Dollar General 2007 Annual Report Download - page 72

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stock options was generally not required to be recorded as a reduction to net income prior to the
adoption of SFAS 123(R).
Under SFAS 123(R), forfeitures are estimated at the time of valuation and reduce
expense ratably over the vesting period. This estimate is adjusted periodically based on the
extent to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from the prior estimate. The
forfeiture rate is the estimated percentage of options granted that are expected to be forfeited or
canceled before becoming fully vested. The Company bases this estimate on historical
experience or estimates of future trends, as applicable. An increase in the forfeiture rate will
decrease compensation expense. Under SFAS 123, the Company elected to account for
forfeitures when awards were actually forfeited.
SFAS 123(R) also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized
compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow
as required prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R).
The fair value of each option grant is separately estimated and amortized into
compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the applicable grant date and each vesting
date. The Company has estimated the fair value of all stock option awards as of the grant date by
applying the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing valuation model. The application of this
valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the
determination of compensation expense.
The Company also accounts for nonvested restricted stock awards in accordance with the
provisions of SFAS 123(R). The Company calculates compensation expense as the difference
between the market price of the underlying stock on the grant date and the purchase price, if any,
and recognizes such amount on a straight-line basis over the period in which the recipient earns
the nonvested restricted stock and restricted stock unit award. Under the provisions of SFAS
123(R), unearned compensation is not recorded within shareholders’ equity.
The Company has elected to determine its excess tax benefit pool upon adoption of SFAS
123(R) in accordance with the provisions of FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 123(R)-3, “Transition
Election Related to Accounting for the Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards.” Under the
provisions of this FSP, the cumulative benefit of stock option exercises included in additional
paid-in capital for the periods after the effective date of SFAS 123 is reduced by the cumulative
income tax effect of the pro forma stock option expense previously disclosed in accordance with
the requirements of SFAS 123. (The provision of this FSP applied only to options that were fully
vested before the date of adoption of SFAS 123(R). The amount of any excess tax benefit for
options that are either granted after the adoption of SFAS 123(R) or are partially vested on the
date of adoption were computed in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R).) The
amount of any excess deferred tax asset over the actual income tax benefit realized for options
that are exercised after the adoption of SFAS 123(R) will be absorbed by the excess tax benefit
pool. Income tax expense will be increased should the Company’ s excess tax benefit pool be
insufficient to absorb any future deferred tax asset amounts in excess of the actual tax benefit
realized. The Company has determined that its excess tax benefit pool was approximately $68
million as of the adoption of SFAS 123(R) on February 4, 2006. After the Merger and the
related application of purchase accounting, the excess tax benefit pool has been reduced to zero.