Discussion Question
HOW DOES A COMPANY REALLY DECIDE WHICH INVESTMENT METHOD TO APPLY?
Pilgrim Products, lnc., buys a controlling interest in the common stock of Crest wood Corporation . Shortly after the acquisition, a meeting of Pilgrim's accounting department is convened to discuss the internal reporting procedures required by the ownership of this subsidiary. Each member of the staff has a definite opinion as to whether the equity method, initial value method, or partial equity method should be adopted. To resolve this issue, Pilgrim's chief financial officer outlines several of her concerns about the decision.
I already understand how each method works. I know the general advantages and disadvantages of all three. I realize, for example, that the equity method provides more detailed information whereas the initial value method is much easier to apply. What I need to know are the factors specific to our situation that should be considered in deciding which method to adopt. I must make a recommendation to the president on this matter, and he will want firm reasons for my favoring a particular approach. I don't want us to select a method and then find out in six months that the information is not adequate for our needs or that the cost of adapting our system to monitor Crest wood outweighs the benefits derived from the data.
What are the factors that Pilgrim's officials should evaluate when making this decision?
reporting unit below its carrying amount, then further tests are required to see if goodwill is the source of the decline. Our coverage of goodwill impairment addresses the following:
-The assignment of acquired goodwill to reporting units.
-The option to conduct an annual qualitative test for potential goodwill impairment.
-The two-step goodwill impairment testing procedures.
Assigning Goodwill to Reporting Units
Combined companies typically organize themselves into separate units along distinct operating lines. Each individual operating unit has responsibility for managing its assets and liabilities to earn profits for the combined entity. These operating units report information about their earnings activities to top management to support decision making. Such operating units are known as reporting units.
Following a business combination, the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired are assigned to the firm's reporting units based on where they will be employed. Any amount assigned to goodwill also is assigned to reporting units expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Thus, any individual reporting unit where goodwill resides is the appropriate level for goodwill impairment testing.
In practice, firms often assign goodwill to reporting units either at the level of a reporting segment-as described in ASC Topic 280, "Segment Reporting"-or at a lower level within a segment of a combined enterprise. Reporting units may thus include the following:
- A component of an operating segment at a level below that operating segment. Segment management should review and assess performance at this level. Also, the component should be a business in which discrete financial information is available and should differ economically from other components of the operating segment.
-The segments of an enterprise.
-The entire enterprise.