Tyler company acquired all of jasmine company's outstanding stock

hoy44953_ch03_089-154.indd 89 10/27/16 09:14 PM

chapter

In 1996, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., acquired all of the outstanding stock of Geico, Inc., an insurance company. Although this transaction involved well-known companies, it was not unique; mergers and acquisitions have long been common in the business world.

Berkshire Hathaway’s current financial statements indicate that Geico

is still a component of this economic entity. However, Geico, Inc., con-

tinues as a separate legally incorporated concern long after its acquisi-

tion. As discussed in Chapter 2, a parent will often maintain separate legal

status for a subsidiary corporation to better utilize its inherent value as a

going concern.

For external reporting purposes, maintenance of incorporation cre-

ates an ongoing challenge for the accountant. In each subsequent period,

consolidation must be simulated anew through the use of a worksheet and

consolidation entries. Thus, for many years, the financial data for Berkshire

Hathaway and Geico (along with dozens of other subsidiaries) have been

brought together periodically to provide figures for the financial statements

that represent this business combination.

As also discussed in Chapter 2, the acquisition method governs the

way we initially record a business combination. In periods subsequent to

acquisition, the fair-value bases (established at the acquisition date) for sub-

sidiary assets acquired and liabilities assumed will be amortized (or tested

for possible impairment) for proper income recognition. Additionally, some

combinations require accounting for the eventual disposition of contingent

consideration, which, as presented later in this chapter, continues to follow a

fair-value model.

In the next several sections of this chapter, we present the procedures

to prepare consolidated financial statements in the years subsequent to

acquisition. We start by analyzing the relation between the parent’s inter-

nal accounting method for its subsidiary investment and the adjustments

required in consolidation. We also examine the specific procedures for

amortizing the acquisition-date fair-value adjustments to the subsidiary’s

assets and liabilities. We then cover testing for goodwill impairment and

post-acquisition accounting for contingent consideration. Finally, an appen-

dix presents the alternative goodwill model available as a reporting option

for private companies.

3 Consolidations— Subsequent to the Date of Acquisition

Learning Objectives After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

LO 3-1 Recognize the complexities in preparing consolidated financial reports that emerge from the passage of time.

LO 3-2 Identify and describe the various methods available to a parent company in order to maintain its investment in subsidiary account in its internal records.

LO 3-3 Prepare consolidated financial statements subsequent to acquisition when the parent has applied in its internal records:

a. The equity method. b. The initial value method. c. The partial equity method.

LO 3-4 Understand that a parent’s internal accounting method for its subsidiary investments has no effect on the resulting consolidated financial statements.

LO 3-5 Discuss the rationale for the goodwill impairment testing approach.

LO 3-6 Describe the procedures for conducting a goodwill impairment test.

LO 3-7 Describe the rationale and procedures for impairment testing for intangib