Class B common units have the same rights except that Class A common units are entitled to one vote per unit while Class B common units have no voting rights. All holders of all series of common units have the same economic rights and participate in regular dividends based upon pro rata unit ownership. Time and performance-based options issued in connection with the 2019 Incentive Plan are redeemable for units of Class B common units (see Note 13).
November 2021 Dividend
On November 22, 2021, we paid a dividend of $75.0 million to our equityholders, the Ares Funds, using cash on hand. No executive officers or directors received dividend payments. The dividend payment is reflected as an increase to accumulated deficit in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 13. Compensation Plans
Equity based compensation
The Company established the 2012 Incentive Plan (the 2012 Plan) on July 9, 2012. The 2012 Plan allowed for the issuance of time and performance-based options, equity and cash performance awards, and restricted equity awards, to directors, officers, key employees, and other key individuals for up to 26,932,280 units. An additional authorization of 21,545,824 units to the 2012 Plan was approved by the Board of Directors (Board) in 2013. The 2012 Plan was authorized for a total of 48,478,104 units as of January 2, 2016.
As of March 28, 2019, the 2012 Plan was canceled (see Note 3). The Company established the 2019 Incentive Plan (the 2019 Plan) which allows for the issuance of time and performance-based options to directors, officers, key employees, and other key individuals for up to 25,482,695 units of Class B common units.
Option awards are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the market price established by the Board at the date of grant. As of January 1, 2022, the Company had 19,581,512 option awards outstanding, of which 7,842,859 vest over a five-year period based on employee service and 11,738,653 vest upon completion of performance conditions. Performance measurements are based on the achievement of specified multiples of the Company’s invested capital as defined. Option awards generally have 10-year contractual terms. When options are granted with other vesting terms, the vesting information is reflected in the valuation.
The Company recognized employee equity compensation expense related to its time-based options, net of tax effect, of $0.7 million, $0.4 million, $0.2 million, and $0.3 million, respectively, for fiscal year 2021, fiscal year 2020, the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor) and December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), respectively, in salaries, wages, and benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal year 2021, fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) was $0. As of January 1, 2022 there was $4.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested unit-based compensation arrangements granted under the 2019 Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the weighted average vesting period of 5 years.
The total fair value of units vested for fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2020 was $15.1 million and $2.4 million respectively. No units were vested for the periods of March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor) and December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor).
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