4.1 Fair-Value-Based Measurement
ASC 718-10 — Glossary
Fair Value
The amount at which an asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.
ASC 718-10
General
30-1 While some of the material in this Section was written in terms of awards classified as equity, it applies equally to awards classified as liabilities.
Fair-Value-Based
30-2 A share-based payment
transaction shall be measured based on the fair value (or in
certain situations specified in this Topic, a calculated
value or intrinsic value) of the equity instruments
issued.
30-3 An entity shall account
for the compensation cost from share-based payment
transactions in accordance with the fair-value-based method
set forth in this Topic. That is, the cost of goods obtained
or services received in exchange for awards of share-based
compensation generally shall be measured based on the
grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued or on
the fair value of the liabilities incurred. The cost of
goods obtained or services received by an entity as
consideration for equity instruments issued or liabilities
incurred in share-based compensation transactions shall be
measured based on the fair value of the equity instruments
issued or the liabilities settled. The portion of the fair
value of an instrument attributed to goods obtained or
services received is net of any amount that a grantee pays
(or becomes obligated to pay) for that instrument when it is
granted. For example, if a grantee pays $5 at the grant date
for an option with a grant-date fair value of $50, the
amount attributed to goods or services provided by the
grantee is $45. An entity shall apply the guidance in
paragraph 606-10-32-26 when determining the portion of the
fair value of an equity instrument attributed to goods
obtained or services received from a customer.
30-4 However, this Topic provides certain exceptions (see paragraph 718-10-30-21) to that measurement method if it is not possible to reasonably estimate the fair value of an award at the grant date. A nonpublic entity also may choose to measure its liabilities under share-based payment arrangements at intrinsic value (see paragraphs 718-10-30-20 and 718-30-30-2).
Terms of the Award Affect Fair Value
30-5 The terms of a share-based
payment award and any related arrangement affect its value
and, except for certain explicitly excluded features, such
as a reload feature, shall be reflected in determining the
fair value of the equity or liability instruments granted.
For example, the fair value of a substantive option
structured as the exchange of equity shares for a
nonrecourse note will differ depending on whether the
grantee is required to pay nonrefundable interest on the
note.
ASC 718 requires entities to measure compensation cost for share-based payments
awarded to grantees on the basis of the fair value of the equity instruments
exchanged or the liabilities incurred. Such measurement is referred to as a
fair-value-based measurement because the entity does not consider the effects of
certain features that it would take into account in a true fair value measurement in
determining the fair value of the share-based payment award. Although ASC 820
excludes from its scope the valuation of share-based payments that are subject to
ASC 718, the concepts in ASC 820 and ASC 718 are closely aligned. When accounting
for share-based payment transactions, entities should apply the measurement guidance
in ASC 820 unless it is inconsistent with the requirements in ASC 718. The most
significant difference between the terms “fair value” as defined in ASC 820 and
“fair-value-based” as used in ASC 718 is that the latter term excludes the effects
of (1) service and performance conditions that apply only to vesting or
exercisability, (2) reload features, and (3) certain contingent features.
For the rare situations in which fair value cannot be reasonably estimated
(e.g., the terms of an award are highly complex), ASC 718 provides an exception to
fair-value-based measurement under which entities measure an award at its intrinsic
value and remeasure it in each reporting period until settlement. See Section 4.11 for additional
information. Entities may also use a simplified method for determining an expected
term for their options and similar instruments if certain conditions are met. The
discussion in Section
4.9.2.2.2 applies to public entities, and the discussion in Section 4.9.2.2.3 applies to
nonpublic entities.
Further, two other exceptions to fair-value-based measurement are available to nonpublic entities.
Under the first exception, nonpublic entities that cannot reasonably estimate the expected volatility
of their share price for options or similar instruments are required to substitute the historical volatility
of an appropriate industry sector index for their expected volatility. This measure is referred to as a
calculated value rather than as a fair-value-based measure. Under the second exception, nonpublic
entities are permitted to make an accounting policy election to measure all liability-classified awards at
their intrinsic value (instead of at their fair-value-based measure or calculated value) as of the end of
each reporting period until the awards are settled. See Section 4.13 for additional discussion of each
measurement exception.
4.1.1 Vesting Conditions
ASC 718-10
Forfeitability
30-11 A restriction that
stems from the forfeitability of instruments to which
grantees have not yet earned the right, such as the
inability either to exercise a nonvested equity share
option or to sell nonvested shares, is not reflected in
estimating the fair value of the related instruments at
the grant date. Instead, those restrictions are taken
into account by recognizing compensation cost only for
awards for which grantees deliver the good or render the
service.
Performance or Service Conditions
30-12 Awards of share-based
compensation ordinarily specify a performance condition
or a service condition (or both) that must be satisfied
for a grantee to earn the right to benefit from the
award. No compensation cost is recognized for
instruments forfeited because a service condition or a
performance condition is not satisfied (for example,
instruments for which the good is not delivered or the
service is not rendered). Examples 1 through 2 (see
paragraphs 718-20-55-4 through 55-40) and Example 1 (see
paragraph 718-30-55-1) provide illustrations of how
compensation cost is recognized for awards with service
and performance conditions.
