Consolidation — Identifying a Controlling Financial Interest

On the Radar
Consolidation — Identifying a Controlling Financial Interest

Under U.S. GAAP, there are two primary consolidation models: (1) the voting interest entity model and (2) the variable interest entity (VIE) model. Both require the reporting entity to identify whether it has a “controlling financial interest” in a legal entity and must therefore consolidate the legal entity. This requirement is not limited to legal entities that are VIEs — a reporting entity must consolidate any legal entity in which it has a controlling financial interest.

Consolidation conclusions (and related disclosures) under the VIE model can be different from those under the voting interest entity model. Therefore, reporting entities must first determine which model to apply.

Determining Which Consolidation Model to Apply

The flowchart below illustrates the relevant questions a reporting entity should ask when determining which consolidation model to apply.

As depicted in the flowchart, the reporting entity must first assess whether the entity being evaluated is a legal entity and then whether there is a scope exception under which the reporting entity is exempt from applying either (1) the consolidation guidance in ASC 810 in its entirety or (2) the VIE model specifically. If no scope exceptions apply, the reporting entity must identify whether it holds a variable interest in the legal entity being evaluated for consolidation.

It is often easy to identify whether an arrangement is a variable interest. A good rule of thumb is that most arrangements that are on the credit side of the balance sheet (e.g., equity and debt) are variable interests because they absorb variability as a result of the legal entity’s performance. However, there are additional considerations for more complex arrangements (e.g., derivatives, leases, and decision-maker and other service-provider contracts).

If the reporting entity holds a variable interest in a legal entity, and no scope exception is met, it assesses whether the legal entity is a VIE by considering if the following conditions exist:

The legal entity does not have sufficient equity investment at risk.
The equity investors at risk, as a group, lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest.
The legal entity is structured with disproportionate voting rights, and substantially all of the activities are conducted on behalf of an investor with disproportionately few voting rights.

While ASC 810 provides several conditions to consider in the VIE assessment, the legal entity must meet only one of these conditions to be a VIE.

The determination of whether a legal entity is a VIE ultimately governs the consolidation model the reporting entity must apply. If the legal entity is a VIE, the reporting entity uses the VIE model to assess whether to consolidate; otherwise, it uses the voting interest entity model.

Differences Between the Consolidation Models

Because the differences between a VIE and a voting interest entity may not always be evident, a reporting entity needs to understand all of the legal entity’s contractual arrangements (explicit and implicit) as well as the legal entity’s purpose and design. A “controlling financial interest” and “participating rights” are defined differently under each model, which highlights a fundamental distinction between the two models: to consolidate a legal entity under the voting interest entity model, the majority owner must have “absolute power” over all significant financial and operating decisions made in the ordinary course of business, whereas to consolidate a VIE under the VIE model, the reporting entity must have “relative power” over the activities that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance.

Given that it is easier to demonstrate relative power over a legal entity than absolute power over it, the VIE model may result in consolidation more often than the voting interest entity model.

The most significant differences between the voting interest entity model and the VIE model are summarized in the table below.

Concept	Voting Interest Entity Model	VIE Model	Explanation
Definition of a controlling financial interest	The usual condition for consolidation is ownership of a majority voting interest or majority of the limited partnership’s kick-out rights.	A reporting entity has a controlling financial interest if it has both of the following characteristics: (1) the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of — or the right to receive benefits from — the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity.	Under either model, control may not rest with the majority owner if certain conditions exist. Under the VIE model (unlike the voting interest entity model), a broader list of activities is typically considered in the determination of which party, if any, should consolidate.
Definition of participating rights	Rights that allow the limited partners or noncontrolling shareholders to block or participate in certain significant financial and operating decisions that are made in the ordinary course of business. A majority voting interest holder is precluded from consolidating if a participating right that is held by a noncontrolling shareholder is related to any significant financial and operating decision that occurs as a part of the ordinary course of the investee’s business.	Rights that provide the ability to block or participate in the actions through which an entity exercises the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance. Participating rights only preclude another party from controlling and consolidating if they are held by a single reporting entity and unilaterally exercisable relative to all of the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE.	While the definition of participating rights differs under the two models (i.e., under the VIE model, it encompasses a broader set of activities), the most significant difference is that the voting interest entity model precludes consolidation if a noncontrolling interest holder has a substantive participating right over certain significant financial and operating decisions. The VIE model precludes consolidation only if another party has substantive participating rights over all activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE.
Impact of related parties	Related parties and de facto agents are not considered.	Related parties, including de facto agents, must be considered. The identification of related parties can have a significant impact on the consolidation analysis, including potentially requiring one of the related parties to consolidate even though the reporting entity, on its own, does not have a controlling financial interest.	Related-party and de facto agency relationships may have an impact on the consolidation conclusion under the VIE model, whereas they have no impact under the voting interest entity model.
Disclosures	The required disclosures for consolidated subsidiaries are limited, including those about such subsidiaries that are not wholly owned.	In addition to the general disclosures required for consolidated voting interest entities, specific VIE disclosures about consolidated and unconsolidated VIEs must be provided.	Consolidating (or having a variable interest in) a VIE results in additional disclosure requirements.

FASB Research Project

In June 2021, the FASB issued an invitation to comment on how to refine its broader standard-setting agenda. On the basis of feedback received, the Board in April 2022 removed from its technical agenda a project that would reorganize all the consolidation guidance and move it to a new topic (ASC 812). The Board instead added a research project that will address whether a single consolidation model can be established for business entities.

In January 2025, the FASB again issued an invitation to comment on its standard-setting agenda. Among other requests, the Board asked for feedback on whether stakeholders support a single consolidation model and whether the recognition and measurement models for VIEs should differ from those for entities that apply the voting interest entity model.

For a comprehensive discussion of the accounting and financial reporting considerations related to applying the guidance in ASC 810, see Deloitte’s Roadmap Consolidation — Identifying a Controlling Financial Interest.

Contacts

Andrew Winters

Audit & Assurance

Partner

Deloitte & Touche LLP

+1 203 761 3355

anwinters@deloitte.com

If you are interested in Deloitte’s consolidation accounting service offerings, please contact:

Will Braeutigam

Audit & Assurance

Partner

Deloitte & Touche LLP

+1 713 982 3436

Confidential and Proprietary — for Use Solely by Authorized Personnel

This publication provides comprehensive guidance; however, it does not address all possible fact patterns, and the guidance is subject to change. Consult a Deloitte & Touche LLP professional regarding your specific issues and questions.