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10.5 Written put option on the issuer’s own shares
Publication date: 14 Oct 2019
us IFRS & US GAAP guide
Written puts that are to be settled by gross receipt of the entity’s own shares are treated as derivatives under US GAAP, while IFRS requires the entity to set up a financial liability for the discounted value of the amount of cash the entity may be required to pay.
US GAAP | IFRS |
A financial instrument—other than an outstanding share—that at inception (1) embodies an obligation to repurchase the issuer’s equity shares or is indexed to such an obligation, and (2) requires or may require the issuer to settle the obligation by transferring assets shall be classified as a financial liability (or an asset, in some circumstances). Examples include written put options on the issuer’s equity shares that are to be physically settled or net cash settled. | If the contract meets the definition of an equity instrument (because it requires the entity to purchase a fixed amount of its own shares for a fixed amount of cash), any premium received must be recorded in equity. Therefore, the premium received on such a written put is classified as equity (whereas under US GAAP, the fair value of the written put is recorded as a financial liability). |
ASC 480 requires written put options to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. | In addition, the issuer records a financial liability for the discounted value of the amount of cash that the entity may be required to pay. The financial liability is recorded against equity. |
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