Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Equity Based Compensation

v3.24.1.u1
Equity Based Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Equity-based Compensation
9.
Equity-Based Compensation

The Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) governs, among other things, the types of awards the Company can grant to employees as equity-based compensation awards. The Omnibus Plan provides for potential grants of the following awards: (i) stock options, (ii) stock appreciation rights, (iii) restricted stock awards, (iv) performance awards, (v) other stock-based awards, (vi) other cash-based awards, and (vii) analogous equity awards made in equity of the LLC.

IPO-Related Awards

As a result of the Organizational Transactions, pre-IPO holders of LLC Units that were granted as incentive awards, which had historically been classified as equity and vested pro rata over five years, were required to exchange their LLC Units for either Restricted Stock or Restricted Common Units. Additionally, Reload Options or Reload Class C Incentive Units were issued to employees in order to protect against the dilution of their existing awards upon exchange to the new awards.

Separately, certain employees were granted one or more of the following new awards: (i) Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), (ii) Staking Options, (iii) Restricted LLC Units (“RLUs”), or (iv) Staking Class C Incentive Units. The terms of these awards are described below. All awards granted as part of the Organizational Transactions and the IPO are subject to non-linear transfer restrictions for at least the five-year period following the IPO.

Incentive Awards

As part of the Company’s annual compensation process, the Company issues certain employees and directors equity-based compensation awards (“Incentive Awards”). Additionally, the Company offers Incentive Awards to certain new hires. These Incentive Awards typically take the form of (i) RSUs, (ii) RLUs, (iii) Class C Incentive Units, (iv) Stock Options, (v) Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”), and (vi) Performance LLC Units (“PLUs”). The terms of these awards are described below.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Common Units

As part of the Organizational Transactions, certain existing employee unitholders were granted Restricted Stock or Restricted Common Units in exchange for their LLC Units. The Restricted Stock and Restricted Common Units follow the vesting schedule of the LLC Units for which they were exchanged. LLC Units historically vested pro rata over 5 years.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

 

 

Restricted Stock

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

 

Restricted
Common Units

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

Unvested at beginning of period

 

 

938,910

 

 

$

21.15

 

 

 

1,122,564

 

 

$

23.84

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

(5,144

)

 

 

21.15

 

 

 

(5,124

)

 

 

23.84

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at end of period

 

 

933,766

 

 

$

21.15

 

 

 

1,117,440

 

 

$

23.84

 

 

 

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

IPO RSUs

Related to the IPO, the Company granted RSUs to certain employees. The IPO RSUs vest either pro rata over 5 years from the grant date or over 10 years from the grant date, with 10% vesting in each of years 3 through 9 and 30% vesting in year 10.

Incentive RSUs

As part of the Company’s compensation process, the Company issues Incentive RSUs to certain employees. The Incentive RSUs vest either 100% 3 or 5 years from the grant date, pro rata over 3 or 5 years from the grant date, over 5 years from the grant date, with one-third of the grant vesting in each of years 3, 4 and 5, or over 7 years from the grant date, with 20% vesting in each of years 3 through 7.

Upon vesting, RSUs automatically convert on a one-for-one basis into Class A common stock.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

 

 

IPO RSUs

 

 

Incentive RSUs

 

 

 

Restricted
Stock Units

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

 

Restricted
Stock Units

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

Unvested at beginning of period

 

 

3,359,778

 

 

$

23.07

 

 

 

1,819,916

 

 

$

38.02

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

645,326

 

 

 

52.38

 

Vested

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,449

)

 

 

32.30

 

Forfeited

 

 

(32,646

)

 

 

22.69

 

 

 

(37,346

)

 

 

38.15

 

Unvested at end of period

 

 

3,327,132

 

 

$

23.08

 

 

 

2,418,447

 

 

$

41.88

 

Stock Options

Reload and Staking Options

As part of the Organizational Transactions and IPO, certain employees were granted Reload Options or Staking Options that entitle the award holder to future purchases of Class A common stock, on a one-for-one basis, at the IPO price of $23.50. The Reload Options vest either 100% 3 years from the grant date or over 5 years from the grant date, with one-third of the grant vesting in each of years 3, 4 and 5. In general, vested Reload Options are exercisable up to the tenth anniversary of the grant date. The Staking Options vest over 10 years from the grant date, with 10% vesting in each of years 3 through 9 and 30% vesting in year 10. In general, vested Staking Options are exercisable up to the eleventh anniversary of the grant date.

