FASB Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (FAS 141-R)
In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS 141-R, which became effective for business combination transactions having an acquisition date on or after January 1, 2009. This standard requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date to be measured at their respective fair values. It also requires acquisition-related costs, as well as restructuring costs the acquirer expects to incur for which it is not obligated at acquisition date, to be recorded against income rather than included in purchase-price determination. Finally, the standard requires recognition of contingent arrangements at their acquisition-date fair values, with subsequent changes in fair value generally reflected in income.
FASB Staff Position FAS 141(R)-a Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination (FSP FAS 141(R)-a)
In February 2009, the FASB approved for issuance FSP FAS 141(R)-a, which became effective for business combinations having an acquisition date on or after January 1, 2009. This standard requires an asset or liability arising from a contingency in a business combination to be recognized at fair value if fair value can be reasonably determined. If it cannot be reasonably determined then the asset or liability will need to be recognized in accordance with FASB Statement No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, and FASB Interpretation No. 14, Reasonable Estimation of the Amount of the Loss.
FASB Statement No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51 (FAS 160)
The FASB issued FAS 160 in December 2007, which became effective for the company January 1, 2009, with retroactive adoption of the Standard's presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. This standard requires ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent to be presented within the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet but separate from the parent's equity. It also requires the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest to be clearly identified and presented on the face of the Consolidated Statement of Income. Certain changes in a parent's ownership interest are to be accounted for as equity transactions and when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary is to be initially measured at fair value. Implementation of FAS 160 will not significantly change the presentation of the company's Consolidated Statement of Income or Consolidated Balance Sheet.
FASB Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (FAS 161)
In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS 161, which became effective for the company on January 1, 2009. This standard amends and expands the disclosure requirements of FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. FAS 161 requires disclosures related to objectives and strategies for using derivatives; the fair-value amounts of, and gains and losses on, derivative instruments; and credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. The company's disclosures for derivative instruments will be expanded to include a tabular representation of the location and fair value amounts of derivative instruments on the balance sheet, fair value gains and losses on the income statement and gains and losses associated with cash flow hedges recognized in earnings and other comprehensive income.
FASB Staff Position FAS 132(R)-1, Employer's Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets (FSP FAS 132(R)-1)
In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 132(R)-1, which becomes effective with the company's reporting at December 31, 2009. This standard amends and expands the disclosure requirements on the plan assets of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans to provide users of financial statements with an understanding of: how investment allocation decisions are made; the major categories of plan assets; the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets; the effect of fair-value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on changes in plan assets for the period; and significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. The company does not prefund its other postretirement plan obligations, and the effect on the company's disclosures for its pension plan assets as a result of the adoption of FSP FAS 132(R)-1 will depend on the company's plan assets at that time.