Business Combinations (Topic 805)

Transcription

1 Proposed Accounting Standards Update Issued: April 28, 2014 Comments Due: July 31, 2014 Business Combinations (Topic 805) Pushdown Accounting a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force This Exposure Draft of a proposed Accounting Standards Update of Topic 805 is issued by the Board for public comment. Comments can be provided using the electronic feedback form available on the FASB website. Written comments should be addressed to: Technical Director File Reference No. EITF-12F

2 The FASB Accounting Standards Codification is the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. An Accounting Standards Update is not authoritative; rather, it is a document that communicates how the Accounting Standards Codification is being amended. It also provides other information to help a user of GAAP understand how and why GAAP is changing and when the changes will be effective. Notice to Recipients of This Exposure Draft of a Proposed Accounting Standards Update The Board invites comments on all matters in this Exposure Draft and is requesting comments by July 31, Interested parties may submit comments in one of three ways: Using the electronic feedback form available on the FASB website at Exposure Documents Open for Comment ing a written letter to director@fasb.org, File Reference No. EITF- 12F Sending written comments to Technical Director, File Reference No. EITF-12F, FASB, 401 Merritt 7, PO Box 5116, Norwalk, CT Do not send responses by fax. All comments received are part of the FASB s public file. The FASB will make all comments publicly available by posting them to the online public reference room portion of its website. An electronic copy of this Exposure Draft is available on the FASB s website. Copyright 2014 by Financial Accounting Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to make copies of this work provided that such copies are for personal or intraorganizational use only and are not sold or disseminated and provided further that each copy bears the following credit line: Copyright 2014 by Financial Accounting Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

3 Proposed Accounting Standards Update Business Combinations (Topic 805) Pushdown Accounting April 28, 2014 Comment Deadline: July 31, 2014 CONTENTS Page Numbers Summary and Questions for Respondents Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Background Information, Basis for Conclusions, and Alternative Views Amendments to the XBRL Taxonomy... 24

4

5 Summary and Questions for Respondents Why Is the FASB Issuing This Proposed Accounting Standards Update (Update)? Current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) offer limited guidance for determining whether and when a new accounting and reporting basis (pushdown accounting) should be established in an acquiree s (acquired entity s) separate financial statements. SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic No. 5.J, New Basis of Accounting Required in Certain Circumstances, EITF Topic No. D-97, Push-Down Accounting, and other comments made by the SEC Observer at EITF meetings (all of that guidance is included in paragraphs S99-1 through S99-4 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification ) provide guidance on pushdown accounting for SEC registrants. However, because the SEC staff s guidance is applicable only to SEC registrants, diversity in practice exists with respect to the application of pushdown accounting among entities that are not SEC registrants. In addition, practice issues exist in the application of pushdown accounting for all entities as a result of the limited guidance. The objective of this proposed Update is to provide guidance on when and how an acquired entity that is a business or nonprofit activity can apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements. Who Would Be Affected by the Amendments in This Proposed Update? The amendments in this proposed Update would apply to the separate financial statements of an acquired entity, both public and nonpublic, that is a business or nonprofit activity, upon the occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. While the recognition and measurement provisions of the proposed amendments are elective, to comply with the disclosure provisions, an entity would be required to assess at each reporting date whether an acquirer has obtained control of the entity since its last reporting date. What Are the Main Provisions? The amendments in this proposed Update would provide an acquired entity with an option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements upon occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. The option to apply pushdown accounting would be evaluated and may be 1

6 elected by the acquired entity for each individual change-in-control event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. If the acquired entity elects the option to apply pushdown accounting, it would reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting established by the acquirer for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquired entity by applying Topic 805, Business Combinations. If the acquirer did not establish a new basis of accounting for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquired entity because it was not required to apply Topic 805, the acquired entity would reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting that would have been established by the acquirer had the acquirer applied Topic 805. The acquired entity would recognize goodwill that arises due to the application of Topic 805 in its separate financial statements. However, if the application of Topic 805 results in a bargain purchase gain, the acquired entity would not recognize that gain in its income statement. In addition, any acquisition-related debt incurred by the acquirer would be recognized in the acquired entity s separate financial statements only if the acquired entity is required to recognize a liability for that debt in accordance with other applicable U.S. GAAP (for example, Subtopic on obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements). For subsequent measurement, the acquired entity would follow the guidance in Topic 805 and other applicable U.S. GAAP to account for its assets (including goodwill), liabilities, and equity instruments. If the acquired entity elects the option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements, the guidance in this proposed Update would require the acquired entity to disclose information in the current reporting period that enables the users of financial statements to evaluate the effect of pushdown accounting on its financial statements. To meet the disclosure objective, the acquired entity would provide the disclosures required in Topic 805, as applicable. If the acquired entity does not elect the option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements, it would disclose in the current reporting period that the entity has (1) undergone a change-in-control event whereby an acquirer has obtained control of the entity during the reporting period and (2) elected to continue to prepare its financial statements using its historical basis that existed before the acquirer obtained control of the entity. How Would the Main Provisions Differ from Current U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Why Would They Be an Improvement? Current U.S. GAAP offers limited guidance for determining whether and when pushdown accounting should be established in an acquired entity s separate 2