Incentive Options

As part of the Company’s compensation process, the Company may issue Incentive Options to certain employees that entitle the award holder to future purchases of Class A common stock, on a one-for-one basis, at the respective exercise prices. The Incentive Options vest either over 5 years from the grant date, with one-third of the grant vesting in each of years 3, 4 and 5 or pro rata over 7 years from the grant date. In general, vested Incentive Options are exercisable up to the tenth anniversary of the grant date.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

 

 

Reload Options1

 

 

Staking Options1

 

 

Incentive Options

 

 

Incentive Options
Weighted Average
Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at beginning of period

 

 

4,473,388

 

 

 

66,667

 

 

 

165,684

 

 

$

34.39

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

52.38

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

(5,664

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at end of period

 

 

4,467,724

 

 

 

66,667

 

 

 

315,684

 

 

$

42.94

 

 

 

1 As the Reload and Staking Options were one-time grants at the IPO, the weighted average exercise price for any movements in these awards will perpetually be $23.50. As such, the values are not presented in the table above.

 

The fair value of Incentive Options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024 was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

 

Incentive Options

Volatility

25.0%

Time to maturity (years)

7.0

Risk-free rate

4.2%

Dividend yield

0.8%

Fair value per option

$17.09

 

The use of a valuation model for the Options requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Expected volatility was calculated based on the observed volatility for comparable companies. The expected time to maturity was based on the weighted-average vesting term and contractual term of the awards. The risk-free interest rate was based on U.S. Treasury rates commensurate with the expected life of the award. The dividend yield was based on the Company’s expected dividend rate.

 

Restricted LLC Units (RLUs)

 

IPO RLUs

Related to the IPO, the Company granted RLUs to certain employees that vest either pro rata over 5 years from the grant date or over 10 years from the grant date, with 10% vesting in each of years 3 through 9 and 30% vesting in year 10.

Incentive RLUs

As part of the Company’s compensation process, the Company issues Incentive RLUs to certain employees. The Incentive RLUs vest either 100% 3 years from the grant date, pro rata over 3 or 5 years from the grant date, or over 7 years from the grant date, with 20% vesting in each of years 3 through 7.

Upon vesting, RLUs convert on a one-for-one basis into either LLC Common Units or Class A common stock at the election of the Company.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

 

 

IPO RLUs

 

 

Incentive RLUs

 

 

 

Restricted
LLC Units

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

 

Restricted
LLC Units

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

Unvested at beginning of period

 

 

1,448,127

 

 

$

25.09

 

 

 

482,329

 

 

$

39.80

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

249,971

 

 

 

51.33

 

Vested

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at end of period

 

 

1,448,127

 

 

$

25.09

 

 

 

732,300

 

 

$

43.74

 

Class C Incentive Units

Reload and Staking Class C Incentive Units

As part of the Organizational Transactions and IPO, certain employees were granted Reload Class C Incentive Units or Staking Class C Incentive Units, which are profits interests. When the value of Class A common stock exceeds the participation threshold, vested profits interests may be exchanged for LLC Common Units of equal value. On exchange, the LLC Common Units are immediately redeemed on a one-to-one basis for Class A common stock. The Reload Class C Incentive Units vest either 100% 3 years from the grant date or over 5 years from the grant date, with one-third of the grant vesting in each of years 3, 4 and 5. The Staking Class C

Incentive Units vest either pro rata over 5 years from the grant date or over 10 years from the grant date, with 10% vesting in each of years 3 through 9 and 30% vesting in year 10.

