The FASB issued two new pronouncements in December of 2007 that significantly impact the accounting for business combinations in the U.S. SFAS 141R supersedes SFAS 141 and requires the Acquisition Method be used in place of the Purchase Method for new acquisitions in reporting periods beginning on or after December 31, 2008 (fiscal year 2009 for most companies). SFAS 160 replaces Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) 51 and requires the use of the economic entity approach to recognizing the noncontrolling interest in the financial statements for less-than-wholly owned subsidiaries.

The full text of both of these pronouncements is available on the FASB website. research SFAS 141R and SFAS 160, using these and any other appropriate resources (scholarly or professional journals), need a short research report (three- to five-pages)

From the perspective of the hypothetical business combination of Roberts and William and based upon the work you have done to date, you are required to assess and determine the impact upon the consolidation of these two companies of these new pronouncements.

Analysis should include both an executive summary of the changes and, importantly, a critique of how these changes in practice will improve financial reporting and why.