7 financial statements. The amendments in this proposed Update would be an improvement over current U.S. GAAP by defining when and how an acquired entity may apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements. In the absence of relevant guidance in U.S. GAAP, entities (including non-sec registrants) currently use the SEC staff guidance to determine when and how they should apply pushdown accounting in their separate financial statements, which has led to diversity and other practice issues. The amendments in this proposed Update would provide specific guidance on pushdown accounting for all entities. Furthermore, the threshold for pushdown accounting in this proposed Update is consistent with the threshold for change-in-control events in Topic 805 and Topic 810, Consolidation, and, therefore, would reduce the complexity that some stakeholders said exists under the current pushdown guidance. When Would the Amendments Be Effective? The amendments in this proposed Update would apply prospectively to an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity for which the acquisition date is on or after this proposed Update s effective date. The effective date will be determined after the Task Force considers stakeholder feedback on the proposed Update. How Do the Proposed Provisions Compare with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)? Currently, there is no guidance in IFRS on pushdown accounting. Questions for Respondents The Board invites individuals and organizations to comment on all matters in this proposed Update, particularly on the issues and questions below. Comments are requested from those who agree with the proposed guidance as well as from those who do not agree. Comments are most helpful if they identify and clearly explain the issue or question to which they relate. Those who disagree with the proposed guidance are asked to describe their suggested alternatives, supported by specific reasoning. Question 1: Do you agree that the guidance in this proposed Update should apply to an acquired entity, both public and nonpublic, that is a business or nonprofit activity? If not, please explain why. Question 2: Do you agree that the threshold for the option to apply pushdown accounting should be when an acquirer has obtained control of the entity? If not, 3

8 what would be a more appropriate threshold for the option to apply pushdown accounting and why would that threshold be more appropriate? Question 3: Do you agree that pushdown accounting should be optional for an entity when control over the entity has been obtained by an acquirer? Alternatively, should pushdown accounting be mandatory for certain entities or certain transactions? If so, what types of entities or transactions should require a mandatory application of pushdown accounting? Question 4: Do you agree that an acquired entity that elects the option to apply pushdown accounting should reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting established by the acquirer for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquired entity by applying Topic 805. If the acquirer did not establish a new basis of accounting for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquired entity, should it reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting that would have been established by the acquirer had the acquirer applied Topic 805? If not, please explain why. Question 5: Do you agree that an entity that elects the option to apply pushdown accounting should follow the subsequent measurement guidance in Topic 805 and other applicable U.S. GAAP to subsequently measure and account for its assets, liabilities, and equity instruments? If not, please explain why. Question 6: Do you agree that an entity that elects the option to apply pushdown accounting should not recognize bargain purchase gains, if any, in its separate income statement? If not, please explain why. Question 7: Do you agree that any acquisition-related debt incurred by the acquirer should be recognized in the acquired entity s separate financial statements only if the acquired entity is required to recognize a liability for the debt in accordance with other applicable U.S. GAAP? If not, please explain why. Question 8: Should the final Accounting Standards Update on pushdown accounting include any additional guidance on recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, and equity instruments of the acquired entity? If yes, please explain for which assets, liabilities, and equity instruments additional guidance should be provided. Question 9: Do you agree that an entity that elects the option to apply pushdown accounting should provide the disclosures in Topic 805 to meet the disclosure objective in this proposed Update? Are there any disclosures, other than those required in Topic 805, that should be required by this proposed Update? Question 10: Do you agree that an entity that does not elect the option to apply pushdown accounting should disclose in the current reporting period that it has (a) undergone a change-in-control event whereby an acquirer has obtained control of the entity during the reporting period and (b) elected to continue to prepare its financial statements using its historical basis that existed before the acquirer obtained control of the entity? Are there any other disclosures that an 4

