Fair Value

Question 1

Define “fair value (for accounting purposes)”.

Answer 1

The price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Question 2

For purposes of the fair value definition, what are the assumed characteristics of market participants?

Answer 2

Buyers and sellers that are:

1. Independent of the reporting entity;
2. Acting in their economic best interest;
3. Knowledgeable of the asset or liability and the transaction involved;
4. Able and willing, but not compelled, to transact for the asset or liability.

Question 3

What are the major purposes intended to be accomplished by the fair value framework?

Answer 3

To provide a framework for the use of fair value in GAAP so as to:
Achieve increased consistency and comparability in fair value measurements; and
Expand disclosure when fair value measurements are used.

Question 4

Define “exit price”.

Answer 4

The price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability.

Question 5

Define “entry price”.

Answer 5

The price paid to acquire an asset or the price received to assume a liability.

Question 6

List the situations where the entry price may not be the exit price.

Answer 6

1. The transaction is between related parties;
2. The transaction occurs when the seller is under duress;
3. The unit of account included in the transaction price is different from the unit of account that would be used to measure at fair value;
4. The market in which the transaction price occurred is different from the market in which the asset would be sold or the liability transferred.

Question 7

Describe the cost approach for determining fair value for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) purposes

Answer 7

This approach uses the amount currently required to replace the service capacity of an asset.

Question 8

List the items that entities may elect to measure and report at fair value.

Answer 8

1. Recognized financial assets or financial liabilities, (some exceptions);
2. Firm commitments;
3. Written loan commitments;
4. Rights and obligations under insurance contracts and warranties;
5. Other financial instruments embedded in non-financial derivative instruments.

Question 9

Describe the market approach for determining fair value for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) purposes.

Answer 9

This approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving assets or liabilities identical or comparable to those being valued.

Question 10

Describe the income approach for determining fair value for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) purposes.

Answer 10

This approach converts future amounts to a single present amount.

Question 11

What are the three valuation techniques (or approaches) that should be used in determining fair value for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles purposes?

Answer 11

1. Market approach;
2. Income approach;
3. Cost approach.

Question 12

List the financial assets and financial liabilities that entities may NOT use fair value to measure and report

Answer 12

1. An investment in a subsidiary or variable interest to be consolidated;
2. Employers’ and plans’ obligations for pension benefits, other postretirement benefits, post-employment benefits;
3. Financial assets and liabilities under lease accounting;
4. Demand deposit liabilities of financial institutions;
5. Financial instruments classified by the issuer as a component of shareholders’ equity.

Question 13

List the dates when an entity may elect to use fair value option for an eligible item.

Answer 13

1. Item is first recognized;
2. Firm commitment occurs;
3. An asset previously reported at fair value with unrealized gain/loss in earnings, no longer qualifies for that fair value treatment;
4. When accounting treatment for an investment changes because it becomes subject to the equity method or ceases to be eligible for consolidation;
5. When an item is measured at fair value at the time of an event, but does not require fair value measurement at subsequent reporting dates.

Question 14

What purpose does the fair value hierarchy serve?

Answer 14

To prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.

Question 15

Describe fair value measurement inputs.

Answer 15

Inputs can be observable or unobservable.

Observable inputs are based on market data from independent sources.

Unobservable inputs are the entity’s assumptions about the factors that impact determination of fair value.

Question 16

What are the three levels of the fair value hierarchy and what does each consist of?

Answer 16

Level 1: highest level, are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for assets and liabilities identical to those being valued.
Level 2: are observable for assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly, other than quoted prices described in Level 1.
Level 3: lowest level, are unobservable and used to determine fair value only if observable inputs are not available.

Question 17

What are the special disclosures required for fair value measurements (on a recurring basis) that are based on unobservable inputs (i.e., Level 3 inputs)?

Answer 17

1. Reconciliation of beginning and ending balances;
2. Description of the valuation process used;
3. Quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used;
4. Narrative description of the sensitivity of fair value to changes in unobservable inputs;
5. Unrealized gains/losses for the period and where reported.

Question 18

What types of comparisons are fair value option disclosures intended to facilitate?

Answer 18

1. Between entities that choose different measurement methods for similar assets and liabilities;
2. Between assets and liabilities in the financial statements of an entity that selects different measurement for similar assets and liabilities

Question 19

What significant fair value disclosures are required only in annual statements?

Answer 19

The methods and significant assumptions used to estimate fair value.

Question 20

Distinguish between assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and nonrecurring basis.

Answer 20

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on recurring basis are adjusted to fair value period after a period. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are adjusted to fair value only at the time of a particular event (e.g., significant modification of debt).