U.S. GAAP Codification of Accounting Standards Guide by AccountingINFO.com

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
in the United States

Equity Method
(APB Opinion No. 18)

Principles of Accounting, U.S. GAAP Financial Reporting Guide

Accounting by Topic, Accounting Terms Dictionary

Equity Method

Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 18
        a. The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock
        b. Issued in March 1971

Investments in Equity Securities
        a. More than 50% ownership of another company
                 --> Consolidated Financial Statements
                 --> Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51, August 1959

        b. At least 20%, but no more than 50% ownership of another company
                 --> Equity Method is used.
                 --> Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 18, March 1971

        c. Less than 20% ownership of another company
                 --> No significant influence
                 --> Rules of SFAS No. 115 (May 1993) are applied.

Investments in Debt Securities
        a. Rules of SFAS No. 115 (May 1993) are applied.

Equity Method
        a. Initial investment in common stock
                 --> recorded at cost

        b. Investor's share of net income of investee (after the date of acquisition)
                 --> increases the carrying amount of investment.
                 --> in the period when net income is reported by investee

        b. Investor's share of net loss of investee (after the date of acquisition)
                 --> decreases the carrying amount of investment.
                 --> in the period when net loss is reported by investee

        c. Dividends received from investee (after the date of acquisition)
                 --> decrease the carrying amount of investment.
                 --> in the period when dividends are declared

        d. Series of operating losses of investee
                 --> may require an additional decrease
                       in the carrying amount of investment

Examples of Equity Method

Example 1

On January 1, 2011, Company A purchased 500,000 shares of Company B's common stock at $30 per share. Company B had 2,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

   Additional information about Company B:
         Net income for 2011 (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31): $3,000,000
         Dividend declared on December 15, 2011: $.50 per share
         Dividend was paid on January 20, 2012.

     Company A's share of Company B's common stock
         = 500,000 shares / 2,000,000 shares
         = 25 %
            --> At least 20%, but no more than 50%
            --> Equity method is used.

     Company A's initial investment in Company B's common stock
         = 500,000 shares x $30
         = $15,000,000

     Company A's share of Company B's net income for 2011
         = $3,000,000 x 25%
         = $750,000

     Company A's share of Company B's dividend declared in 2011
         = $.50 per share x 500,000 shares
         = $250,000

Journal entries by Company A:

a. Initial investment (1/1/2011)

Debit Credit

Investment in Company B 15,000,000

         Cash 15,000,000

b. Dividend declared (12/15/2011)

Debit Credit

Dividends receivable 250,000

Investment in Company B 250,000

c. Net income (12/31/2011)

Debit Credit

Investment in Company B 750,000

Income from investment 750,000

d. Dividend paid (1/20/2012)

Debit Credit

Cash 750,000

Dividends receivable 750,000

Balance of Investment in Company B as of 12/31/2011:
     $15,000,000 - $250,000 + $750,000 = $15,500,000

Example 2


On January 1, 2011, Company A purchased 300,000 shares of Company C's common stock at $20 per share. Company B had 1,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

   Additional information about Company C:
         Net loss for 2011 (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31): $500,000
         No dividend was declared during 2011.

   What is the balance of "Investment in Company C" as of December 2011?

     Company A's share of Company C's common stock
         = 300,000 shares / 1,000,000 shares
         = 30 %
            --> At least 20%, but no more than 50%
            --> Equity method is used.

     Company A's initial investment in Company C's common stock
         = 300,000 shares x $20
         = $6,000,000

     Company A's share of Company C's net loss for 2011
         = $500,000 x 30%
         = $150,000

Balance of Investment in Company C as of 12/31/2011:
$6,000,000 - $150,000 = $5,850,000

U.S. GAAP Codification

Accounting Topics

Inventory Valuation Methods

Depreciation Methods

Revenue Recognition Principle

Accrual Basis vs. Cash Basis Accounting

Basics of Journal Entries

Ratios for Financial Statement Analysis

Overview of Financial Statements