Class C Incentive Units

As part of the Company’s compensation process, the Company issues Class C Incentive Units to certain employees, which are profits interests. When the value of Class A common stock exceeds the participation threshold, vested profits interests may be exchanged for LLC Common Units of equal value. On exchange, the LLC Common Units are immediately redeemed on a one-to-one basis for Class A common stock. The Class C Incentive Units vest over 8 years from the grant date, with 15% vesting in each of years 3 through 7 and 25% vesting in year 8, or over 7 years from the grant date, with 20% vesting in each of years 3 through 7.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

 

 

Reload Class C Incentive Units

 

 

Staking Class C Incentive Units

 

 

Class C
Incentive Units

 

 

Class C Incentive Units Weighted Average Participation Threshold

 

Unvested at beginning of period

 

 

3,911,490

 

 

 

1,876,669

 

 

 

495,822

 

 

$

36.96

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at end of period

 

 

3,911,490

 

 

 

1,876,669

 

 

 

495,822

 

 

$

36.92

 

 

As the Reload and Staking Class C Incentive Units were one-time grants at the IPO, the weighted average participation threshold for these awards will be consistent across any type of movement. The weighted average participation threshold for Reload and Staking Class C Incentive Units was $23.46 and $23.50 as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The decrease in the participation thresholds for the various types of Class C Incentive Units was due to the distributions declared to these awards during the three months ended March 31, 2024.

 

Performance Based Awards

 

Performance Stock Units (PSUs) and Performance LLC Units (PLUs)

 

Certain employees were granted performance-based equity awards, either PSUs or PLUs, subject to the Company’s achievement of several defined performance metrics including (i) an Adjusted EBITDAC Margin target, (ii) an Organic Revenue Growth Compound Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”) target, and (iii) total shareholder return (“TSR”) CAGR targets. The TSR CAGR targets are measured from the grant date share price to the sum of (i) the average of (a) the volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Class A common stock for the fourth quarter of 2027 and (b) the VWAP of the Class A common stock for the first quarter of 2028 and (ii) dividends paid to Class A common shareholders. The Adjusted EBITDAC Margin and the Organic Revenue Growth CAGR targets as well as a minimum threshold for the TSR CAGR target must be achieved for the awards to vest. If the Adjusted EBITDAC Margin or the Organic Revenue Growth CAGR targets are not met, or the TSR CAGR is below the minimum threshold, the awards will be forfeit.

 

PSUs represent the right to receive Class A common shares and PLUs represent the right to receive LLC Common Units upon vesting. If the Adjusted EBITDAC Margin and the Organic Revenue Growth CAGR targets are achieved, and the TSR CAGR meets at least the minimum threshold, the TSR CAGR targets will determine how many Class A common shares or LLC Common Units, as applicable, the awards vest into. Assuming the minimum threshold is met, the awards will vest into between 75% and 150% of the applicable stock or units. The payout percentage between the TSR CAGR range will be determined on a graduated basis. Confirmation of the targets will not occur until after the Company’s fiscal year 2028 earnings are reported. If the targets are achieved,

the awards will vest on April 1, 2029. The probability of achieving the performance metrics is assessed each reporting period for expense purposes.



 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

 

 

PSUs

 

 

PLUs

 

 

 

Performance Stock Units

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

 

Performance LLC Units

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date
Fair Value

 

Unvested at beginning of period

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

Granted

 

 

303,721

 

 

 

24.75

 

 

 

487,218

 

 

 

24.40

 

Vested

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at end of period

 

 

303,721

 

 

$

24.75

 

 

 

487,218

 

 

$

24.40

 

 

The fair value of the performance-based awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024 was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation valuation model with the following assumptions:

 

 

PSUs and PLUs

Volatility

24.7%

Time to maturity (years)

4.1

Risk-free rate

4.2%

Initial RYAN stock price

$52.38

 

The use of a valuation model for the PSUs and PLUs requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Expected volatility was calculated based on the observed volatility for comparable companies. The time to maturity was based on the stock price CAGR target through the first quarter of 2028. The risk-free interest rate was based on U.S. Treasury rates commensurate with the performance period. The initial RYAN stock price is the base for the stock price CAGR target. The difference in the grant date fair value of the PSUs and PLUs relates to the difference in Dividend Equivalents and Distributions Declared (as defined below) each award is entitled to accrue.

