CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) : Business Combinations

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Business Combinations

Lion Company pays $10 million for all outstanding shares of Tiger Company. On the date of the purchase, Tiger company has net identifiable assets with a book value of $8 million and a fair value of $8.5 million. Which of the following statements is true?

Possible Answers:

Goodwill of $2 million should be reported for consolidation purposes and tested annually for impairment

Goodwill of $1.5 million should be reported for consolidation purposes and tested annually for impairment

Goodwill of $1.5 million should be reported for consolidation purposes and amortized over a period of time

Goodwill of $2 million should be reported for consolidation purposes and amortized over a period of time

Correct answer:

Goodwill of $1.5 million should be reported for consolidation purposes and tested annually for impairment

Explanation:

Goodwill will be recorded for the difference between the fair value of assets received in the purchase ($8.5M) and the fair value of consideration paid ($10M). Under GAAP, goodwill is not amortized but is tested annually for impairment.

Example Question #2 : Business Combinations

Herring Company buys 100% of the outstanding shares of Catfish Company during Year 1. On a consolidated balance sheet produced immediately after the sale, goodwill of $250,000 is reported. How was this goodwill determined?

Possible Answers:

It is the fair value of consideration given up by Herring less the fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities owned by Catfish

It is a figure calculated by a reasonable estimate of future cash flows from Catfish

It was on the balance sheet of Catfish before the acquisition took place

The specific components that determine goodwill are separately identified and calculated

Correct answer:

It is the fair value of consideration given up by Herring less the fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities owned by Catfish

Explanation:

Goodwill will be recorded for the difference between the fair value of assets received in the purchase and the fair value of consideration paid in the purchase.

Example Question #3 : Business Combinations

Diego Company buys all outstanding assets and liabilities of Francisco Company on January 1, Year 3, by giving up consideration of $3.5 million. On that date, Francisco's net assets have a book value of $3 million and a fair value of $3.7 million. Which of the following statements is true?

Possible Answers:

Goodwill of $500,000 should be recorded and tested annually for impairment

A bargain purchase of $200,000 has occurred and will be used to reduce the value of Francisco's long-term assets for consolidation purposes

A bargain purchase of $200,000 has occurred and will be reported immediately as a gain for consolidation purposes

Goodwill of $500,000 should be recognized and amortized

Correct answer:

A bargain purchase of $200,000 has occurred and will be reported immediately as a gain for consolidation purposes

Explanation:

A bargain purchase takes place when the amount of consideration paid in a business acquisition is less than the fair value of all assets received. In this case, the bargain purchase amount is equal to FV of $3.7M - consideration of $3.5M. Bargain purchases are reported as gains immediately.

Example Question #4 : Business Combinations

Of the following factors, which would not be an indicator of an investor's ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee?

Possible Answers:

Investor recommendation for the investee to hire a specific executive

Dependence by the investee on the investor's proprietary technology

Investor representation on the investee board of directors

Interchange of managerial personnel between investor and investee

Correct answer:

Investor recommendation for the investee to hire a specific executive

Explanation:

Significant influence exists when a company owns between 20 and 50 percent of the voting stock of another company. Only option A falls under significant influence.

Example Question #5 : Business Combinations

ABC Inc owns 55% of the voting stock of DEF Inc. ABC would not produce consolidated financial statements if:

Possible Answers:

DEF owns 40% of ABC

DEF is a real estate company

DEF is in legal reorganization or bankruptcy

DEF is located and does all of its business in a foreign country

Correct answer:

DEF is in legal reorganization or bankruptcy

Explanation:

The investor company would not produce consolidated financial statements if DEF is in legal reorganization, bankruptcy, or operates under severe foreign restrictions.

Example Question #6 : Business Combinations

Under IFRS regulations, goodwill should be tested for impairment at ________.

Possible Answers:

Each cash generating unit

Each reporting unit

Each acquisition unit

Entire business

Correct answer:

Each cash generating unit

Explanation:

Goodwill impairment is assessed at the cash generating unit level rather than any other level listed here.

Example Question #1 : Equity Method

On January 1, Year 1, Parent Company buys 15% of Son Company for $300,000. Parent has the ability to assert significant influence over Son and does not elect the fair value method. During Year 1, Son reported net income of $160,000 and paid cash dividends of $25,000. What is the book value of Parent's investment in Son at the end of Year 1?

Possible Answers:

$327,750

$300,000

$324,000

$320,250

Correct answer:

$320,250

Explanation:

Parent must use the equity method to account for its investment in Son because it has the ability to exert significant influence over Son. Under the equity method, the balance in the investment account at the end of the year will be the beginning balance of $300K (equal to cost) + Parent's portion of Son's net income equal to $24K ($160K x 15% ownership) - Parent's portion of dividends paid of $3,750 ($25K x 15% ownership).

Example Question #2 : Equity Method

Greg Company owns 75% of George Company's common stock. During the 3rd quarter of the current year, George sold inventory to Greg for $100,000. At the end of the current year, half of this purchase remains in Greg's inventory. For the current year, Greg's gross profit margin was 25% and George's gross profit margin was 40%. How much unrealized profit should be eliminated from ending inventory at year-end?

Possible Answers:

$50,000

$12,500

$20,000

$25,000

Correct answer:

$20,000

Explanation:

George must eliminate any gross profit recognized on sold inventory that still remains in Greg's possession. Thus the elimination would be calculated as $100K x 50% remaining in inventory x 40% GP margin.

Example Question #1 : Equity Method

Which of the following, if received from an investee, will effect income reported by an investor using the equity method?

Possible Answers:

Cash dividend

None of the above

Stock dividend

Stock split

Correct answer:

None of the above

Explanation:

Under the equity method, dividends are not reported as income. Even a cash dividend would reduce the investment account rather than increasing income.

Example Question #3 : Equity Method

ABC Company uses the equity method to account for its investment in DEF Co common stock. How should ABC record a 3% stock dividend received from DEF?

Possible Answers:

As a reduction in the total cost of DEF stock owned

As dividend revenue at DEF's carrying value of the stock

As a memorandum entry reducing the unit cost of all DEF stock owned

As dividend revenue at the market value of the stock

Correct answer:

As a memorandum entry reducing the unit cost of all DEF stock owned

Explanation:

ABC should record the stock dividend received from DEF with a memorandum entry that reduces the unit cost of all DEF stock owned.

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