9 acquired entity that does not elect the option to apply pushdown accounting should be required to disclose? Question 11: Do you agree that for purposes of disclosure requirements, an entity should assess at each reporting period whether its control has been obtained by an acquirer and whether it would elect the option to apply pushdown accounting? How much incremental cost and effort does such continuous assessment require? Question 12: Do you agree that this proposed Update should be effective prospectively to transactions in which an acquirer has obtained control of the acquired entity? Do you also agree that an acquired entity should be allowed to elect the option to apply pushdown accounting each time it has undergone a change-in-control event whereby an acquirer has obtained control of the acquired entity? If not, please explain why. Question 13: Do you agree that the decision about whether to elect the option to apply pushdown accounting should be made in the reporting period in which the change-in-control event occurs and should be irrevocable? If not, please explain why. Question 14: Do you agree with the proposed consequential amendments to remove guidance in Subtopic on application of pushdown accounting when an acquisition meets certain conditions (previously EITF Issue No. 86-9, IRC Section 338 and Push-Down Accounting )? If not, please explain why. 5

10

11 Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Introduction 1. The Accounting Standards Codification is amended as described in paragraphs In some cases, to put the change in context, not only are the amended paragraphs shown but also the preceding and following paragraphs. Terms from the Master Glossary are in bold type. Added text is underlined, and deleted text is struck out. Amendments to Master Glossary 2. Add the Master Glossary term Control to Subtopic as follows: Control The same as the meaning of controlling financial interest in paragraph Amend the Master Glossary term Pushdown Accounting as follows: Pushdown Accounting Use of the acquirer sacquiring entity s basis of accounting in the preparation of the acquiree s separateacquired entity s financial statements. 4. The following existing Master Glossary terms are shown for convenience: Acquiree The business or businesses that the acquirer obtains control of in a business combination. This term also includes a nonprofit activity or business that a notfor-profit acquirer obtains control of in an acquisition by a not-for-profit entity. Acquirer The entity that obtains control of the acquiree. However, in a business combination in which a variable interest entity (VIE) is acquired, the primary beneficiary of that entity always is the acquirer. Acquisition Date The date on which the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree. 7

12 Business An integrated set of activities and assets that is capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return in the form of dividends, lower costs, or other economic benefits directly to investors or other owners, members, or participants. Additional guidance on what a business consists of is presented in paragraphs through Nonprofit Activity An integrated set of activities and assets that is capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing benefits, other than goods or services at a profit or profit equivalent, as a fulfillment of an entity s purpose or mission (for example, goods or services to beneficiaries, customers, or members). As with a not-for-profit entity, a nonprofit activity possesses characteristics that distinguish it from a business or a for-profit business entity. Amendments to Subtopic Supersede paragraphs and and its related heading and amend paragraphs and through 05-7 and the Subsection title, with a link to transition paragraph , as follows: Business Combinations Related Issues Overview and Background General Paragraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update XX.This Subtopic provides guidance on the accounting and reporting for two transactions that have certain characteristics that are similar to business combinations but do not meet the requirements to be accounted for as business combinations, and on another issue that arises after a business combination This Subtopic presents guidance in the following Subsections: a. General b. Acquisitions of Assets Rather than a Business c. Transactions Between Entities under Common Control d. New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown). e. Pushdown Accounting. 8

13 New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) The New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) Subsections provide guidance on when whether an entity must present a new basis of accounting may be recorded for the assets and liabilities of a master limited partnership. in certain situations. These Subsections provide guidance on specific types of master limited partnership transactions and, separately, the basis of accounting to be used by an acquiree after an acquisition. > Master Limited Partnership Transactions Master limited partnerships are partnerships in which interests are publicly traded. Most master limited partnerships are formed from assets in existing businesses. Typically, the general partner of the master limited partnership is affiliated with the existing business (that is, the master limited partnership is usually operated as an extension of or complementary to the business of the general partner). The purposes for forming a master limited partnership vary. They can be formed to realize the value of undervalued assets, to pass income and tax-deductible losses directly through to owners, to raise capital, to combine several existing partnerships, or as a vehicle to enable entities to sell, spin off, or liquidate existing operations. A master limited partnership may be created in a variety of ways. Whether a particular transaction is a business combination that should be accounted for using the acquisition method or a transaction between entities under common control can be determined only after a careful analysis of all facts and circumstances. The New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) Subsections identify specific transactions involving master limited partnerships and provide guidance on whether a new basis of accounting is appropriate. > Basis of Accounting to Be Used by Acquiree After an Acquisition Paragraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update XX.An acquisition may occur in which the acquiree is not a party to the transaction effecting the change in ownership and is not a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registrant. In such a situation, a step-up in tax basis may be elected, and there may be no compelling reasons for retaining the old basis. The guidance in the New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) Subsections also addresses whether pushdown accounting is required in the separate financial statements of the acquiree. 6. Amend paragraph and the Subsection title, supersede paragraphs through 15-9 and their related heading, and add paragraphs through and their related headings and the new Subsection title, with a link to transition paragraph , as follows: 9

