Ch. 1 Equity Method Inv. Flashcards
When using the equity method: company’s consolidated net income
Includes company’s proportionate share of net income/loss
From investee companies
Equity method is used for investments in companies if…
2) ownership interest in equity method
Company has the ability to exercise significant influence
Over operating and financial policies of investee
2) investor does not have control but owns 20-50% of company
So can exercise significant influence
3 different approaches for financial reporting of investments in equity securities under GAAP
1 fair value method
2 consolidation of financial statements
3 equity method
Influence increases with…
Relative size of ownership
When is fair value method for equity investments used?
When investor possess only small percentage of investee
Company’s outstanding stock
Investor can’t expect to significantly affect investee’s operations
Or decision making
How are initial investments in equity securities recorded on financial statements?
Recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted if FMV is readily
Determinable
Trading securities
Under fair value method, Equity securities held for sale in
short term
Reported at FMV, with unrealized gains and losses included in
Earnings
Available-for-sale securities
Under fair value method, are reported at fair value
Unrealized gains and losses are excluded from earnings and
Reported in separate component of shareholder’s equity as
Part of other comprehensive income
Fair Value method dividends
Dividends from investments are recognized as income for
Both trading and available for sale securities
Fair value method is used for equity investments when investor has…
Neither significant influence nor control
When does consolidation of financial statements occur for corporate investors?
When they have enough shares to gain actual control over
Investee’s operating
Accumulate over 50% of the shares outstanding of voting stock
Control generally requires what for accounting information?
Control generally requires consolidation of accounting information
Produced by individual companies
What does the equity method use to recognize income?
Uses accrual basis for recognizing investor’s share of investee
Income
Treatment of dividends under the equity method
Investor’s share of investee dividends declared are recorded
As decreases in investment account (not income)
Equity method is often used for what kind of business activity?
Joint ventures
Under the cost method, how is a declared dividend treated on the investor’s records?
Recorded as dividend income
IASB definition of significant influence
Power to participate in financial and operating policy decisions
Of investee,
but not have control/joint control over those policies
6 conditions that indicate presence of degree of influence for use of the equity method
1 investor representation on board of directors
2 investor participation in policy making process of investee
3 material intra-entity transactions
4 interchange of managerial personnel
5 technological dependency
6 extent of ownership by investor in relation to size and
concentration of other ownership interests in investee
Sole criterion for use of equity method
Ability to exercise influence over investee
3 situations where equity method isn’t appropriate for investments regardless of investor’s degree of ownership
1 agreement exists between investor and investee, where investor
Surrenders significant rights as a shareholder
2 concentration of ownership operates the investee without
Regard for views of investor
3 investor attempts, but fails to obtain representation on investee’s
Board of directors
If an entity can exercise control over its investee, regardless of ownership level…
Consolidation (rather than equity method) is appropriate
Variable interests
Control achieved through contractual and other arrangements
Financial control exists, absent of majority ownership interest
Extensions of equity method applicability
It’s possible to fall short or exceed 20-50% ownership and
Still use the equity method
Ex. Being a member of a business consortium that holds voting control of investee that you own less than 20% of, or own over 50% but have contract with another company that says you share control equally
Criterion and normal ownership level for fair value or cost method of accounting
Criterion: inability to significantly influence
Ownership: less than 20%
2 possible criterion for consolidated financial statements
1 control through voting interests
2 control through variable interests (governance documents,
Contracts)
2 possible normal ownership levels for consolidated financial statements
1 more than 50%
2 primary beneficiary status (no ownership required)
For users of investor’s financial statements, the equity method effects…
Both the timing or income recognition and carrying around of
Investment account
In applying the equity method, the accounting objective is to report…
The investor’s investment and investment income reflecting
Close relationship between the companies
After recording the cost of acquisition, what 2 equity method entries periodically record the investment’s impact?
1 investor’s investment account increases as investee earns and reports income
2 investor decreases its investment account for its share of
investee cash dividends
investor’s investment account increases as investee earns and reports income
Although investor initially records acquisition at cost, upward
Adjustments in asset balance are recorded as soon as investee
Makes profit
Reduction is necessary if loss is reported
Because investor can influence their timing, investee dividends…
Can’t objectively measure income generated from investment
One of the most common problems encountered in applying the equity method concerns…
Investment costs that exceed proportionate book value of
Investee company