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| | Buy-out Legal Fees and Treasury Stock - - CFO.com |
 | | The most common accounting method is the "cost" method, under which the entire cost of the stock purchase is charged to a "contra-equity" account (i.e., a reduction from total paid in capital) called treasury stock. |
 | | On the other hand, expensing the legal costs on the current income statement, rather than adding to the treasury stock cost, would probably also be within reason, on the grounds that these pertain to a management/ownership dispute and constitutes a recurring, normal period expense. |
 | | You should be aware that, whether expensed or added to the contra- equity (treasury stock) account, most outsiders (e.g., creditors) will assess the entity's net tangible capital as stockholders' equity, net of treasury stock, and thus the impression of the balance sheet strength of the company will not be affected by the choice of accounting. |
| www.cfo.com /article.cfm/2997289 (651 words) |
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