Chapter 17:Chapter 17:InvestmentsInvestments

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Investment in Marketable Equity Investment in Marketable Equity Securities - OverviewSecurities - Overview

Equity investments represent ownership of another company’s outstanding common stock.

Marketable equity investments are actively traded on a public stock exchange.

By owning shares of common stock, the investor “owns” a part of the company, represented by the percentage ownership.

There are different accounting rules for:(1) less than 20 percent ownership (passive).(2) between 20 and 50 percent ownership

(significant influence).(3) greater than 50 percent ownership (control).

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(1) Less than 20 % ownership.(1) Less than 20 % ownership.If marketable securities, use the mark-to

market method.Carries securities on balance sheet at

market value.Revaluation at the end of each period

based on new market priceUnrealized gains (or losses) are recognized

as the investment is valued up (or down).Treatment of the Unrealized G/L depends

on classification of security:– (a) Trading securities.– (b) Available-for-sale securities.

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(a) Trading Securities(a) Trading Securities Trading securities held for the short term, with

purpose of selling securities for profit. At purchase - record at cost to acquire. Activity during the year - record declaration of cash

dividends, and recognize “Dividend Income” on the Income Statement:Dividends Receivable/Cash xxDividend Income xx

For securities on hand at the end of the accounting period - revalue to market value and record “Unrealized Gain/Loss” on Income Statement.

When sold - recognize “Gain/Loss on Sale” on Income Statement for any balance since the last revaluation.

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(b) Available-for-sale Securities(b) Available-for-sale SecuritiesAvailable-for-sale (AFS) securities may be

held for the short term or for long term, depending on management’s intentions.

At purchase - record at cost to acquire.Activity during the year - record declaration

of cash dividends, and recognize “Dividend Income” on the Income Statement:

Dividends Receivable/Cash xxDividend Income xx

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(b) Available-for-sale Securities(b) Available-for-sale SecuritiesFor securities on hand at the end of the

accounting period - revalue to market value and record “Unrealized Gain/Loss” on Balance Sheet (as part of Other Comprehensive Income in Stockholders’ Equity).

When sold - recognize “Gain/Loss on Sale” on Income Statement for total difference between original cost and selling price.

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(2) From 20% to 50% Investment(2) From 20% to 50% InvestmentBecause investment represents significant

influence of investor, we cannot account for investments the same way as Trading or AFS.

Specifically, we cannot recognize “Dividend Income” as dividends are declared, because the investor can control dividend payout, and therefore control the creation of income.

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(2) From 20% to 50% Investment(2) From 20% to 50% InvestmentThe equity method increases the

investment account and recognizes investor’s portion of income as investee earns it (as investee reports income to investor).

The equity method decreases the investment account as investee declares dividends to the investor.

Note: additional complications from equity method from cost exceeding fair value of investment (e.g., goodwill) are not addressed here for unconsolidated investments.

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Basic Equity Method Journal Entries Basic Equity Method Journal Entries On investor’s books:1. When investment purchased:

Equity Investment xxCash, etc. xx

2. When dividends declared to investor:Dividends Receivable xxEquity Investment xx

3. When income reported by investee to investor (from investee’s I/S):Equity Investment xxIncome from Investment xx

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Illustration - Equity MethodIllustration - Equity Method Company P purchases 30% of the

outstanding common stock of Company S on January 2, 2012 for $400,000 cash. During 2012, Company S reported net income of $300,000 to its shareholders, and declared $100,000 dividends to its shareholders.

Required: Prepare all journal entries necessary (on Company P’s books) to record this investment using the equity method of accounting.

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Journal Entries on P’s Books:Journal Entries on P’s Books:

1. Acquisition:

2. Dividends declared (100,000 x 30%)

3. Income reported (300,000 x 30%)

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Effects of Equity methodEffects of Equity method If the company had used the cost method and

recognized dividend income, the amount of income would have been $30,000.

Under the equity method, Company P recognized $90,000 income.

The equity method often yields higher income, but the amount is less subject to manipulation.

The IRS recognizes income as the cash is received (dividend income). This creates a differential basis between tax and financial accounting (more in Intermediate II).

