Case 15-7

Ventura Company

Ventura Associates, Inc. (Ventura), a private company, is a manufacturer of exterior

building products. On January 1, 20X1, Ventura granted non-qualified stock options

under its 20X1 stock incentive plan (the Plan) to certain employees. Ventura can only

settle the stock options by issuing common stock. The fair market value of Venturas

underlying stock on January 1, 20X1 was $10 per share. Some of the stock options are

time-vesting options, and some are performance-vesting options.

A summary of the options grant terms is as follows:

Time-vesting options

Date of grant: January 1, 20X1

Exercise price: $10 per share

Vesting (must be employed upon vesting):

20 percent per year on each anniversary after the date of grant OR

Upon a change in control or initial public offering (IPO), all unvested options

vest immediately

Performance-vesting options

Date of grant: January 1, 20X1

Exercise price: $10 per share

Vesting (must be employed upon vesting):

20 percent per year, contingent on achievement of annual EBITDA targets

(which are specified in the grant notification and vary each year from 20X1

through 20X5, and also have a cumulative catch-up feature such that EBITDA

shortfalls in any given year can be made up through EBITDA surpluses in

future years) OR

Upon a change in control or IPO, the installment of options (1) associated with

the year in which the change in control or IPO occurs, and (2) associated with

future years EBITDA targets become immediately vested and exercisable

During 20X1, it was not probable that Ventura would meet any years EBITDA target, or

that a change in control or IPO would occur.

On November 15, 20X2, Ventura announced its intention to undertake an IPO of its

common stock. The IPO was completed and Venturas stock began trading in October

20X3. During all periods in 20X2 and 20X3, it was still not probable that Ventura would

meet any years EBITDA target (either individually or cumulatively).

Required:

Prepare an accounting issues memorandum that addresses the following research questions:

For each award, how should Ventura initially recognize compensation cost?

How does the IPO announcement in 20X2 and the completion of the offering in

20X3 affect Venturas accounting for these options in the years ended December

31, 20X2 and 20X3?