30-13 The fair-value-based
method described in paragraphs 718-10-30-6 and
718-10-30-10 through 30-14 uses fair value measurement
techniques, and the grant-date share price and other
pertinent factors are used in applying those techniques.
However, the effects on the grant-date fair value of
service and performance conditions that apply only
during the employee’s requisite service period or a
nonemployee’s vesting period are reflected based on the
outcomes of those conditions. This Topic refers to the
required measure as fair value.
Market, Performance, and Service Conditions
30-27 Performance or service
conditions that affect vesting are not reflected in
estimating the fair value of an award at the grant date
because those conditions are restrictions that stem from
the forfeitability of instruments to which grantees have
not yet earned the right. However, the effect of a
market condition is reflected in estimating the fair
value of an award at the grant date (see paragraph
718-10-30-14). For purposes of this Topic, a market
condition is not considered to be a vesting condition,
and an award is not deemed to be forfeited solely
because a market condition is not satisfied.
30-28 In some cases, the
terms of an award may provide that a performance target
that affects vesting could be achieved after an employee
completes the requisite service period or a nonemployee
satisfies a vesting period. That is, the grantee would
be eligible to vest in the award regardless of whether
the grantee is rendering service or delivering goods on
the date the performance target is achieved. A
performance target that affects vesting and that could
be achieved after an employee’s requisite service period
or a nonemployee’s vesting period shall be accounted for
as a performance condition. As such, the performance
target shall not be reflected in estimating the fair
value of the award at the grant date. Compensation cost
shall be recognized in the period in which it becomes
probable that the performance target will be achieved
and should represent the compensation cost attributable
to the period(s) for which the service or goods already
have been provided. If the performance target becomes
probable of being achieved before the end of the
employee’s requisite service period or the nonemployee’s
vesting period, the remaining unrecognized compensation
cost for which service or goods have not yet been
provided shall be recognized prospectively over the
remaining employee’s requisite service period or the
nonemployee’s vesting period. The total amount of
compensation cost recognized during and after the
employee’s requisite service period or the nonemployee’s
vesting period shall reflect the number of awards that
are expected to vest based on the performance target and
shall be adjusted to reflect those awards that
ultimately vest. An entity that has an accounting policy
to account for forfeitures when they occur in accordance
with paragraph 718-10-35-1D or 718-10-35-3 shall reverse
compensation cost previously recognized, in the period
the award is forfeited, for an award that is forfeited
before completion of the employee’s requisite service
period or the nonemployee’s vesting period. The
employee’s requisite service period and the
nonemployee’s vesting period end when the grantee can
cease rendering service or delivering goods and still be
eligible to vest in the award if the performance target
is achieved. As indicated in the definition of vest, the
stated vesting period (which includes the period in
which the performance target could be achieved) may
differ from the employee’s requisite service period or
the nonemployee’s vesting period.
SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins
SAB Topic 14.D.2, Certain Assumptions
Used in Valuation Methods: Expected Term [Excerpt]
Question 2:
Should forfeitures or terms that stem from
forfeitability be factored into the determination of
expected term?
Interpretive
Response: No. FASB ASC Topic 718 indicates that
the expected term that is utilized as an assumption in a
closed-form option-pricing model or a resulting output
of a lattice option pricing model when determining the
fair value of the share options should not incorporate
restrictions or other terms that stem from the
pre-vesting forfeitability of the instruments. Under
FASB ASC Topic 718, these pre-vesting restrictions or
other terms are taken into account by ultimately
recognizing compensation cost only for awards for which
grantees deliver the good or render the
service.62
______________________________
62 FASB ASC paragraph
718-10-30-11.
An entity should consider all relevant terms and conditions of a share-based
payment award in determining an appropriate fair-value-based measure. Each of
these terms and conditions may have a direct or indirect effect on the
fair-value-based measure of the award. A service or performance condition that
affects either the vesting or the exercisability of an award is considered a
vesting condition. Vesting conditions are not directly incorporated into an
award’s fair-value-based measure. Rather, they govern whether the award has been
earned and therefore whether an entity records compensation cost for it.
However, a vesting condition can indirectly affect the fair-value-based measure.
Since the expected term of an option award cannot be shorter than the vesting
period (because the expected term should not incorporate prevesting
forfeitures), a longer vesting period would typically result in an increase in
the expected term of an award. See Sections 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 for a discussion of
how service and performance conditions affect the recognition of compensation
cost.
By contrast, a service or performance condition that affects a factor (e.g., exercise price, contractual
term, quantity, conversion ratio) other than vesting or exercisability of an award will be directly factored
into the award’s fair-value-based measure. See Section 4.6 for a discussion of how service and
performance conditions that affect factors other than vesting or exercisability of an award affect the
award’s fair-value-based measure.
A market condition is not considered a vesting condition under ASC 718-10-30-27.
