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Flashcards in Stock Options Deck (17)
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1
Q

What are the requirements for a stock option plan to be considered noncompensatory plan?

A
  1. ) Essentially all employees can participate
  2. ) Employee must decide within one month of the firm setting the price for the stock whether to enroll
  3. ) Discount does not exceed the employer cost savings inherent in issuing directly to employees (
2
Q

What is a stock option plan?

A

Provides an employee with the option to purchase shares of employer firm stock at a fixed price in the future, after a reasonable service period. The options expire after a certain time period

3
Q

What is “cliff” vesting?

A

When all options vest at the same time

4
Q

What are the six variables used in Option-pricing models for stocks?

A
  1. ) Exercise Price
  2. ) Expected average life of the option (service period + exercise period)
  3. ) Current Stock Price
  4. ) Expected Volatility of the stock
  5. ) Risk free rate of interest
  6. ) Dividend Yield at the grant date
5
Q

What is the accounting effect when no stock options are expected to vest because the performance target is not expected to be met?

A

Reverse compensation expense and the associated owner’s equity account for the amount of expense recognized in previous periods

6
Q

What is the total compensation expense for a fixed stock option plan?

A

The fair value at grant date of options expected to vest

7
Q

List the acceptable approaches to accounting for graded vested option plans

A

Treat as one plan or treat each group with different vesting dates as different plans

8
Q

Define “graded vesting plans”

A

Stock option plans that stagger the vesting dates

9
Q

How is compensation expense determined after a change in estimated forfeitures?

A

Compensation expense in period of change is the amount resulting in total compensation expense through the period of change that equals the fraction of service period elapsed multiplied by the new estimate of total compensation expense.

10
Q

How are compensation expenses related to stock compensation reported?

A

Reported as a component of income from continuing operations.

11
Q

What is the net effect of accounting for a fixed option plan (assuming the options do not expire)?

A

Cash and owners’ equity are increased by the cash paid in by the employees; retained earnings are reduced by the amount of compensation expense recognized

12
Q

What is the accounting effect of the expiration of stock options?

A

No change in compensation expense or owners’ equity

13
Q

What is the period over which compensation expense is recognized for a fixed stock option plan?

A

Service period - grant date to first exercisable date

14
Q

How is compensation expense for a fixed stock option plan measured?

A

Fair value of options granted are estimated using an option pricing model at grant date

15
Q

On what date is total compensation expense determined for a fixed stock option plan?

A

Grant date

16
Q

Describe the general approach to recognizing compensation expense for a performance option plan.

A

At end of each period, recompute total compensation expense based on performance level expected to be achieved. Recognize compensation expense for the period in the amount that results in total compensation through the period equaling the fraction of service period elapsed multiplied by the new estimate of total compensation expense

17
Q

What is the accounting effect when there is an expiration of option plans with vesting contingent on meeting a stock price target?

A

No change in compensation expense or owners’ equity

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