9.5 Classification
ASC 718-10
35-9 Paragraphs 718-10-35-10
through 35-14 are intended to apply to those instruments
issued in share-based payment transactions with employees
and nonemployees accounted for under this Topic, and to
instruments exchanged in a business combination for
share-based payment awards of the acquired business that
were originally granted to grantees of the acquired business
and are outstanding as of the date of the business
combination.
35-9A
Paragraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update No.
2020-06.
35-10 A freestanding financial
instrument or a convertible security issued to a grantee
that is subject to initial recognition and measurement
guidance within this Topic shall continue to be subject to
the recognition and measurement provisions of this Topic
throughout the life of the instrument, unless its terms are
modified after any of the following:
- Subparagraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-08.
- Subparagraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-08.
- A grantee vests in the award and is no longer providing goods or services.
- A grantee vests in the award and is no longer a customer.
- A grantee is no longer an employee.
35-10A Only for
purposes of paragraph 718-10-35-10, a modification does not
include a change to the terms of an award if that change is
made solely to reflect an equity restructuring provided that
both of the following conditions are met:
- There is no increase in fair value of the award (or the ratio of intrinsic value to the exercise price of the award is preserved, that is, the holder is made whole) or the antidilution provision is not added to the terms of the award in contemplation of an equity restructuring.
- All holders of the same class of equity instruments (for example, stock options) are treated in the same manner.
35-11 Other modifications of that
instrument that take place after a grantee vests in the
award and is no longer providing goods or services, is no
longer a customer, or is no longer an employee should be
subject to the modification guidance in paragraph
718-10-35-14. Following modification, recognition and
measurement of the instrument shall be determined through
reference to other applicable GAAP.
35-12 Once the classification of an
instrument is determined, the recognition and measurement
provisions of this Topic shall be applied until the
instrument ceases to be subject to the requirements
discussed in paragraph 718-10-35-10. Topic 480 or other
applicable GAAP, such as Topic 815, applies to a
freestanding financial instrument that was issued under a
share-based payment arrangement but that is no longer
subject to this Topic. This guidance is not intended to
suggest that all freestanding financial instruments shall be
accounted for as liabilities pursuant to Topic 480, but
rather that freestanding financial instruments issued in
share-based payment transactions may become subject to that
Topic or other applicable GAAP depending on their
substantive characteristics and when certain criteria are
met.
35-14 An entity may modify
(including cancel and replace) or settle a fully vested,
freestanding financial instrument after it becomes subject
to Topic 480 or other applicable GAAP. Such a modification
or settlement shall be accounted for under the provisions of
this Topic unless it applies equally to all financial
instruments of the same class regardless of the holder of
the financial instrument. Following the modification, the
instrument continues to be accounted for under that Topic or
other applicable GAAP. A modification or settlement of a
class of financial instrument that is designed exclusively
for and held only by grantees (or their beneficiaries) may
stem from the employment or vendor relationship depending on
the terms of the modification or settlement. Thus, such a
modification or settlement may be subject to the
requirements of this Topic. See paragraph 718-10-35-10 for a
discussion of changes to awards made solely to reflect an
equity restructuring.
The guidance in ASC 718 on the classification of employee share-based payment awards also applies
to nonemployee awards. Therefore, nonemployee awards will generally remain within the scope of ASC
718 unless they are modified after the awards vest and the nonemployee is no longer providing goods
and services (except under an equity restructuring that meets certain criteria). See Chapter 5 for a
discussion of the guidance on the classification of share-based payment awards.
Changing Lanes
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06,
which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with
characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments
and contracts on an entity’s own equity. Most of the guidance in that ASU
does not apply to this Roadmap. However, the ASU removes from U.S. GAAP the
guidance on a nonemployee award that is granted in the form of a convertible
instrument described in ASC 718-10-35-9A. Therefore, upon adoption of the
ASU, nonemployee awards in the form of a convertible instrument that are
issued after the date of adoption (or that are outstanding as of (1) the
adoption date under a modified retrospective basis or (2) the beginning of
the earliest period presented under a retrospective basis) will generally
remain within the scope of ASC 718 unless the awards are modified after the
awards vest and the nonemployee is no longer providing goods and services
(except under an equity restructuring that meets certain criteria).
See Deloitte’s August 5, 2020, Heads
Up for additional information about changes required
under the ASU, including its effective dates.
For additional discussion of the issuer’s accounting for
convertible debt after the adoption of ASU 2020-06, see Deloitte’s Roadmap
Issuer’s
Accounting for Debt.