Description: The panel discussed the accounting profession's attempts to codify an area that has long been subject to a wide variety of practice. Topics covered: 1. Accounting under the various methods of acquisitions: pooling of interests, purchase of stock, assumption reinsurance, indemnity reinsurance. 2. Benefit reserve approaches under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 60 within the context of defined-valuation premium approach versus defined-initial reserve approach. 3. Approaches to determination of discount rate for the present value of future profits and purchase date 4. Effect of differing levels of goodwill on earnings accretion versus dilution.

Description: This presentation, session number 5PD, took place at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 15-18 in Chicago. This session focuses on the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, ‘GAAP,’ methods and standards of practice applicable to accounting for purchase of a block of business. The panelists discuss working with investment bankers and others, presentation and determination of actuarial opening balance sheet items such as benefits reserves and present value of future profits, actuarial appraisal values, impact of synergies, management initiatives, expense savings, projection of GAAP profits, various accounting issues, and applicable Actuarial Standards of Practice. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 26, No. 3. Possible keywords: VOBA=value of business acquired PGAAP=purchase GAAP accounting Actuarial appraisal