Measurement-Period Adjustment

FASB substantially simplified the accounting for measurement-period adjustment relates to a business combination.  The amendment was issued back in September 2015 (See ASU No. 2015-16) but not many people paid much attention to it because of its effective date not being immediate.  The effective date for public entities is periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  For all other entities, the effective date is periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  However, early adoption is permitted.

Here is a quick overview of the amendment.

In the year of a business acquisition, the acquirer must identify and measure all aspects of business combination (e.g. working capital, intangibles, goodwill, contingencies, uncertain tax positions, etc.).  More often than not, the acquire must reflect certain provisional amounts based on information available at the acquisition date and additional information become available during the “measurement-period” which may result in adjustments to assets and liabilities identified and measured initially.   The measurement-period is period of time during which additional acquisition accounting information becomes available subsequent to the date of acquisition but exceeding one year from the date of the acquisition.

Under the current rule, the measurement-period adjustments must be recognized retrospectively.  In other words, the acquirer must revise comparative information on the income statement and balance sheet as if the information resulting in adjustments were available at the acquisition date.  This involves restating comparative balance sheet and P&L items.

Under the new rule, the measurement-period adjustments must be recognized prospectively.  In other words, the acquirer must recognize measurement-period adjustments in the periods in which the adjustment is identified and measured.

Please note that material adjustments identified post measurement-period (i.e. adjustments determined beyond the one year from the acquisition date) may result in a RESTATEMENT if they are not resulting from changes in facts and circumstances.

Click here to view full ASU 2015-16 from FASB or go to FASB website to view the full publication.