Proposed changes to merger accounting mulled.

FASB will propose rules to help investors discover whether or not companies that recently made acquisitions were helped or hurt by the newly acquired entity.

FASB is proposing that companies separately disclose the earnings and revenue of acquired businesses. The disclosure requirement would apply from the date an acquisition closes to the buyer's fiscal year-end.

When companies currently report earnings, they're not required to say whether profits come from acquisitions or existing operations.

FASB also is mulling requirements for how companies account for merger-related restructuring expenses, such as the expense of relocating employees and bookkeeping for earnouts.