ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATE 2021-07—COMPENSATION—STOCK COMPENSATION (TOPIC 718): DETERMINING THE CURRENT PRICE OF AN UNDERLYING SHARE FOR EQUITY-CLASSIFIED SHARE-BASED AWARDS (A CONSENSUS OF THE PRIVATE COMPANY COUNCIL)

Overview

On October 23, 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2021-07,Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Determining the Current Price of an Underlying Share for Equity-Classified Share-Based Awards(a consensus of the Private Company Council).

The amendments in the Update provide a practical expedient for a nonpublic entity to determine the current price input of equity-classified share-based awards issued to both employees and nonemployees using the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method. The practical expedient describes the characteristics of the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method including (1) the date on which a valuation’s reasonableness is evaluated, (2) the factors that a reasonable valuation should consider, (3) the scope of information that a reasonable valuation should consider, and (4) the criteria that should be met for the use of a previously calculated value to be considered reasonable. The same characteristics are used in the regulations of the U.S. Department of the Treasury related to Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the Treasury Regulations) to describe the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method for income tax purposes. A reasonable valuation performed in accordance with the Treasury Regulations is an example of a way to achieve the practical expedient.

The amendments in the Update apply to all nonpublic entities (as defined in the Master Glossary of the Codification) that issue equity-classified share-based awards and elect the practical expedient in this Update.

Transition and Effective Dates

The amendments in the Update are effective prospectively for all qualifying awards granted or modified during fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Early application, including application in an interim period, is permitted for financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance as of October 25, 2021.

Additional Information

• Download the Accounting Standards Update
• Press Release

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