Validación de la clasificación

5.33 Before a business combination, an acquired entity may incur R&D expenditures that could result in the

development of certain intangible assets by the acquired entity that would be expensed as incurred in accordance

with ASC 730 (unless they had an alternative future use). In other words, an acquired entity would probably not

record any assets related to R&D on its books before the acquisition. To the extent that the acquired entity was

using, or was planning to use, these unrecognized assets for R&D activities, the assets would represent IPR&D to

the acquirer.

5.34 Under ASC 805 and ASC 350, the acquiring entity recognizes IPR&D at fair value as of the acquisition

date and subsequently accounts for it as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until completion or abandonment of

the associated R&D efforts. See 10.39–10.40 for additional guidance on the subsequent accounting for IPR&D

intangible assets.

5.35 For IPR&D to be recognized as of the acquisition date, the costs incurred by the acquiree must be for R&D

activities within the scope of ASC 730. The Codification defines “research and development” as follows:

Research is planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service (referred to as product) or a new process or technique (referred to as process) or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process.

Development is the translation of research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or use. It includes the conceptual formulation, design, and testing of product alternatives, construction of prototypes, and operation of pilot plants.

5.36 ASC 730-10-55-1 lists examples of activities that are within the scope of ASC 730, and ASC 730-10-55-2

notes those that are not:

The following activities typically would be considered research and development within the scope of this Topic (unless conducted for others under a contractual arrangement — see paragraph 730-10-15-4[a]):

a. Laboratory research aimed at discovery of new knowledge

b. Searching for applications of new research findings or other knowledge c. Conceptual formulation and design of possible product or process alternatives d. Testing in search for or evaluation of product or process alternatives

e. Modification of the formulation or design of a product or process f. Design, construction, and testing of preproduction prototypes and models g. Design of tools, jigs, molds, and dies involving new technology

h. Design, construction, and operation of a pilot plant that is not of a scale economically feasible to the entity for commercial production

i. Engineering activity required to advance the design of a product to the point that it meets specific functional and economic requirements and is ready for manufacture

j. Tools used to facilitate research and development or components of a product or process that are undergoing research and development activities.

The following activities typically would not be considered research and development within the scope of this Topic:

a. Engineering follow-through in an early phase of commercial production

b. Quality control during commercial production including routine testing of products c. Trouble-shooting in connection with break-downs during commercial production

d. Routine, ongoing efforts to refine, enrich, or otherwise improve upon the qualities of an existing product

e. Adaptation of an existing capability to a particular requirement or customer’s need as part of a continuing commercial activity

f. Seasonal or other periodic design changes to existing products g. Routine design of tools, jigs, molds, and dies

h. Activity, including design and construction engineering, related to the construction, relocation, rearrangement, or start-up of facilities or equipment other than the following

1. Pilot plants (see [h] in the preceding paragraph)

2. Facilities or equipment whose sole use is for a particular research and development project (see paragraph 730-10-25-2[a]).

i. Legal work in connection with patent applications or litigation, and the sale or licensing of patents.

5.37 R&D activities are only considered to be within the scope of ASC 730 if such activities are not “conducted

for others under a contractual arrangement.” If R&D activities are conducted for others under a contractual

arrangement, such costs should not be recognized as part of the acquired IPR&D.

5.38 If an entity acquires IPR&D in a business combination that it does not intend to use to its highest and

best use (e.g., it has plans to discontinue the R&D project after the acquisition even though a marketplace

participant would continue the R&D efforts), it would be required to recognize an intangible asset at fair value in its

accounting under the acquisition method (see 5.13–5.17).

5.39 ASC 805 does not affect the accounting for R&D expenditures incurred outside of a business combination.

Therefore, the acquiring entity would generally expense R&D costs incurred after the acquisition date that relate to

an acquired IPR&D project in accordance with ASC 730.

Example 5-1