14 Scope and Scope Exceptions General > Overall Guidance This Subtopic has its own discrete scope, which is separate and distinct from the pervasive scope for this Topic as outlined in Section New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) > Entities The guidance in the New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) Subsections applies to a publicly traded master limited partnership formed from assets of existing businesses. Paragraph explains that, typically, the general partner of the master limited partnership is affiliated with the existing business.all entities with transactions meeting the qualifications in the following paragraph. > Transactions Paragraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update XX.The guidance in the New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) Subsections applies to the following transactions: a. A publicly traded master limited partnership formed from assets of existing businesses. Paragraph explains that typically, the general partner of the master limited partnership is affiliated with the existing business. b. An acquisition in which all of the following conditions are met: 1. The acquiree is not a party to the transaction effecting change in ownership and is not a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registrant. 2. A step-up in tax basis is elected. 3. There are no compelling reasons for retaining the old basis Paragraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update XX.For a transaction meeting the conditions in (b) in the preceding paragraph, guidance is provided solely on whether pushdown accounting is required in the preparation of the acquired entity s financial statements. 10

15 Pushdown Accounting > Entities The guidance in the Pushdown Accounting Subsections applies to the separate financial statements of an acquiree in the period in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquiree. > Transactions The guidance in the Pushdown Accounting Subsections does not apply to transactions in paragraph Supersede paragraph and the Subsection title and add paragraphs through 25-7 and the new Subsection title, with a link to transition paragraph , as follows: Recognition New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) Paragraph superseded by Accounting Standards Update XX.Pushdown accounting is not required for entities that are not Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registrants. Pushdown Accounting An acquiree shall have the option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements when an acquirer obtains control of the acquiree. An acquirer might obtain control of an acquiree in a variety of ways, including any one of the following: a. By transferring cash or other assets b. By incurring liabilities c. By issuing equity interests d. By providing more than one type of consideration e. Without transferring consideration, including by contract alone as discussed in paragraph The guidance in the General Subsections of Subtopic related to determining the existence of a controlling financial interest shall be used to identify the acquirer the entity or individual that obtains control of the acquiree. If a business combination has occurred but applying that guidance does not clearly indicate which of the combining entities is the acquirer, the factors in paragraphs through shall be considered in identifying the acquirer. However, if the acquiree is a variable interest entity 11

16 (VIE), the primary beneficiary of the acquiree always is the acquirer. The determination of which party, if any, is the primary beneficiary of a VIE shall be made in accordance with the guidance in the Variable Interest Entities Subsections of Subtopic , not by applying the guidance in the General Subsections of that Subtopic relating to a controlling financial interest or the guidance in paragraphs through If elected by the acquiree, pushdown accounting shall be applied as of the acquisition date, which is the date on which the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree The option to apply pushdown accounting shall be evaluated and may be elected each time there is a change-in-control event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquiree. The election shall be made in the reporting period in which the change-in-control event occurs; the election is irrevocable. 8. Amend the Subsection title for paragraphs through 30-9 and add paragraphs through and the new Subsection title, with a link to transition paragraph , as follows: Initial Measurement New Basis of Accounting (Pushdown) Because of such factors as the consideration of common ownership and changes in control, a new basis of accounting is not appropriate for any of the following transactions that create a master limited partnership: a. A rollup in which the general partner of the new master limited partnership was also the general partner in some or all of the predecessor limited partnerships and no cash is involved in the transaction. Transaction costs in a rollup shall be charged to expense. b. A dropdown in which the sponsor receives 1 percent of the units in the master limited partnership as the general partner and 24 percent of the units as a limited partner, the remaining 75 percent of the units are sold to the public, and a two-thirds vote of the limited partners is required to replace the general partner. c. A rollout. d. A reorganization In other situations, it is possible that a new basis of accounting would be appropriate The issuance of master limited partnership units to a general partner of a predecessor limited partnership who will not be the general partner of the new master limited partnership in settlement of management contracts or for other services that will not carry over to the new master limited partnership has 12

