Question Tag: Equity-Settled Payments

a. KutuKutu plc has a policy in place to pay its employees a performance bonus. This bonus is to be paid in cash and is unrelated to the movement in its share price. KutuKutu plc has the choice of settling the bonus in cash or in equity shares to the value of the cash bonus. Based on bonuses paid in prior years, KutuKutu has always settled the bonuses to employees that qualify in shares.

b. KutuKutu plc grants one share option to each of its 50 employees on January 1, 2016. The share options will vest at the end of the 2 years provided that: (i) The employees remain in KutuKutu plc‘s employment at that date; and (ii) The earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of KutuKutu plc for the 2nd year achieves a specified target.

At the grant date, each recipient is required to make a non-refundable cash payment of N2,000 to KutuKutu plc. This payment amount is based on the estimated fair value (FV) of the share option, which reflects the probability that the target EBITDA will be achieved in the 2nd year. The FV of each option would be N250 (excluding the effect of the EBITDA condition). If KutuKutu plc does not achieve the target EBITDA or if an employee leaves the employment of KutuKutu plc, no shares will be issued, and the employee will not be entitled to a repayment. Accordingly, both service and non-market vesting conditions are deemed to be substantive.

Required: i. Do the transactions entered into under (a) above meet the definition of equity-settled share-based payment transactions within the scope of IFRS 2? (8 Marks)

ii. How should the transaction in (b) above be accounted for? (12 Marks)