Texas Pacific Land Corporation Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

The Company grants share-based compensation to employees under the Texas Pacific Land Corporation 2021 Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) and to its directors under the 2021 Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan (the “2021 Directors Plan”). Share-based compensation granted to date under the plans has included restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-based units (“PSUs”). Currently, all awards granted under the plans are entitled to receive dividends (which are accrued and distributed to award recipients upon vesting) or have dividend equivalent rights. Dividends and dividend equivalent rights are subject to the same vesting conditions as the awards to which they relate and are forfeitable if the related awards are forfeited. RSUs granted under the 2021 Plan vest in one-third increments and PSUs granted under the 2021 Plan cliff vest at the end of three years if the performance metrics are achieved (as discussed further below). RSAs granted under the 2021 Directors Plan vest on the first anniversary of the award.

On October 31, 2023,the 2021 Plan was amended to revise the definitions of Cause, Change in Control, and Good Reason to align these definitions with the definitions provided in an employee’s employment agreement and any severance plan maintained by the Company. In addition, the related forms of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, RTSR performance Unit Award Agreement and FCF/Share Performance Unit Award Agreement were adjusted.

On October 31, 2023, the 2021 Directors Plan was amended to (i) eliminate the one year vesting provision for annual grants and (ii) provide that certain plan administrative functions will be responsibility of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors, including determining grant recipients, establishing grant terms and conditions, and adopting certain amendments to the plan.

Incentive Plan for Employees

The maximum aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) that may be issued under the 2021 Plan is 75,000 shares, which may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares (if any), treasury shares, or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner. As of September 30, 2023, 54,718 shares of Common Stock remained available under the 2021 Plan for future grants.

The following table summarizes activity related to RSAs and RSUs under the 2021 Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023						2022
	Restricted Stock Awards			Restricted Stock Units			Restricted Stock Awards			Restricted Stock Units
	Number of RSAs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share		Number of RSUs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share		Number of RSAs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share		Number of RSUs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share
Nonvested at beginning of period (1)	1,337	$	1,252	5,612	$	1,323	3,330	$	1,252	—	$	—
Granted (2)	—	—		2,848	1,924		—	—		5,612	1,323
Vested (3)	—	—		(1,864)	1,324		—	—		—	—
Cancelled and forfeited	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Nonvested at end of period	1,337	$	1,252	6,596	$	1,583	3,330	$	1,252	5,612	$	1,323

(1)RSAs were granted on December 29, 2021: 1,993 shares vested on December 29, 2022 and 1,337 shares will vest on December 29, 2023.

(2)RSUs vest in one-third increments over a three-year period.

(3)Of the 1,864 shares that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, 669 shares were surrendered upon vesting by employees to the Company to settle tax withholdings.

The following table summarizes activity related to PSUs for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
	Number of Target PSUs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share		Number of Target PSUs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share
Nonvested at beginning of period (1)	2,394	$	1,355	—	$	—
Granted (2)	1,852	2,342		2,394	1,355
Vested	—	—		—	—
Cancelled and forfeited	—	—		—	—
Nonvested at end of period	4,246	$	1,786	2,394	$	1,355

(1)The PSUs were granted on February 11, 2022 and include 1,197 RTSR (as defined below) PSUs (based on target) with a grant date fair value of $1,605 per share and 1,197 FCF (as defined below) PSUs (based on target) with a grant date fair value of $1,105 per share. If the maximum performance potential metrics described in the PSU agreements are achieved, the actual number of units that will ultimately be awarded under the PSU agreements will exceed target units by 100% (i.e., a collective 2,394 additional units would be issued).

(2)The PSUs were granted on February 10, 2023 and include 926 RTSR PSUs (based on target) with a grant date fair value of $2,761 per share and 926 FCF PSUs (based on target) with a grant date fair value of $1,924 per share. If the maximum performance potential metrics described in the PSU agreements are achieved, the actual number of units that will ultimately be awarded under the PSU agreements will exceed target units by 100% (i.e., a collective 1,852 additional units would be issued).

Each PSU has a value equal to one share of Common Stock. The PSUs will vest three years after grant if certain performance metrics are met, as follows: 50% of the PSUs may be earned based on the Company’s relative total stockholder return (“RTSR”) over the applicable three-year measurement period compared to the XOP Index, and 50% of the PSUs may be earned based on the cumulative free cash flow per share (“FCF”) over the three-year vesting period. As the RTSR PSU is a market-based award, its grant date fair value was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model that uses the same input assumptions as the Black-Scholes model to determine the expected potential ranking of the Company against the XOP Index, i.e., the probability of satisfying the market condition defined in the award. Expected volatility in the model was estimated based on the volatility of historical stock prices over a period matching the expected term of the award. The risk-free interest rate was based on U.S. Treasury yield constant maturities for a term matching the expected term of the award.

Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors

The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the 2021 Directors Plan is 10,000 shares, which may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares (if any), treasury shares, or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner. As of September 30, 2023, 8,815 shares of Common Stock remained available under the 2021 Directors Plan for future grants.

The following table summarizes activity related to the RSAs under the 2021 Directors Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
	Number of RSAs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share		Number of RSAs	Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share
Nonvested at beginning of period	699	$	1,281	—	$	—
Granted (1)	486	2,344		784	1,277
Vested	(699)	1,281		—	—
Cancelled and forfeited	—	—		(85)	1,249
Nonvested at end of period	486	$	2,344	699	$	1,281

(1)RSAs vest on the first anniversary of the grant date.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

The following table summarizes our share-based compensation expense by line item in the condensed consolidated statements of income (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Salaries and related employee expenses (employee awards)	$	2,502	$	1,910	$	7,217	$	4,989
General and administrative expenses (director awards)	287		211		895		627
Total share-based compensation expense (1)	$	2,789	$	2,121	$	8,112	$	5,616

(1)The Company recognized a tax benefit of $0.6 million and $0.4 million related to share-based compensation for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company recognized a tax benefit of $1.7 million and $1.2 million related to share-based compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

As of September 30, 2023, there was $11.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under existing share-based plans expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years.