17 characteristics of compensation rather than of equity and shall be accounted for accordingly by the new master limited partnership. Pushdown Accounting If an acquiree elects the option to apply pushdown accounting, the acquiree shall reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting established by the acquirer for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquiree by applying Topic 805. If the acquirer did not establish a new basis of accounting for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquiree because it was not required to apply Topic 805, the acquiree shall reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting that would have been established by the acquirer had the acquirer applied Topic An acquiree shall recognize goodwill that arises due to the application of Topic 805 in its separate financial statements in accordance with paragraphs through However, bargain purchase gains, if any, shall not be recognized in the acquiree s income statement Any acquisition-related debt incurred by an acquirer shall be recognized in an acquiree s separate financial statements only if the acquiree is required to recognize a liability for that debt in accordance with other applicable Topics. 9. Add paragraphs and through 50-6 and the new Subsection title, with a link to transition paragraph , as follows: Subsequent Measurement Pushdown Accounting An acquiree shall follow the subsequent measurement guidance in Topic 805 and other applicable Topics to subsequently measure and account for its assets, liabilities, and equity instruments, as applicable. Disclosure Pushdown Accounting If an acquiree elects the option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements, it shall disclose information in the current reporting period that enables users of financial statements to evaluate the effect of pushdown accounting. To meet this disclosure objective, the acquiree shall provide the disclosures required in Topic 805, as applicable. 13

18 If an acquiree elects not to apply pushdown accounting, the acquiree shall disclose both of the following in the reporting period an acquirer obtains control of the acquiree: a. That an event has occurred in which an acquirer obtained control of the entity during the reporting period b. That the entity elected to continue to prepare its financial statements using its historical basis that existed before the acquirer obtained its control. 10. Add paragraph and its related heading as follows: > Transition Related to Accounting Standards Update No XX, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Pushdown Accounting The following represents the transition and effective date information related to Accounting Standards Update No XX, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Pushdown Accounting: a. The pending content that links to this paragraph shall be applied by an acquiree prospectively to its separate financial statements when an acquirer obtains control over the entity on an acquisition date that is on or after [date to be inserted after exposure]. The amendments in this proposed Update were approved for publication by the affirmative vote of five members of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Messrs. Linsmeier and Siegel voted against publication of the amendments. Their alternative views are set out at the end of the basis for conclusions. Members of the Financial Accounting Standards Board: Russell G. Golden, Chairman James L. Kroeker, Vice Chairman Daryl E. Buck Thomas J. Linsmeier R. Harold Schroeder Marc A. Siegel Lawrence W. Smith 14

19 Background Information, Basis for Conclusions, and Alternative Views Introduction BC1. The following summarizes the Task Force s considerations in reaching the conclusions in this proposed Update. It includes the Board s basis for ratifying the Task Force conclusions when needed to supplement the Task Force s considerations. It also includes reasons for accepting certain approaches and rejecting others. Individual Task Force and Board members gave greater weight to some factors than to others. Background Information BC2. Current U.S. GAAP offers limited guidance for determining whether and when a new accounting and reporting basis (pushdown accounting) should be established in an acquiree s (acquired entity s) separate financial statements. SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic No. 5.J, New Basis of Accounting Required in Certain Circumstances, EITF Topic No. D-97, Push-Down Accounting, and other comments made by the SEC Observer at EITF meetings (all of that guidance is included in paragraphs S99-1 through S99-4) provide guidance for SEC registrants on pushdown accounting. Additionally, certain financial institutions are required by their regulators to apply pushdown accounting in certain circumstances. The SEC staff s guidance indicates that if a purchase transaction results in an entity becoming substantially wholly owned, the entity s standalone financial statements should be adjusted to reflect the basis of accounting by its parent. The SEC staff s guidance further states that pushdown accounting is (a) required when 95 percent or more of an entity s ownership is acquired, (b) permitted when 80 to 95 percent is acquired, and (c) prohibited when less than 80 percent is acquired. The existence of other interests, such as public debt, preferred stock, or a significant noncontrolling interest, however, may exempt an entity from applying pushdown accounting. The SEC staff s guidance also indicates that holdings of investors who both mutually promote the acquisition and collaborate on the subsequent control of the acquired entity should be aggregated for the purpose of determining whether the acquired entity has become substantially wholly owned. BC3. In the past, the EITF considered certain Issues that address pushdown accounting but reached consensus on only a few of them, including the application of pushdown accounting to non-sec registrants (EITF Issue No. 86-9, IRC Section 338 and Push-Down Accounting ) and the change in accounting 15

