		64.56
Forfeited	(1	)	53.16
Paid out	(1,033	)	42.48
Outstanding as of December 31, 2014	1,627		49.46
Granted	400		72.24
Forfeited	(1	)	41.02
Paid out	(861	)	45.09
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015	1,165		$	60.45

The total fair value of performance awards paid out for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, based on the weighted average grant date fair value in each respective year, was $39 million, $44 million and $34 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, total unrecognized compensation cost related to performance awards, net of estimated forfeitures, was $3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

We utilize either treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares to satisfy the issuance of common stock under our equity incentive plans. We do not have a specific policy concerning purchases of our common stock to satisfy stock issuances, including exercises of stock options. We have a general policy concerning purchases of our common stock to meet issuances under our employee benefit plans, including option exercises and other corporate purposes. Various factors determine the amount and timing of our purchases of our common stock, including regulatory reviews, our regulatory capital requirements, the number of shares we expect to issue under employee benefit plans, market conditions (including the trading price of our common stock), and legal considerations. These factors can change at any time, and the number of shares of common stock we will purchase or when we will purchase them cannot be assured.