New revenue standard issued Potential challenges in the asset management industry Background The new revenue recognition standard The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update, will likely present challenges for many Revenue from Contracts with Customers in May 2014. The standard provides companies companies in the asset management with a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with industry, including accounting for customers, and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including performance-based and up-front fees. industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the model is to recognize revenue when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer, as opposed to recognizing revenue when the risks and rewards transfer to the customer under the existing revenue guidance. The effective date for public registrants has management fees. Accordingly, an to be recognized as an expense in the period been deferred to 2018 for calendar year-end investment manager elects an accounting in which the amounts are incurred since they (annual reporting periods beginning after policy to do either of the following: represent costs associated with fulfilling the December 15, 2017). Early adoption as of contract2. • Defer recognizing performance-based the original effective date (2017 for calendar fee revenue until the end of the contract year-end) is permitted. The guidance permits As such, under the new guidance, an entity (“Method 1”). companies to either apply the requirements will need to use judgment and consider all retrospectively to all prior periods • Recognize revenue as of an interim date on facts and circumstances when assessing the presented, or apply the requirements in which it is considered realizable because of risk that a subsequent change in an estimate the year of adoption, through a cumulative termination provisions in the arrangement of variable consideration would result in a adjustment. (“Method 2”). significant revenue reversal. Entities should be aware that this assessment may require The delayed effective date and transition While the ASU does not supersede the significant effort in order to create a process options are intended to allow companies guidance in ASC 605-20-S99, it provides that ensures consistent policy application, a reasonable timeframe to comply. specific guidance on accounting for contracts including contract reviews and information However, addressing some areas of the that include variable consideration, i.e. gathering. FASB Accounting Standards Codification arrangements whose consideration may require longer lead-time, particularly fluctuates based on the performance Up-front fees — To the extent an asset related to revenue or billing systems where of an entity. Specifically, it indicates that manager owns a broker that distributes separation and/or allocation changes the estimated variable consideration (or sponsored products (i.e., front-end loaded may be required, so companies should a portion thereof) is only included in the distributions) there is generally an up-front perform a preliminary analysis of the new transaction price (and therefore eligible for fee (initial sales fee) that investors pay to requirements on a timely basis. recognition) to the extent that it is probable the broker upon subscription to the fund. that the cumulative amount of revenue Under the new guidance, if the up-front fees Considerations and challenges recognized will not be subject to significant are determined not to represent a separate The requirements in the standard will reversal. This concept is commonly referred performance obligation (i.e., not to result in present complexity for many companies in to as the “constraint”. Entities may use the transfer of a promised service), revenue the asset management industry. Examples judgment in determining whether to include recognition would be deferred. This would be of some of the challenges are as follows: variable consideration in the transaction a change from current practice. price; however, the ASU notes that if the Performance-based fees — Investment variable consideration is highly susceptible Contract combinations and manager fee arrangements may include to factors outside the entity’s influence modifications— The standard may performance-based fees that are calculated (including volatility in a market), it could be require a company that enters into multiple on the basis of the performance of subject to significant future reversal1. contracts at or near the same time with the underlying assets being managed. the same customer to be accounted for Sometimes the performance of the Since an investment manager’s as a single contract when the pricing underlying assets is evaluated against performance-based fees may be affected or economics for those contracts are external factors such as a market index, by the future performance of the underlying interdependent. These contracts would and the fee arrangements may include assets it manages, it is difficult to accurately need to be evaluated together, in terms complexities such as a high watermark or predict how much of the performance-based of determining separate performance performance hurdles. Performance-based revenue payable to the investment manager obligations and in terms of allocating the fees include carried interests and incentive is not subject to future reversal until the transaction price. Also, adjustments related fees. fees are finalized or close to being finalized. to contract modifications may be required. Accordingly, the constraint on the amount These changes may require some companies In each reporting period, there may of revenue that may be recognized as of a to enhance their contract management be uncertainty about the amount the reporting date may significantly delay the systems and tools. investment manager will ultimately receive timing of revenue recognition for these in performance-based fees until the fees fees under the ASU when compared to an Capitalization of costs to acquire are finalized or close to being finalized. In investment manager that currently applies customer contracts — The standard addition, performance-based fees paid to Method 2. requires certain contract costs, including an investment manager may be subject to costs to acquire a contract with a customer clawback provisions for underperformance Although the ASU could delay the (e.g., sales commissions), be capitalized and in future periods. These clawback provisions recognition of these fees as revenue, the new amortized. As a result, companies may need may exist until the underlying assets are guidance does not modify how investment to develop or enhance process, controls, liquidated (which could be several years managers should account for the associated and systems to identify and account for such after the payment). costs (typically, compensation paid to capitalized costs. employees). That is, although the revenue The SEC staff guidance in ASC 605-20-S99 may be deferred until long after cash has Disclosures — The disclosure requirements (i.e., EITF D-96) provides two alternatives been received by the investment manager, under the standard are significant and for recognizing performance-based amounts distributed to employees may need may require modification to financial management reporting processes and Standards (IFRS) or U.S. Generally Accepted and key contracts to identify the specific systems. Additional disclosures include, Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP), as this revenue recognition changes required and but are not limited to, disaggregation of change may impact both standards. the specific business units where these revenue, certain information about changes changes may have the greatest impact in contract asset and liability balances and • Addressing the longer lead-time areas contract costs, and information related Other implications where new calculation rules or revised to the amount of the transaction price Organizations may need to consider other allocation processes may be required allocated to performance obligations not project needs, including: yet satisfied. • Establishing a granular project plan and • Implementation of updated or new roadmap to manage the effort across processes, controls, and systems, where Tax — Certain tax implications may arise multiple business units and countries required as taxpayers often follow the financial reporting revenue recognition methods in • Determination of new monthly closing How Deloitte Advisory can help the determination of taxable income and process steps to accommodate the new We have an experienced team of transaction tax obligations. The changes requirements professionals, both in the U.S. and globally may have cash tax implications, may require across the member firms of Deloitte • Steps to estimate the impact of the new federal tax accounting method changes, or Touche Tohmatsu Limited, who can assist standard, to facilitate understanding and give rise to new tax temporary differences in developing an action plan to help you planning by other key stakeholders that may need to be captured, calculated, implement the new revenue recognition and tracked through tax provision processes • Effective training and communication of standard. and systems. Taxpayers who do not follow new requirements financial reporting methods for tax may These capabilities includes the full breadth • Effective program and resource also need to consider the impact of these