FASB Issues Guidance to Streamline Fair Value Measurement Disclosures

On August 28, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-13, Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The FASB issued the amendments as part of the disclosure framework project. The disclosure framework project’s objective and primary focus are to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to financial statements by facilitating clear communication of the information required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) that is most important to users of each entity’s financial statements. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 apply to all entities that are required, under existing U.S. GAAP, to make disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements. Certain of the disclosures that are required by the amendments in ASU 2018-13 are not required for nonpublic entities.Disclosure Requirements AddedThe following disclosure requirements were added to ASC 820; however, the disclosures are not required for nonpublic entities:

1. The changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period
2. The range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, an entity may disclose other quantitative information (such as the median or arithmetic average) in lieu of the weighted average if the entity determines that other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements.

Disclosure Requirements ModifiedThe following disclosure requirements were modified in ASC 820:

1. In lieu of a rollforward for Level 3 fair value measurements, a nonpublic entity is required to disclose transfers into and out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and purchases and issues of Level 3 assets and liabilities.
2. For investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value, an entity is required to disclose the timing of liquidation of an investee’s assets and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse only if the investee has communicated the timing to the entity or announced the timing publicly.
3. The amendments clarify that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date.
4. In addition, the amendments eliminate “at a minimum” from the phrase “an entity shall disclose at a minimum” to promote the appropriate exercise of discretion by entities when considering fair value measurement disclosures and to clarify that materiality is an appropriate consideration of entities and their auditors when evaluating disclosure requirements.

Disclosure Requirements EliminatedThe following disclosure requirements were removed from FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurement:

1. The amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy
2. The policy for timing of transfers between levels
3. The valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements
4. For nonpublic entities, the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in earnings for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period.

Effective Date and TransitionThe amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date.Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of ASU 2018-13. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of ASU 2018-13 and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date.

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