Caution: It may conceal off-balance sheet financing - one line on the balance sheet may actually represent a percentage ownership in a number of assets and liabilities (ex.: Enron).

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(3)Greater than 50% Investment(3)Greater than 50% InvestmentIf an investor has majority control, the

investment is recorded using the equity method, and a parent/subsidiary relationship is established.

At the end of the period, the financials of the parent and subsidiary must be combined, or consolidated, for external financial reporting.

Goodwill is recognized as a separate asset in the consolidation.

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Comprehensive ProblemComprehensive ProblemPrepare the following journal entries for Jackson Company for 2012. Assume there were no other investments prior to the following activities.Feb. 17 - Purchased 500 shares of Medical Company common stock for $20 per share (classified as trading securities):

March 31 - Received a $1.20 per share dividend on Medical Company stock:

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Comprehensive ProblemComprehensive ProblemApril 1 - Purchased 30,000 of the 100,000 outstanding shares of Olde Company common stock at $10 per share. Classification of Investment?

June 28 - Received a $1.00 share dividend on the Olde Company stock:

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Comprehensive ProblemComprehensive ProblemOct. 1 - Purchased 2,000 of Alpha Company common stock for $15 per share. These shares are classified as available-for-sale.

Dec. 31 - Olde Company reported annual earnings of $80,000 to its investors:

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Comprehensive ProblemComprehensive ProblemDec. 31 AJEs - At the end of the year, the following market prices per share were reported:

Medical Co. (trading) $25 per shareAlpha Co. (AFS) $12 per shareOlde Co. (equity) $11 per share

AJE for Medical?

AJE for Alpha?

AJE for Olde?

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Comprehensive ProblemComprehensive ProblemWhat total effect would the previous

transactions have on the income statement for 2012?

What effect would the previous transactions have on accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for 2012?

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Investment in Debt Securities - Investment in Debt Securities - OverviewOverview

Debt securities represent ownership of corporate bonds, convertible debt, government and municipal securities. Three categories of classification:(1) Held-to-maturity: company has the positive

intent and ability to hold to maturity.(2) Trading: bought and held primarily for sale

in the near term(3) Available-for-sale: not classified as held-to-

maturity or trading.

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Debt Securities: Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities: Held-to-Maturity Held to maturity securities carried at amortized cost,

not fair value. Treatment is similar to bonds payable, with amortization of premiums and discounts, and the recognition of periodic interest revenue.

Because debt investments are assets, they are usually recorded in the investment account net of the premium or discount. The investment account is then amortized to face value over the life of the debt investment.

Held to maturity are not revalued, and have no unrealized gains or losses, either to the income statement or to other comprehensive income.

(Equivalent topics of journalization and amortization will be covered with bonds payable.)

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Debt Securities: Trading and Available-for-SaleDebt Securities: Trading and Available-for-Sale Debt investments classified as trading and

available-for-sale are treated in a similar fashion to equity investments.

The debt investment in these categories are carried at amortized cost during the year, so that interest revenue is properly valued.

At the end of the year, the investments are revalued to fair market value, and an unrealized gain or loss is recognized.

A contra account “Fair Value Adjustment” is often used for the valuation, so that the amortized cost is maintained in the general ledger.

Revaluation of trading leads to Unrealized G/L on I/S. Revaluation of AFS leads to Unrealized G/L in Other Comprehensive Income.

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Rules on Reclassification Rules on Reclassification Transfers between categories are recorded at fair

value at the date of transfer. Transfer from trading to available-for-sale: the

unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer is recognized in income.

Transfer from available-for-sale to trading: the unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer is recognized in income.

Transfer from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale: the unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer is recognized in AOCI.

Transfer from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity: the unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer is recognized in AOCI.

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Fair Value IssuesFair Value Issues Measurement is Based on Intent: arbitrary

classifications lead to differential effects in financial statements.

Cherry Picking: companies can choose held-to-maturity and available for sale classifications to avoid potential losses in the income statement, then enact “gains trading” to recognize gains at the end of the year, and hold on to losing investments with no income statement effect.

Asymmetry between assets and liabilities – assets fair value, but most liabilities not.

Both FASB and the IASB believe that fair value is more useful and relevant for financial statements, but the expansion of fair value in US accounting is proceeding cautiously.