Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

v3.21.2
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]  
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
As discussed in Note 2, on the Emergence Date, the Company's Predecessor common stock was cancelled and New Common Stock was issued. Accordingly, the Company's then existing stock-based compensation awards were also cancelled, which resulted in the recognition of previously unamortized expense of $4.4 million related to the cancelled awards on the date of cancellation, which was included in reorganization items, net on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Stock-based compensation for the Predecessor and Successor periods are not comparable.
Successor Stock-Based Compensation
As of the Emergence Date, the board of directors adopted the Incentive Plan with a share reserve equal to 2,828,123 shares of New Common Stock. The Incentive Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents and performance awards or any combination of the foregoing. The Company has granted restricted stock units to employees and directors pursuant to the Incentive Plan, as discussed below. During the Current Successor Quarter and the Current Successor YTD Period, the Company's stock-based compensation expense was $1.4 million, of which the Company capitalized $0.5 million relating to its exploration and development efforts. Stock compensation expense, net of the amounts capitalized, is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity for the Current Successor YTD Period:
Number of
Unvested
Restricted Stock Units
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Number of
Unvested
Performance Vesting Restricted Stock Units
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Unvested shares as of May 18, 2021 —  $ —  —  $ — 
Granted 198,755  65.92  141,697  47.67 
Vested —  —  —  — 
Forfeited/canceled —  —  —  — 
Unvested shares as of September 30, 2021 198,755  $ 65.92  141,697  $ 47.67 
Successor Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units awarded under the Incentive Plan generally vest over a period of 1 to 4 years in the case of employees and 4 years in the case of directors upon the recipient meeting applicable service requirements. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded ratably over the service period. The grant date fair value of restricted stock units represents the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the date of the grant. Unrecognized compensation expense as of September 30, 2021 was $12.2 million. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.05 years.
Successor Performance Vesting Restricted Stock Units
The Company has awarded performance vesting restricted stock units to certain of its executive officers under the Incentive Plan. The number of shares of common stock issued pursuant to the award will be based on a combination of (i) the Company's total shareholder return ("TSR") and (ii) the Company's relative total shareholder return ("RTSR") for the performance period. Participants will earn from 0% to 200% of the target award based on the Company's TSR and RTSR ranking compared to the TSR of the companies in the Company's designated peer group at the end of the performance period. Awards will be earned and vested over a performance period from May 17, 2021 to May 17, 2024, subject to earlier termination of the performance period in the event of a change in control. The grant date fair value was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation method and is being recorded ratably over the performance period. Expected volatilities utilized in the Monte Carlo model were estimated using a historical period consistent with the remaining performance period of approximately 3 years. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury rate for a term commensurate with the expected life of the grant. The Company assumed a risk-free interest rate of 0.35% and expected volatility of 87.0% to estimate the fair value. Unrecognized compensation expense as of September 30, 2021, related to performance vesting restricted shares was $6.3 million. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.8 years.
Predecessor Stock-Based Compensation
The Company granted restricted stock units to employees and directors pursuant to the 2019 Amended and Restated Incentive Stock Plan ("2019 Plan"). During the Current Predecessor YTD Period, the Company’s stock-based compensation cost was $4.4 million, of which the Company capitalized $0.9 million, relating to its exploration and development efforts. During the Prior Predecessor Quarter and the Prior Predecessor YTD Period, the Company’s stock-based compensation cost was $8.9 million and $13.2 million, respectively, of which the Company capitalized $0.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively, relating to its exploration and development efforts. Stock compensation costs, net of the amounts capitalized, are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity for the Current Predecessor YTD Period:
Number of
Unvested
Restricted Stock Units
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Number of
Unvested
Performance Vesting Restricted Stock Units
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Unvested shares as of January 1, 2021 1,702,513  $ 4.74  840,595  $ 4.07 
Granted —  —  —  — 
Vested (227,132) 8.45  —  — 
Forfeited/canceled (1,475,381) 4.16  (840,595) 4.07 
Unvested shares as of May 17, 2021 —  $ —  —  $ — 
Predecessor Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units awarded under the 2019 Plan generally vested over a period of one year in the case of directors and three years in the case of employees and vesting was dependent upon the recipient meeting applicable service requirements. Stock-based compensation costs are recorded ratably over the service period. The grant date fair value of restricted stock units represents the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. All unrecognized compensation expense was recognized as of the Emergence Date.
Predecessor Performance Vesting Restricted Stock Units
The Company previously awarded performance vesting restricted stock units to certain of its executive officers under the 2019 Plan. The number of shares of common stock issued pursuant to the award was based on RTSR. RTSR is an incentive measure whereby participants will earn from 0% to 200% of the target award based on the Company’s TSR ranking compared to the TSR of the companies in the Company’s designated peer group at the end of the performance period. Awards were to be earned and vested over a performance period measured from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, subject to earlier termination of the performance period in the event of a change in control. All unrecognized compensation expense was recognized as of the Emergence Date.