CHAPTER 1
THE EQUITY METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS
Chapter Outline
I. Four methods are principally used to account for an investment in equity securities along
with a fair value option.
A. Fair value method: applied by an investor when only a small percentage of a
company’s voting stock is held.
1. Income is recognized when the investee declares a dividend.
2. Portfolios are reported at fair value. If fair values are unavailable, investment is
reported at cost.
B. Cost Method: applied to investments without a readily determinable fair value. When
the fair value of an investment in equity securities is not readily determinable, and the
investment provides neither significant influence nor control, the investment may be
measured at cost. The investment remains at cost unless
1. A demonstrable impairment occurs for the investment, or
2. An observable price change occurs for identical or similar investments of the
same issuer.
Income is typically recognized by the investor for its share of investee dividends
declared.
C. Consolidation: when one firm controls another (e.g., when a parent has a majority
interest in the voting stock of a subsidiary or control through variable interests, their
financial statements are consolidated and reported for the combined entity.
D. Equity method: applied when the investor has the ability to exercise significant
influence over operating and financial policies of the investee.
3. Ability to significantly influence investee is indicated by several factors including
representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making, etc.
4. GAAP guidelines presume the equity method is applicable if 20 to 50 percent of
the outstanding voting stock of the investee is held by the investor.
Current financial reporting standards allow firms to elect to use fair value for any new
investment in equity shares including those where the equity method would otherwise
apply. However, the option, once taken, is irrevocable. Investee dividends and changes
in fair value over time are recognized as income.
II. Accounting for an investment: the equity method
,A. The investment account is adjusted by the investor to reflect all changes in the equity
of the investee company.
B. Income is accrued by the investor when it is reported in the investee’s financial
statements.
C. Dividends declared by the investee create a reduction in the carrying amount of the
Investment account. This book assumes all investee dividends are declared and paid
in the same reporting period.
,III. Special accounting procedures used in the application of the equity method
A. Reporting a change to the equity method when the ability to significantly influence an
investee is achieved through a series of acquisitions.
1. Initial purchase(s) will be accounted for by means of the fair value method (or at
cost) until the ability to significantly influence is attained.
2. When the ability to exercise significant influence occurs following a series of stock
purchases, the investor applies the equity method prospectively. The total fair
value at the date significant influence is attained is compared to the investee’s
book value to determine future excess fair value amortizations.
B. Investee income from other than continuing operations
1. The investor recognizes its share of investee reported other comprehensive
income (OCI) through the investment account and the investor’s own OCI.
2. Income items such as discontinued operations that are reported separately by the
investee should be shown in the same manner by the investor. The materiality of
these other investee income elements (as it affects the investor) continues to be a
criterion for separate disclosure.
C. Investee losses
1. Losses reported by the investee create corresponding losses for the investor.
2. A permanent decline in the fair value of an investee’s stock should be recognized
immediately by the investor as an impairment loss.
3. Investee losses can possibly reduce the carrying value of the investment account
to a zero balance. At that point, the equity method ceases to be applicable and
the fair-value method is subsequently used.
A. Reporting the sale of an equity investment
1. The investor applies the equity method until the disposal date to establish a
proper book value.
2. Following the sale, the equity method continues to be appropriate if enough
shares are still held to maintain the investor’s ability to significantly influence the
investee. If that ability has been lost, the fair-value method is subsequently used.
IV. Excess investment cost over book value acquired
A. The price an investor pays for equity securities often differs significantly from the
investee’s underlying book value primarily because the historical cost based
accounting model does not keep track of changes in a firm’s fair value.
B. Payments made in excess of underlying book value can sometimes be identified with
specific investee accounts such as inventory or equipment.
C. An extra acquisition price can also be assigned to anticipated benefits that are
expected to be derived from the investment. In accounting, these amounts are
presumed to reflect an intangible asset referred to as goodwill. Goodwill is calculated
as any excess payment that is not attributable to specific identifiable assets and
, liabilities of the investee. Because goodwill is an indefinite-lived asset, it is not
amortized.
