SEC Chief Accountant Statement on FASB Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2004-175

NO. 123(R), Share-Based Payment

Washington, D.C., Dec. 16, 2004 - Earlier today, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued its Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (Statement 123R), which addresses the accounting for employee stock options. The Commission's Chief Accountant, Donald T. Nicolaisen, issued the following comments on Statement 123R:

The issuance of Statement 123R represents another important improvement in US generally accepted accounting principles. It will result in more comparable information in financial statements provided to investors.

Statement 123R requires that the cost of all employee stock options, as well as other equity-based compensation arrangements, be reflected in the financial statements based on the estimated fair value of the awards. Thus, it will provide complete information and will make it easier for investors to compare financial results among entities regardless of whether they use fixed or variable stock options or other forms of employee compensation. Stock options are a valuable and important tool that have been used by many companies as a means to motivate employees and to promote business growth. Statement 123R requires that the value of these arrangements be measured and recognized in the financial statements. The issuance of Statement 123R represents the culmination of years of work by the FASB. The debate has been open, rigorous and appropriate. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the FASB and of the thousands of investors, analysts, registrants, employees and others who have shared their views on this important issue.

Now that Statement 123R has been issued, companies should focus on implementation, and I encourage early adoption by those companies who are able to and who choose to do so. I recognize that this accounting standard requires the use of assumptions and estimates about future events, and some of the inputs to valuation models require considerable judgment. Accordingly, in applying the standard, it is important that preparers, auditors and those assisting in valuing equity-based awards use their best judgment. I anticipate that assumptions and estimates of fair value related to employee stock options will improve as companies gain more experience. I also anticipate that for many companies their best estimates under the new standard will differ from those previously used in footnote disclosures. The SEC staff will evaluate implementation of the new standard and is preparing to provide appropriate guidance to assist preparers of financial statements.