Accordingly, it will be directly factored into the fair-value-based measure of
an award and will not be used to determine (other than indirectly if a derived
service period is required to be determined) whether compensation cost will be
recorded. ASC 718-10-30-14 states, in part, that the “effect of a market
condition is reflected in the grant-date fair value of an award.” See Section 3.5 for a
discussion of how a market condition affects the recognition of compensation
cost and Section
4.5 for a discussion of how a market condition affects an award’s
fair-value-based measure.
If an award is indexed to a factor other than a market, performance, or service
condition, it contains an “other” condition. Other conditions are factored into
the fair-value-based measure of an award and result in its classification as a
liability. See Section 4.6.2 for
discussion of other conditions.
4.1.2 Reload and Contingent Features
ASC 718-10 — Glossary
Reload Feature and Reload Option
A reload feature provides for automatic grants of additional options whenever a
grantee exercises previously granted options using the
entity’s shares, rather than cash, to satisfy the
exercise price. At the time of exercise using shares,
the grantee is automatically granted a new option,
called a reload option, for the shares used to exercise
the previous option.
ASC 718-10
Reload and Contingent Features
30-23 The fair value of each award of equity instruments, including an award of options with a reload feature
(reload options), shall be measured separately based on its terms and the share price and other pertinent
factors at the grant date. The effect of a reload feature in the terms of an award shall not be included in
estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Rather, a subsequent grant of reload options pursuant to that
provision shall be accounted for as a separate award when the reload options are granted.
30-24 A contingent feature of
an award that might cause a grantee to return to the
entity either equity instruments earned or realized
gains from the sale of equity instruments earned for
consideration that is less than fair value on the date
of transfer (including no consideration), such as a
clawback feature (see paragraph 718-10-55-8), shall not
be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of
an equity instrument.
Fair Value Measurement Objectives and Application
55-8 Reload features and
contingent features that require a grantee to transfer
equity shares earned, or realized gains from the sale of
equity instruments earned, to the issuing entity for
consideration that is less than fair value on the date
of transfer (including no consideration), such as a
clawback feature, shall not be reflected in the
grant-date fair value of an equity award. Those features
are accounted for if and when a reload grant or
contingent event occurs. A clawback feature can take
various forms but often functions as a noncompete
mechanism. For example, an employee that terminates the
employment relationship and begins to work for a
competitor is required to transfer to the issuing entity
(former employer) equity shares granted and earned in a
share-based payment transaction.
Contingency Features That Affect the Option Pricing Model
55-47 Contingent features
that might cause a grantee to return to the entity
either equity shares earned or realized gains from the
sale of equity instruments earned as a result of
share-based payment arrangements, such as a clawback
feature (see paragraph 718-10-55-8), shall not be
reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of an
equity instrument. Instead, the effect of such a
contingent feature shall be accounted for if and when
the contingent event occurs. For instance, a share-based
payment arrangement may stipulate the return of vested
equity shares to the issuing entity for no consideration
if the grantee terminates the employment or vendor
relationship to work for a competitor. The effect of
that provision on the grant-date fair value of the
equity shares shall not be considered. If the issuing
entity subsequently receives those shares (or their
equivalent value in cash or other assets) as a result of
that provision, a credit shall be recognized in the
income statement upon the receipt of the shares. That
credit is limited to the lesser of the recognized
compensation cost associated with the share-based
payment arrangement that contains the contingent feature
and the fair value of the consideration received. The
event is recognized in the income statement because the
resulting transaction takes place with a grantee as a
result of the current (or prior) employment or vendor
relationship rather than as a result of the grantee’s
role as an equity owner. Example 10 (see paragraph
718-20-55-84) provides an illustration of the accounting
for an employee award that contains a clawback feature,
which also applies to nonemployee awards.
Some stock options include a “reload feature.” This feature entitles a grantee
to automatic grants of additional stock options whenever the grantee exercises
previously granted stock options and pays the exercise price in the entity’s
shares rather than in cash. Typically, the grantee is granted a new stock
option, called a reload option, for each share surrendered to satisfy the
exercise price of the previously granted stock option. The exercise price of the
reload option is usually set at the market price of the shares on the date the
reload option is granted. For stock options that include a reload feature, the
reload feature is not incorporated into the grant-date fair-value-based measure
of the stock option but is accounted for instead as a new award and calculated
on the basis of its grant-date fair-value-based measure.
Some awards also include contingent features that may require a grantee to
return earned equity instruments or gains realized from the sale of equity
instruments in certain situations (either for no consideration or for
consideration that is less than the fair value of the equity instrument on the
date of transfer). Such contingent features are not reflected in the
fair-value-based measurement of an equity instrument, and they do not affect the
recognition of compensation cost if they are triggered after the equity
instrument is earned. Therefore, a contingent feature has no day-one impact on
the accounting for an award; it is accounted for if and when the contingent
event occurs. Examples of contingent features, also referred to as clawback
features, include provisions triggered upon terminations for cause, noncompete
and nonsolicitation violations, and material misstatements. Clawback provisions
are discussed further in Section 3.9.