Marathon Oil (MRO)

SFAS No. 160 – In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements - An Amendment of ARB No. 51.”  This statement establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  Specifically, this statement clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary (sometimes called a minority interest) is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements, but separate from the parent's equity.  It requires that the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated income statement.  SFAS No. 160 clarifies that changes in a parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent retains its controlling financial interest.  In addition, this statement requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, based on the fair value of the noncontrolling equity investment on the deconsolidation date.  Additional disclosures are required that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners.  In January 2009, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 08-10, “Selected Statement 160 Implementation Questions” (“EITF 08-10”).  Both SFAS No. 160 and EITF 08-10 are effective January 1, 2009.  The statements must be applied prospectively, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements which must be applied retrospectively for all periods presented in consolidated financial statements.  We do not have significant noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and therefore adoption of these standards did not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.