Jax Company uses the acquisition method for accounting for its investment in Saxton Company. Jax sells some of its shares to Saxton such that neither control not significant influence exists. Which of the following statements is true? A) The difference between selling price and acquisition value is recorded as a realized gain or loss.
B) The difference between selling price and acquisition value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss.
C) The difference between selling price and carrying value is recorded as a realized gain or loss.
D) The difference between selling price and carrying value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss.
E) The difference between selling price and carrying value is recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings.

US GAAP requires that when a company acquires another company it must record the transaction using the acquisition method. The purchasing company must record the value for:

tangible assets and liabilities that were acquired
intangible assets and liabilities that were acquired
noncontrolling interest in the acquired business
consideration paid to the seller
goodwill or gain on the transaction

Since the question focuses on realized gain or loss, we will skip the first four elements. Goodwill would be considered a loss since it represents the amount of money paid in excess of the company's fair market value. A gain would equal a negative goodwill.

goodwill = acquisition price + noncontrolling interest - identifiable assets acquired + identifiable liabilities acquired

In this case, since the buyer (Jax Company) decided to sell back stocks to Saxton Company, there is no more acquisition. But you can still determine if the operation resulted in a gain or a loss. The way you can do this is by taking the sale price of the stocks repurchased by Saxton and subtracting the carrying value of those stocks. Probably Jax used the acquisition method because its original intention was to purchase Saxton, but things happen and it couldn't be done.