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6.3 Initial recognition and measurement of NCI
Publication date: 31 Mar 2021
us Business combinations guide 6.3
Both permanent and mezzanine classified NCI should be measured and recognized by the acquirer at fair value on the acquisition date as required by ASC 805-20-30-1.
6.3.1 Initial measurement of NCI
Even where NCI represents the seller’s retained interest in the acquired subsidiary, NCI is generally viewed from an accounting perspective as a new instrument, as the nature of the shares change with the change in control.
If NCI is issued to NCI holders in conjunction with a liability that is marked to market, such as a derivative, consideration should first be allocated to the mark to market instrument based on its fair value and the residual should be allocated to the NCI. The requirement to first allocate value to the mark to market instrument eliminates the risk of an immediate mark to market adjustment after the allocation.
If the NCI holders concurrently obtained other financial instruments that are not marked to market, such as debt or equity instruments, the allocation to each instrument should be based on their relative fair value.
6.3.2 Initial recognition of NCI
If NCI is created as part of a business acquisition, where the reporting entity gained control over an acquiree while the seller retained a portion of the acquiree’s equity, then the NCI would be recognized at fair value, as described in BCG 5.3.1.
If non-redeemable NCI is created through the sale of common stock to a third party, ASC 810-10-45-23 specifies that NCI is measured initially based on its proportionate ownership interest in the carrying amount of the subsidiary. Any difference between the fair value of the consideration received and the NCI recognized would be reflected in APIC, as illustrated in Example BCG 5-6. When preferred stock is issued to a third party, the initial carrying amount is the fair value of the consideration received, as described in FG 7.4.
Non-redeemable NCI is (1) reported as part of equity of the consolidated group, (2) recorded separate from the parent’s interests, and (3) clearly identified and labelled (e.g., NCI in subsidiaries) to distinguish it from other components of the parent’s equity. The presentation of NCI is further discussed in FSP 2.5.
If redeemable NCI is created through the sale of common stock to a third party and will be classified as mezzanine, or temporary, equity as discussed in BCG 6.2.1.4, questions arise as to whether it should be initially recorded following the guidance in ASC 810 or ASC 480-10-S99. Specifically, ASC 480-10-S99 states that the initial amount presented in temporary equity should be the initial carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest pursuant to ASC 805-20-30, which in a business combination is its acquisition-date fair value. We believe that if the fair value of NCI (i.e., the consideration received) exceeds the proportionate interest in the carrying amount of the subsidiary (i.e., the ASC 810 amount), and is less than the calculated redemption amount of the NCI, the NCI should be initially recorded at its fair value.
Example BCG 6-2 illustrates the initial carrying amount of redeemable NCI resulting from a sale.
EXAMPLE BCG 6-2
Sale of redeemable shares in a business
Sale of redeemable shares in a business
Company A has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Company B. Company A sells a 20% interest in the common shares of Company B to outside investors for $200 million. Company A maintains an 80% controlling interest in the subsidiary. The carrying value of the subsidiary’s net assets is $600 million.
Embedded in the 20% interest is a put option that gives investors the right to put the interest to Company A after 3 years for $250 million. It was determined that the put should not be separately accounted for and that NCI should be classified as mezzanine equity.
What is the initial carrying amount of the redeemable NCI?
Analysis
$200 million. The fair value of the shares (i.e., the consideration received) is greater than the proportionate interest in the carrying amount of the subsidiary, which is $120 million ($600 million × 20%). Additionally, it is less than the redemption amount of the instrument (i.e., $250 million).
The journal entry recorded on the issuance date for the 20% interest sold would be as follows (in millions):
Dr. Cash |
$200 |
|
Cr. NCI - mezzanine equity |
$200 |
|
If at the issuance date, the calculated redemption amount is less than its fair value (i.e., the amount received), but greater than the proportionate ownership interest in the carrying amount of the subsidiary (i.e., the amount based on ASC 810), we believe the NCI should be recorded at the calculated redemption amount. Any difference between the redemption amount and the fair value (i.e., consideration received) should be reflected in APIC.
When redeemable NCI is initially recognized at an amount greater than its proportionate ownership interest under ASC 810, that initial recognition should not be considered a deemed dividend, and therefore should not be viewed as an adjustment impacting the parent’s share of the subsidiary’s net income or its earnings per share.
Redeemable NCI classified as mezzanine equity is presented after liabilities and before stockholders’ equity on the balance sheet. Mezzanine equity should be separate from the stockholders’ equity accounts that are classified as permanent equity.
PwC. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the US member firm or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.
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