20 basis in master limited partnership transactions (EITF Issue No , Change of Accounting Basis in Master Limited Partnership Transactions ). In Issue 86-9, the Task Force concluded that pushdown accounting is not required for entities that are not SEC registrants even if an acquisition meets all of the following three conditions: (a) the acquired entity is neither an SEC registrant nor a party to the transaction effecting a change in ownership, (b) a step-up in tax basis is elected by the acquired entity, and (c) there are no compelling reasons for the acquired entity to retain the old basis. Similarly, in Issue 87-21, the Task Force concluded that a new accounting basis is not appropriate for any of the following transactions that create a master limited partnership: (a) rollup, (b) dropdown, (c) rollout, and (d) reorganization. However, the Task Force concluded that in other situations, it is possible that a new basis of accounting would be appropriate. Guidance from both Issues is included in Subtopic , Business Combinations Related Issues. BC4. Because the SEC staff s guidance is applicable only to SEC registrants, diversity in practice exists in applying pushdown accounting among entities that are not SEC registrants. In addition, some practice issues exist in applying pushdown accounting for all entities as a result of the limited guidance. Scope BC5. During the EITF Agenda Committee meeting at which this Issue was considered, several members of the EITF and the Board raised questions about the scope of the Issue. Some questioned whether the Issue should be limited to purchase transactions or whether it should apply to all transactions in which an acquirer obtains control of the reporting entity that is a business or nonprofit activity. The FASB Chairman recommended that the FASB staff perform additional research on the Issue by forming a working group. The working group comprising members from accounting firms, users, and preparers met on July 26, BC6. The working group explored several scope alternatives ranging from the narrowest addressing pushdown accounting issues in a purchase transaction to the broadest developing overarching principles for all possible new basis accounting issues. The working group noted that pushdown accounting is only one of a broader set of new basis accounting issues. However, after considering the narrower nature of the EITF Issue, the working group recommended that the Task Force limit the scope to change-in-control events in which a reporting entity has undergone a transaction or other event in which an acquirer obtains control of the entity. BC7. The Task Force agreed with the working group s scope recommendation and adopted change-in-control events whereby an acquirer obtains control of an acquired entity as the starting scope for its deliberations. 16

21 Threshold for Application of Pushdown Accounting BC8. At its November 14, 2013 meeting, the Task Force tentatively decided that all entities (both public and nonpublic) would have the option to apply pushdown accounting in their separate financial statements upon the occurrence of a change-in-control event in which an acquirer obtains control of the entity. In addition, the Task Force decided that public business entities would be required to apply pushdown accounting upon the occurrence of an event that causes the entity to become substantially wholly owned by an acquirer. To further develop the tentative decisions, the Task Force asked the staff to reconvene the working group on this Issue. The working group met on January 31, BC9. The Task Force considered both change in control and substantially wholly owned as potential thresholds for pushdown accounting and reached a consensus-for-exposure that the threshold should be change in control. The Task Force concluded that the change-in-control threshold is the best trigger for pushdown accounting because it is already established in Topic 810 and Topic 805 as a threshold for consolidation and business combinations. The Task Force determined that the gain or loss of control of a business or nonprofit activity is considered to be a significant economic event for which remeasurement of an entity s net assets may be a more faithful depiction of the transaction in certain circumstances. The Task Force highlighted that the Board already has determined business combinations to be a significant event that requires new basis accounting for the net assets acquired and, in the absence of another distinct threshold that is conceptually grounded in U.S. GAAP, change-in-control events also could serve as the basis for establishing a new basis in an acquired entity s separate financial statements. The Task Force also decided that a change-in-control threshold for pushdown accounting would eliminate the need to develop a virtual acquirer concept (collaborative groups), under which a group of investors is viewed as a single acquirer. The Task Force agreed that developing the concept of a virtual acquirer would make the guidance on pushdown accounting overly complicated. BC10. The Task Force decided that a super-control concept, such as substantially-wholly-owned, is not appropriate because it would not only be inconsistent with the current threshold for consolidation and business combinations, but also would be challenging to define as a conceptually sound, effective, and operable principle. The Task Force acknowledged that the current SEC staff guidance is based on a substantially-wholly-owned threshold and could serve as a starting point for a new principle, but it expressed skepticism about developing a cost-effective principle to the existing concept in the SEC staff guidance. The Task Force considered the feedback provided by the working group from its January 31, 2014 meeting that the current SEC staff guidance is deemed by many to be overly complex. The Task Force discussed whether it could make that guidance less complex and concluded that retaining a 17

