Recent Accounting Pronouncements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2022, Northern Trust adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2020-06, “Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contract in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” (ASU 2020-06). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the convertible instrument accounting framework through the elimination of the beneficial conversion and cash conversion accounting models used to account for convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. ASU 2020-06 also amends the accounting for certain contracts in an entity’s own equity that are currently accounted for as derivatives because of specific settlement provisions in Accounting Standards Codification 815—Derivatives and Hedging. In addition, ASU 2020-06 modifies how particular convertible instruments and certain contracts that may be settled in cash or shares impact the diluted earnings per share computation. Upon adoption of ASU 2020-06, there was no significant impact to Northern Trust’s consolidated balance sheets or consolidated statements of income.

On January 1, 2022, Northern Trust adopted ASU No. 2021-10, “Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance” (ASU 2021-10). ASU 2021-10 requires annual disclosures about transactions with a government that are accounted for by applying a grant or contribution accounting model by analogy to other accounting guidance within Topic 958, Not-for-Profit Entities, or International Accounting Standards 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance. Upon adoption of ASU 2021-10, there was no significant impact to Northern Trust’s consolidated balance sheets or consolidated statements of income.

On March 31, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (SAB 121) which expresses the SEC staff’s view regarding the accounting for entities that have obligations to safeguard “crypto-assets” held for their platform users. SAB 121 requires that entities that perform custodial activities for crypto-assets, whether directly or through an agent acting on its behalf, should recognize a liability and a corresponding asset in respect of the crypto-assets safeguarded for their platform users, with the liability and asset measured at the fair value of the crypto-assets. SAB 121 further requires an entity to provide certain disclosures related to safeguarding obligations for crypto-assets. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2022, with retrospective application as of the beginning of the fiscal year to which the interim or annual period relates. The release of SAB 121 did not have an impact to Northern Trust’s consolidated balance sheets or consolidated statements of income.