16. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

Deferred Equity Units

Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of equity compensation awards requires the input of complex and subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the equity compensation awards and the stock price volatility. In addition, determining the appropriate amount of associated periodic expense requires management to estimate the amount of employee forfeitures and the likelihood of the achievement of certain performance targets. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of equity compensation awards and the associated periodic expense represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if factors change and the Company deems it necessary in the future to modify the assumptions it made or to use different assumptions, or if the quantity and nature of the Company’s equity-based compensation awards changes, then the amount of expense may need to be adjusted and future equity compensation expense could be materially different from what has been recorded in the current period.

SLP has granted equity-based compensation awards to certain partners under SLP’s 2010, 2011 and 2012 Deferred Equity programs (the “Equity Programs”). The Equity Programs allow for the granting of deferred equity units based on the fair value of the Company’s units. These deferred equity units contain both service and performance requirements.

Each grant includes a deferred equity unit (“Deferred Equity Unit”) and performance unit (“Performance Unit”) subject to various terms including terms of forfeiture and acceleration of vesting. The Deferred Equity Unit represents the unsecured right to receive one unit of SLP or the equivalent cash value of up to 50% (or such other percentage as may be determined by the Company’s Executive Committee) of SLP’s units issuable upon the vesting of any such Deferred Equity Units and the remaining 50% in units upon the vesting of any such Deferred Equity Units. Such cash amount is to be calculated using the equivalent share price of the Silvercrest’s Class A Common Stock as of the applicable vesting date. The Performance Unit represents the unsecured right to receive one unit of SLP for every two units of SLP issuable upon the vesting of any such Deferred Equity Units.

Twenty-five percent of the Deferred Equity Units vest on each of the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the grant date until the Deferred Equity Units are fully vested. The Performance Units are subject to forfeiture and subject to the satisfaction of a predetermined performance target at the end of the four-year vesting period. If the performance target is achieved, then the Performance Units vest at the end of the four-year vesting period. The rights of the partners with respect to the Performance Units remain subject to forfeiture at all times prior to the date on which such rights become vested and will be forfeited if the performance target is not achieved.

Distributions related to Deferred Equity Units that are paid to partners are charged to non-controlling interests.  Distributions related to the unvested portion of Deferred Equity Units that are assumed to be forfeited are recognized as compensation expense because these distributions are not required to be returned by partners to SLP upon forfeiture.

The grant date fair values of Performance Units were determined by applying a performance probability factor to the Deferred Equity Unit Value. These methodologies included the use of third party data and discounts for lack of control and marketability.

Only the portion of Deferred Equity Units that can be settled in cash are considered to be liability awards and are adjusted to fair value at the end of each reporting period.

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded compensation expense related to such units of $14, $248 and $1,043, respectively, of which $1, $81 and $109, respectively, related to the Performance Units given that there was an explicit service period associated with the Deferred Equity Units, and the likelihood that the performance target would be met was considered probable. Distributions include cash distributions paid on liability awards. Cash distributions paid on awards expected to be forfeited were $0, $0, and $1 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and are part of total compensation expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years then ended.

During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, $0, $0 and $30, respectively, of vested Deferred Equity Units were settled in cash. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there was $0 and $21, respectively, of estimated unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested awards. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a period of 0 and 0.13 years, respectively.

A summary of these equity grants by the Company as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 during the periods then ended is presented below:

The Company estimated 10% of all awards would be forfeited and the related service period was four years.

Restricted Stock Units

On November 2, 2012, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.

A total of 1,687,500 shares were originally reserved and available for issuance under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, 690,077 and  704,450 shares, respectively, were available for grant. The equity interests may be issued in the form of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and Class B units of SLP. (All references to units or interests of SLP refer to Class B units of SLP and accompanying shares of Class B common stock of Silvercrest.)

The purposes of the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan are to (i) align the long-term financial interests of our employees, directors, consultants and advisers with those of our stockholders; (ii) attract and retain those individuals by providing compensation opportunities that are consistent with our compensation philosophy; and (iii) provide incentives to those individuals who contribute significantly to our long-term performance and growth. To accomplish these purposes, the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of units of SLP. The 2012 Equity Incentive Plan also provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, or SARs, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance-based stock awards and other stock-based awards (collectively, stock awards) based on our Class A common stock. Awards may be granted to employees, including officers, members, limited partners or partners who are engaged in the business of one or more of our subsidiaries, as well as non-employee directors and consultants.

It is initially anticipated that awards under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan granted to our employees will be in the form of units of SLP that will not vest until a specified period of time has elapsed, or other vesting conditions have been satisfied as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors, and which may be forfeited if the vesting conditions are not met. During the period that any vesting restrictions apply, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, the recipient of the award will be eligible to participate in distributions of income from SLP. In addition, before the vesting conditions have been satisfied, the transferability of such units is generally prohibited and such units will not be eligible to be exchanged for cash or shares of our Class A common stock.

In August 2015, the Company granted 966,510 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan at a fair value of $13.23 per share to existing Class B unit holders.  These RSUs will vest and settle in the form of Class B units of SLP.  Twenty-five percent of the RSUs granted vest and settle on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date.

In May 2016, the Company granted 3,791 RSUs under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan at a fair value of $13.19 per share to existing Class B unit holders.  These RSUs will vest and settle in the form of Class B units of SLP.  Twenty-five percent of the RSUs granted vest and settle on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date.  

In May 2016, the Company granted 3,000 RSUs under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan at a fair value of $13.19 per share to certain members of the Board of Directors.  These RSUs will vest and settle in the form of Class A shares of Silvercrest.  One hundred percent of the RSUs granted vest and settle on the first anniversary of the grant date.

In May 2016, the Company granted 7,582 RSUs under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan at a fair value of $13.19 per share to an employee.  These RSUs will vest and settle in the form of Class A shares of Silvercrest.  Twenty-five percent of the RSUs granted vest and settle on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date.

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded compensation expense related to such RSUs of $3,247 and $1,276, respectively, as part of total compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years then ended.  As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was $5,169 and $11,383, respectively, of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested awards. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a period of 2.40 and 3.60 years, respectively.

A summary of these RSU grants by the Company as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 is presented below:

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded total compensation expense related to such Deferred Equity Units and Restricted Stock Units of $3,228 and $1,524, respectively, of which ($32) and $81, respectively, related to the Performance Units given that there was an explicit service period associated with the Deferred Equity Units, and the likelihood that the performance target would be met was considered probable.