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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Equinix, Inc. (collectively with its consolidated subsidiaries referred to as "Equinix," the "Company," "we," "our," or "us") and reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which in the opinion of management are necessary to fairly state the financial position and the results of operations for the interim periods presented. In the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements, we have considered potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our critical and significant accounting estimates. There was no significant impact to our condensed consolidated financial statements. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent of the potential impacts to our business and our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Our condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2021 has been derived from audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. Our condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), but omit certain information and footnote disclosure necessary to present the statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP" or "GAAP"). For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in our Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on February 18, 2022. Results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year.
Consolidation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the acquisitions of:
•Two data centers in Mumbai, India from the India operations of GPX Global Systems, Inc. ("GPX India") from September 1, 2021;
•Four data centers as well as a subsea cable and terrestrial fiber network in West Africa acquired from MainOne Cable Company ("MainOne") from April 1, 2022; and
•Four data centers in Chile and a data center in Peru acquired from Empresa Nacional De Telecomunicaciones S.A. ("Entel") from May 2, 2022 and August 1, 2022, respectively.
All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Income Taxes
We elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes ("REIT") beginning with our 2015 taxable year. As a result, we may deduct the dividends paid to our stockholders from taxable income generated by our REIT and qualified REIT subsidiaries ("QRSs"). Our dividends paid deduction generally eliminates the U.S. federal taxable income of our REIT and QRSs, resulting in no U.S. federal income tax due. However, our domestic taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs") are subject to U.S. corporate income taxes on any taxable income generated by them. In addition, our foreign operations are subject to local income taxes regardless of whether the foreign operations are operated as QRSs or TRSs.
We accrue for income taxes during interim periods based on the estimated effective tax rate for the year. The effective tax rate is subject to change in the future due to various factors such as our operating performance, tax law changes and future business acquisitions.
Our effective tax rates were 11.7% and 15.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021 was mainly driven by higher U.S. QRS income that is not subject to U.S. corporate income taxes.
In the current period, we had a favorable resolution of uncertain tax positions of approximately $40.0 million resulting from the settlement of tax audits in the EMEA region. In the prior period, we had a favorable resolution of
uncertain tax positions of approximately $70.0 million resulting from the settlement of various tax audits in the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. Of the unrecognized tax benefits realized in the prior period, approximately $32.3 million was related to the uncertain tax position inherited from the Metronode Acquisition in 2018. The uncertain tax position was covered by an indemnification agreement with the seller. The realization of the unrecognized tax benefits resulted in an impairment of the indemnification asset for the same amount, which was included in Other Income (Expense) on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In September 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2022-04, "Liabilities-Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations". This guidance requires annual and interim disclosures for entities that use supplier finance programs in connection with the purchase of goods and services. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted, except for the amendment on rollforward information, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. We are currently evaluating the extent of the impact of this ASU, but do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Adopted
Income Taxes
In December 2019, FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes ("Topic 740"): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The ASU simplifies accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The ASU also improves consistent application of and simplifies GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted including adoption in any interim period for periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. On January 1, 2021, we adopted this ASU on a prospective basis and the adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Debt with Conversion and Other Options
In August 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-06: Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). The ASU simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock and modifies the disclosure requirement for the convertible instruments. Additionally, this ASU improves the consistency of EPS calculations by eliminating the use of the treasury stock method to calculate diluted EPS for convertible instruments and clarifies certain areas under the current EPS guidance. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted at the beginning of the fiscal year after December 15, 2020. On January 1, 2022, we adopted this ASU on a prospective basis and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Business Combinations
In October 2021, FASB issued ASU 2021-08 Business Combinations ("Topic 805"): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The ASU requires contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recognized and measured by the acquirer on the acquisition date in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as if it had originated the contracts. Under the current business combinations guidance, such assets and liabilities were recognized by the acquirer at fair value on the acquisition date. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. On April 1, 2022, we early adopted this ASU and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.