Accounting Developments

6 Months Ended

May 31, 2024

Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract]

Accounting Developments

Accounting Developments

Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Periods

Segment Reporting. In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07 (“ASU 2023-07”), Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The guidance primarily will require enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and are to be applied on a retrospective basis. We are evaluating the impact of the standard on our segment reporting disclosures.

Income Taxes. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09 (“ASU 2023-09”), Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The guidance is intended to improve income tax disclosure requirements by requiring (i) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (ii) the disaggregation of income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The guidance makes several other changes to the income tax disclosure requirements. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and are required to be applied prospectively with the option of retrospective application. We are evaluating the impact of the standard on our income tax disclosures.

Adopted Accounting Standards

Reference Rate Reform. The FASB has issued guidance which provides optional exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to certain contract modifications, hedge accounting relationships or other transactions affected by reference rate reform. There was no impact to our financial statements as a result of this guidance upon the completion of our transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) on June 30, 2023.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The guidance provides for estimating credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost by introducing an approach based on expected losses over the financial asset’s entire life, recorded at inception or purchase. On January 1, 2023, Berkadia, our equity method investee, adopted this guidance and applied a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption. At transition on January 1, 2023, the new accounting guidance’s adoption resulted in a decrease in retained earnings of $14.8 million, net of tax attributable to an increase in the allowance for credit losses. Our equity method investee, Jefferies Finance, adopted the guidance on December 1, 2023, and the impact on our consolidated financial statements was not material.