Non-Employee Director Stock Grants

The Company grants RSUs (“Director Stock Grants”) to non-employee directors serving as members of the Company’s Board of Directors, with the exception of the one director appointed by Onex in accordance with Onex’s nomination rights who has agreed to forgo any compensation for his service to the Board. The Director Stock Grants are fully vested upon grant. The next grant is anticipated to occur in the second quarter of 2024 concurrent with the annual shareholders’ meeting.

Dividend Equivalents and Declared Distributions

A majority of the Company’s unvested equity-based compensation awards, with the exception of Options and Class C Incentive Units, are entitled to accrue dividend equivalents if the award vests into Class A common stock (“Dividend Equivalents”) or declared distributions if the award vests into LLC Common Units (“Declared Distributions”) over the period the underlying award vests. The Dividend Equivalents and Declared Distributions will be paid in cash to award holders at the time the underlying award vests. If an award holder forfeits their underlying award, the accrued Dividend Equivalents or Declared Distributions will also be forfeited. Class C Incentive Units do not accrue cash distributions but instead have their participation thresholds lowered by each distribution declared. Options do not participate in dividends.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company accrued $0.5 million and $0.1 million related to Dividend Equivalents and Declared Distributions, respectively, in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and $1.9 million and $0.1 million related to Dividend Equivalents and Declared Distributions, respectively, in Other non-current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Equity-Based Compensation Expense

As of March 31, 2024, the unrecognized equity-based compensation costs related to each type of equity-based compensation award described above and the related weighted-average remaining expense period were as follows:

 

 

Amount

 

Weighted Average
Remaining Expense
Period (years)

 

Restricted Stock

 

$

2,760

 

 

0.7

 

IPO RSUs

 

 

36,239

 

 

3.7

 

Incentive RSUs

 

 

71,388

 

 

2.7

 

Reload Options

 

 

2,036

 

 

1.2

 

Staking Options

 

 

293

 

 

5.3

 

Incentive Options

 

 

3,401

 

 

2.0

 

PSUs

 

 

7,392

 

 

5.0

 

Restricted Common Units

 

 

1,577

 

 

0.3

 

IPO RLUs

 

 

20,946

 

 

5.0

 

Incentive RLUs

 

 

25,429

 

 

2.4

 

Reload Class C Incentive Units

 

 

1,892

 

 

1.2

 

Staking Class C Incentive Units

 

 

11,643

 

 

4.5

 

Class C Incentive Units

 

 

6,918

 

 

4.1

 

PLUs

 

 

11,690

 

 

5.0

 

Total unrecognized equity-based compensation expense

 

$

203,604

 

 

 

 

The following table includes the equity-based compensation the Company recognized by award type from the view of expense related to pre-IPO and post-IPO awards. The table also presents the unrecognized equity-based compensation expense as of March 31, 2024 in the same view.

 

 

Recognized

 

Unrecognized

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

As of

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

March 31, 2024

 

IPO awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IPO RSUs and Staking Options

 

$

3,013

 

$

4,684

 

$

36,532

 

IPO RLUs and Staking Class C Incentive Units

 

 

2,548

 

 

3,150

 

 

32,589

 

Incremental Restricted Stock and Reload Options

 

 

954

 

 

1,254

 

 

3,416

 

Incremental Restricted Common Units and Reload Class C Incentive Units

 

 

1,279

 

 

2,094

 

 

2,996

 

Pre-IPO incentive awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Stock

 

 

427

 

 

751

 

 

1,380

 

Restricted Common Units

 

 

208

 

 

551

 

 

473

 

Post-IPO incentive awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive RSUs

 

 

5,983

 

 

3,636

 

 

71,388

 

Incentive RLUs

 

 

1,578

 

 

956

 

 

25,429

 

Incentive Options

 

 

201

 

 

118

 

 

3,401

 

Class C Incentive Units

 

 

515

 

 

349

 

 

6,918

 

PSUs

 

 

125

 

 

 

 

7,392

 

PLUs

 

 

198

 

 

 

 

11,690

 

Other expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director Stock Grants

 

 

281

 

 

336

 

N/A

 

Total equity-based compensation expense

 

$

17,310

 

$

17,879

 

$

203,604