ASU 2018-17 — Consolidation (Topic 810)—Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities

The amendments in this Update affect reporting entities that are required to determine whether they should consolidate a legal entity under the guidance within the Variable Interest Entities Subsections of Subtopic 810-10, Consolidation—Overall.

A private company (reporting entity) may elect not to apply VIE guidance to legal entities under common control (including common control leasing arrangements) if both the parent and the legal entity being evaluated for consolidation are not public business entities. The accounting alternative provides an accounting policy election that a private company will apply to all current and future legal entities under common control that meet the criteria for applying this alternative. If the alternative is elected, a private company should continue to apply other consolidation guidance, particularly the voting interest entity guidance, unless another scope exception applies.

Indirect interests held through related parties in common control arrangements should be considered on a proportional basis for determining whether fees paid to decision makers and service providers are variable interests. This is consistent with how indirect interests held through related parties under common control are considered for determining whether a reporting entity must consolidate a VIE.

This Accounting Standards Update is the final version of Proposed Accounting Standards Update 2017-240—Consolidation (Topic 810)—Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities, which has been deleted.

Issued: October 31, 2018