Question

Analyze the potential impact of eliminating the retrospective application of the equity method to increases in previously held ownership interests that result in significant influence and which qualify for the use of the equity method. In the role of the chief executive officer (CEO) for a mid-sized company, propose the type of managerial incentives that could influence the company’s percentage ownership in another company. Provide support for your rationale and theory with examples.

Answer 1

Equity Method

The equity method is an accounting technique used by a company to record the profits earned through its investment in another company. With the equity method of accounting, the investor company reports the revenue earned by the other company on its income statement, in an amount proportional to the percentage of its equity investment in the other company.

FASB ASC Topic 323 requires that a change to the equity method be reflected by a retrospective adjustment. Although a different method may have been appropriate for the original investment, comparable balances will not be readily apparent if the equity method is now applied. For this reason, financial figures from all previous years presented are restated as if the equity method had been applied consistently since the date of initial acquisition.

Managerial Incentives

Many companies have contractual provisions (e.g., debt covenants, managerial compensation contracts) based on ratios in the main body of the financial statements. Relative to consolidation, a firm employing the equity method will report smaller values for assets and liabilities. Consequently, higher rates of return for its assets and sales, as well as lower debt-to-equity ratios may result. Meeting such contractual provisions of may provide managers incentives to maintain technical eligibility for the equity method rather than full consolidation.

For example-

• Pay cash dividends over a certain amount or predetermined threshold.
• Sell certain assets.
• Borrow more debt.
• Issue debt more senior than the current debt.
• Enter into certain types of agreements or leases.
• Partake in certain M&A.
• financial ratios will remain at specified levels.
• sample labour union contract.