22 substantially-wholly-owned threshold but simplifying the SEC staff guidance could make the threshold less effective by increasing structuring opportunities to avoid or achieve pushdown accounting. Option to Apply Pushdown Accounting BC11. The Task Force discussed whether it should require mandatory application or allow an option to apply pushdown accounting. The Task Force reached a consensus-for-exposure to provide entities with an option to apply pushdown accounting. In reaching the consensus-for-exposure, the Task Force considered that a mandatory application of pushdown accounting would result in a substantial increase in the number of entities applying pushdown accounting and also an increase in the frequency of pushdown accounting being applied by the same entity. The Task Force believes that those results may not be beneficial to many users of financial statements and may be a costly exercise for many preparers. The Task Force also considered the user feedback that indicated mixed views about the relevance and benefits of pushdown accounting and noted that some users would prefer not to distort historical trends by establishing a new basis of accounting for each change-in-control event, while other users would prefer a new basis and consider an acquired entity s financial information in the context of its parent. BC12. The Task Force observed that an optional model may reduce comparability among entities whose control is obtained by an acquirer. However, the Task Force decided that it is more important to satisfy different user needs by allowing entities to apply judgment on the basis of their unique set of facts and circumstances than to achieve comparability in this area. Furthermore, the Task Force noted that there is already a lack of comparability today among entities because of the optional nature of pushdown accounting among nonpublic entities and the optionality allowed for in the current model applicable to SEC registrants when between 80 percent and 95 percent of an entity is acquired. BC13. The Task Force also reached a consensus-for-exposure that an acquired entity should evaluate separately the option to apply pushdown accounting at each change-in-control event and that the guidance should not be treated as a one-time accounting policy election. The Task Force believes that every changein-control event is a distinct event and, therefore, an entity should make its pushdown accounting election on the basis of the facts and circumstances and the needs of its users for each distinct change-in-control event. 18

23 Recognition and Measurement BC14. The Task Force reached a consensus-for-exposure that an acquired entity that elects the option to apply pushdown accounting should reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting established by the acquirer for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquired entity by applying Topic 805 on business combinations. If the acquirer did not establish a new basis of accounting for the individual assets and liabilities of the acquired entity because it was not required to apply the guidance in Topic 805, the acquired entity should reflect in its separate financial statements the new basis of accounting that would have been established by the acquirer had the acquirer applied Topic 805. The acquired entity should recognize goodwill that arises due to the application of Topic 805 in its separate financial statements. However, if the application of Topic 805 results in a bargain purchase gain, the acquired entity should not recognize the gain in its income statement because that gain more appropriately would be reflected in the financial statements of the acquirer. For subsequent measurement, the acquired entity should follow the guidance in Topic 805 and other applicable U.S. GAAP to account for its assets (including goodwill), liabilities, and equity instruments. BC15. The Task Force also reached a consensus-for-exposure that any acquisition-related debt incurred by the acquirer should be recognized in the acquired entity s separate financial statements only if the acquired entity is required to recognize a liability for that debt in accordance with other applicable U.S. GAAP (for example, Subtopic on obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements). The Task Force referred to the definition of a liability in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, Elements of Financial Statements, which states that liabilities are probable future sacrifices of economic benefits arising from present obligations of a particular entity to transfer assets or provide services to other entities in the future as a result of past transactions or events, and concluded that an acquired entity would recognize a liability for the debt incurred by the acquirer only if that debt is the acquired entity s liability as defined in Concepts Statement 6. Disclosure BC16. The Task Force reached a consensus-for-exposure that an acquired entity that elects the option to apply pushdown accounting should disclose in the current reporting period information that enables users of financial statements to evaluate the nature and effect of the pushdown accounting on its financial statements. To meet the disclosure objective, the acquired entity should provide the disclosures required in Topic 805, as applicable. BC17. The Task Force also discussed whether disclosures should be required if an acquired entity does not elect to apply pushdown accounting when a change- 19