THE EQUITY METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS
Chapter Outline
I. Four methods are principally used to account for an investment in equity securities along
with a fair value option.
A. Fair value method: applied by an investor when only a small percentage of a
company’s voting stock is held.
1. Income is recognized when the investee declares a dividend.
2. Portfolios are reported at fair value. If fair values are unavailable, investment is
reported at cost.
B. Cost Method: applied to investments without a readily determinable fair value. When
the fair value of an investment in equity securities is not readily determinable, and the
investment provides neither significant influence nor control, the investment may be
measured at cost. The investment remains at cost unless
1. A demonstrable impairment occurs for the investment, or
2. An observable price change occurs for identical or similar investments of the
same issuer.
Income is typically recognized by the investor for its share of investee dividends
declared.
C. Consolidation: when one firm controls another (e.g., when a parent has a majority
interest in the voting stock of a subsidiary or control through variable interests, their
financial statements are consolidated and reported for the combined entity.
D. Equity method: applied when the investor has the ability to exercise significant
influence over operating and financial policies of the investee.
3. Ability to significantly influence investee is indicated by several factors including
representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making, etc.
4. GAAP guidelines presume the equity method is applicable if 20 to 50 percent of
the outstanding voting stock of the investee is held by the investor.
Current financial reporting standards allow firms to elect to use fair value for any new
investment in equity shares including those where the equity method would otherwise
apply. However, the option, once taken, is irrevocable. Investee dividends and changes
in fair value over time are recognized as income.
II. Accounting for an investment: the equity method
,A. The investment account is adjusted by the investor to reflect all changes in the equity
of the investee company.
B. Income is accrued by the investor when it is reported in the investee’s financial
statements.
C. Dividends declared by the investee create a reduction in the carrying amount of the
Investment account. This book assumes all investee dividends are declared and paid
in the same reporting period.
,III. Special accounting procedures used in the application of the equity method
A. Reporting a change to the equity method when the ability to significantly influence an
investee is achieved through a series of acquisitions.
1. Initial purchase(s) will be accounted for by means of the fair value method (or at
cost) until the ability to significantly influence is attained.
2. When the ability to exercise significant influence occurs following a series of stock
purchases, the investor applies the equity method prospectively. The total fair
value at the date significant influence is attained is compared to the investee’s
book value to determine future excess fair value amortizations.
B. Investee income from other than continuing operations
1. The investor recognizes its share of investee reported other comprehensive
income (OCI) through the investment account and the investor’s own OCI.
2. Income items such as discontinued operations that are reported separately by the
investee should be shown in the same manner by the investor. The materiality of
these other investee income elements (as it affects the investor) continues to be a
criterion for separate disclosure.
C. Investee losses
1. Losses reported by the investee create corresponding losses for the investor.
2. A permanent decline in the fair value of an investee’s stock should be recognized
immediately by the investor as an impairment loss.
3. Investee losses can possibly reduce the carrying value of the investment account
to a zero balance. At that point, the equity method ceases to be applicable and
the fair-value method is subsequently used.
A. Reporting the sale of an equity investment
1. The investor applies the equity method until the disposal date to establish a
proper book value.
2. Following the sale, the equity method continues to be appropriate if enough
shares are still held to maintain the investor’s ability to significantly influence the
investee. If that ability has been lost, the fair-value method is subsequently used.
IV. Excess investment cost over book value acquired
A. The price an investor pays for equity securities often differs significantly from the
investee’s underlying book value primarily because the historical cost based
accounting model does not keep track of changes in a firm’s fair value.
B. Payments made in excess of underlying book value can sometimes be identified with
specific investee accounts such as inventory or equipment.
C. An extra acquisition price can also be assigned to anticipated benefits that are
expected to be derived from the investment. In accounting, these amounts are
presumed to reflect an intangible asset referred to as goodwill. Goodwill is calculated
as any excess payment that is not attributable to specific identifiable assets and
, liabilities of the investee. Because goodwill is an indefinite-lived asset, it is not
amortized.
