Brother International 2014 Annual Report Download - page 31

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(5) Business Combinations
In October 2003, the Business Accounting Council issued a Statement of Opinion, “Accounting for Business Combinations,” and in December 2005, the ASBJ issued ASBJ
Statement No. 7, “Accounting Standard for Business Divestitures” and ASBJ Guidance No. 10, “Guidance for Accounting Standard for Business Combinations and Business
Divestitures.” The accounting standard for business combinations allowed companies to apply the pooling-of-interests method of accounting only when certain specific
criteria are met such that the business combination is essentially regarded as a uniting-of-interests. For business combinations that do not meet the uniting-of-interests
criteria, the business combination is considered to be an acquisition and the purchase method of accounting is required. This standard also prescribes the accounting for
combinations of entities under common control and for joint ventures.
In December 2008, the ASBJ issued a revised accounting standard for business combinations, ASBJ Statement No. 21, “Accounting Standard for Business Combinations.”
Major accounting changes under the revised accounting standard are as follows: (1) The revised standard requires accounting for business combinations only by the pur-
chase method. As a result, the pooling of interests method of accounting is no longer allowed. (2) The previous accounting standard required R&D costs to be charged to
income as incurred. Under the revised standard, in-process R&D costs (IPR&D) acquired in the business combination are capitalized as an intangible asset. (3) The previous
accounting standard provided for a bargain purchase gain (negative goodwill) to be systematically amortized over a period not exceeding 20 years. Under the revised
standard, the acquirer recognizes the bargain purchase gain in profit or loss immediately on the acquisition date after reassessing and confirming that all of the assets
acquired and all of the liabilities assumed have been identified after a review of the procedures used in the purchase price allocation. This revised standard was applicable
to business combinations undertaken on or after April 1, 2010.
(6) Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents are short-term investments that are readily convertible into cash and that are exposed to insignificant risk of changes in value.
Cash equivalents include time deposits and investment trust, all of which mature or become due within three months of the date of acquisition.
(7) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost. The company and consolidated manufacturing subsidiaries determine cost by the average method or the first-in, first-out
method. The consolidated sales subsidiaries determine cost by using the moving average method (see Note 5).
(8) Marketable and Investment Securities
Marketable and investment securities are classified and accounted for, depending on management’s intent, as follows:
i) held-to-maturity debt securities, for which there is a positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at amortized cost; and ii) available-for-sale securities,
which are not classified as either of the aforementioned securities, are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable taxes, reported in a separate
component of equity.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Group reclassified certain trading debt securities, government and corporate bonds with a fair value of ¥3,811 million
($37,000 thousand) to available-for-sale securities because the Group sold the partly trading debt securities.
Nonmarketable available-for-sale securities are stated at cost determined by the moving-average method.
For other-than-temporary declines in fair value, marketable and investment securities are reduced to net realizable value by a charge to income.
(9) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is mainly computed by the declining-balance method.
The range of useful lives is principally from three to 60 years for buildings and structures, from four to 12 years for machinery and vehicles and from two to 20 years for
furniture and fixtures.
Depreciation of leased assets under finance leases is computed by the straight-line method over the lease period.
Brother Industries, Ltd. and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Year ended March 31, 2014
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements