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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
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.
Our condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2022 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 17, 2023. 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:
Four data centers as well as a subsea cable and terrestrial fiber network in West Africa acquired from MainOne Cable Company ("MainOne") starting 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") starting 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 13.2% and 11.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022 is primarily due to the reversal of uncertain tax positions from the settlement of tax audits in the EMEA region of approximately $40.0 million in the prior period versus $13.4 million in the current period.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Adopted
Supplier Finance Programs
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 roll forward information, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. On January 1, 2023, we adopted this ASU and the adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Reference Rate Reform
In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform ("Topic 848"): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. In addition, FASB issued ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform ("Topic 848"), which clarifies the scope of Topic 848. Collectively, the guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. ASU 2021-01 is effective upon issuance and ASU 2020-04 was effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020, and together remained effective through December 31, 2022. In December 2022, FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform ("Topic 848"): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848. Because the current relief in Topic 848 may not cover a period of time during which a significant number of modifications may take place, the amendments in this Update defer the sunset date of Topic 848 from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848. We adopted these ASUs upon their respective issuances and there was no impact on our consolidated financial statements as a result of adopting the guidance. We will evaluate our debt, derivative and lease contracts that may become eligible for modification relief and may apply the elections prospectively as needed.
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.