24 in-control event occurs whereby an acquirer obtained control of the acquired entity. The Task Force reached a consensus-for-exposure that if the acquired entity does not elect the option to apply pushdown accounting, it should disclose in the current reporting period that it has (a) undergone a change-in-control event whereby an acquirer has obtained control of the entity during the reporting period and (b) elected to continue to prepare its financial statements using its historical basis that existed before the acquirer obtained control of the entity. The Task Force noted that such disclosure would require an entity to assess at each reporting period whether an acquirer has obtained its control, even though it may elect not to apply pushdown accounting for such an event. Transition and Effective Date BC18. The Task Force reached a consensus-for-exposure that an acquired entity should apply the pushdown accounting guidance prospectively to all events in which an acquirer obtains control of the entity and that occur after the effective date of the final Accounting Standards Update. The Task Force believes that applying the guidance in the period of the change-in-control event is important; and, therefore, decided against allowing a retrospective transition that would have allowed for election of pushdown accounting for change-in-control events whereby an acquirer obtained control of an acquired entity in the past and would have required the use of hindsight for significant fair value estimates. BC19. The effective date will be determined after the Task Force considers stakeholder feedback on the proposed Update. Benefits and Costs BC20. The objective of financial reporting is to provide information that is useful to present and potential investors, creditors, donors, and other capital market participants in making rational investment, credit, and similar resource allocation decisions. However, the benefits of providing information for that purpose should justify the related costs. Present and potential investors, creditors, donors, and other users of financial information benefit from improvements in financial reporting, while the costs to implement new guidance are borne primarily by present investors. The Task Force s assessment of the costs and benefits of issuing new guidance is unavoidably more qualitative than quantitative because there is no method to objectively measure the costs to implement new guidance or to quantify the value of improved information in financial statements. BC21. The Task Force notes that the recognition and measurement requirements of the proposed amendments are optional and, therefore, would not result in significant costs for entities that do not elect the option to apply pushdown accounting. Because the guidance on pushdown accounting is optional, an entity would be able to perform an independent analysis after considering the needs of 20

25 their users before electing the option to apply pushdown accounting. The Task Force believes that most entities that elect to apply pushdown accounting would not incur significant costs in applying the amendments in this proposed Update considering that, in most circumstances, the acquirer would be a reporting entity that already is required under current U.S. GAAP to apply business combination accounting and, hence, required to estimate and reflect the new basis of the acquired or newly consolidated business or nonprofit activity in its consolidated financial statements. The Task Force acknowledges that when an acquirer is not required to apply business combination accounting because of specialized industry accounting (such as investment companies), the costs may be higher but the fair value information of an acquired entity would generally still be observable through the purchase price, even if an allocation of that purchase price to the individual assets and liabilities may not otherwise be performed. BC22. The Task Force believes that continuous assessment of whether an acquirer has obtained control of the entity for disclosure purposes would be incremental for many entities and, therefore, may be costly. However, the Task Force believes that those disclosures would be beneficial to the users of financial statements in understanding the entity s election not to apply pushdown accounting when there may be a transaction that provides more objective evidence of the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the reporting entity. BC23. The Task Force believes that the amendments in this proposed Update would benefit entities by providing them with guidance on when an acquired entity that is a business or nonprofit activity can apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements and how pushdown accounting should be applied. The proposed amendments also would alleviate most practice issues that some stakeholders believe exist in applying current SEC staff guidance on pushdown accounting. In addition, some users of those entities financial statements that elect to apply pushdown accounting would benefit from the new basis and be provided the acquired entity s financial information in the context of its parent. That guidance would help entities that want to eliminate the need to keep two separate sets of books between the acquirer and the acquired entity. BC24. One Task Force member does not support the issuance of this proposed Update and notes that the limited outreach performed to date has yielded mixed views from users about the use of pushdown accounting. An unrestricted option to apply pushdown accounting at the change-in-control threshold would potentially increase diversity in practice and may be detrimental to users. Absent demonstrated broad user support, a potential increase in diversity in the use of pushdown accounting does not appear to be warranted. Furthermore, whether pushdown accounting should be applied is part of the broader question of when a new accounting basis should be established. This Task Force member notes that this issue would be more appropriately addressed through a comprehensive project by the Board. 21