liability versus equity classification

ASC 480-10 tells an issuer when a freestanding financial instrument with characteristics of both liabilities and equity must be classified as a liability (or, in some cases, an asset) rather than equity. It captures three classes of instruments: (1) mandatorily redeemable financial instruments (480-10-25-4); (2) obligations, other than outstanding shares, to repurchase the issuer's own equity shares by transferring assets (480-10-25-8); and (3) certain obligations settleable in a variable number of shares whose monetary value is fixed, indexed to something other than the issuer's shares, or varies inversely with the issuer's share price (480-10-25-14). Measurement is generally fair value, except that mandatorily redeemable instruments and physically settled fixed-share forward purchase contracts are accreted to the settlement amount with the change recognized as interest cost.

ASC 718-10 is the "Overall" subtopic for share-based payment arrangements, setting the pervasive scope, recognition, measurement, classification, and disclosure principles that apply to both equity- and liability-classified awards granted to employees and nonemployees (and, by cross-reference, to customers). Its core rule is that cost must be recognized for all share-based payment transactions using a fair-value-based measurement method, generally grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued (or fair value of liabilities incurred), recognized as the goods are obtained or services are received (718-10-10-2; 718-10-25-2; 718-10-30-3). Classification as liability or equity follows Topic 480 criteria as modified by 718-10-25-8 through 25-19A, and performance conditions are accrued based on the probable outcome while market conditions are reflected in grant-date fair value.