The combined financial statements reflect allocations of certain IBM corporate, infrastructure and shared services expenses, including centralized research, legal, human resources, payroll, finance and accounting, employee benefits, real estate, insurance, information technology, telecommunications, treasury and other expenses. Where possible, these charges were allocated based on direct usage, with the remainder allocated on a pro rata basis of headcount, gross profit, asset or other allocation methodologies that are considered to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided or the benefit received by Kyndryl during the periods presented. The combined financial statements may not be indicative of the Company’s future performance and do not necessarily reflect what the financial position, results of operations and cash flows would have been had it operated as an independent company during the periods presented. Further, interim results are not necessarily indicative of financial results for a full year. These unaudited combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited combined financial statements and the corresponding notes in our Form 10.
The Combined Balance Sheet of the Company includes IBM’s assets and liabilities that are specifically identifiable or otherwise attributable to the Company, including subsidiaries and/or joint ventures conducting managed infrastructure services business in which IBM has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary.
Transfers of cash, both to and from IBM’s centralized cash management system, are reflected as a component of Net Parent investment in the Combined Balance Sheet and as financing activities in the accompanying Combined Statement of Cash Flows. In addition, the Company also invests a portion of its excess cash in short-term interest-bearing accounts with IBM, which can be withdrawn upon demand. For additional information, see note 13, “Related Party Transactions,” to the combined financial statements. Outside of the excess cash arrangement, cash and cash equivalents held by IBM at the corporate level were not attributable to the Company for any of the periods presented due to IBM’s centralized approach to cash management and financing of its operations. Only cash amounts specifically held by Kyndryl are reflected in the Combined Balance Sheet. IBM’s debt was not attributed to the Company for any of the periods presented because IBM’s borrowings are not the legal obligation of Kyndryl. Third-party debt obligations included in the combined financial statements are those for which the legal obligor is a legal entity of Kyndryl. Interest expense in the Combined Income Statement reflects the allocation of interest on borrowing and funding related activity associated with the portion of IBM’s borrowings where the proceeds benefited the Company.
Net Parent investment in the Combined Balance Sheet represents the accumulation of the Company's net income (loss) over time and net non-trade intercompany transactions between Kyndryl and IBM (for example, investments from IBM or distributions to IBM). Changes in these non-trade intercompany balances are reflected as Net transfers from Parent in the financing activities section of the Combined Statement of Cash Flows.
On September 1, 2021, legal entities of Kyndryl and its subsidiaries were established in the territories where we operate. IBM transferred ownership of certain specifically identifiable assets and liabilities that are exclusively related to the operations of Kyndryl from the Parent to those legal entities on the same date. Balances of transferred assets and assumed liabilities are reflected in the respective line items and the component of Net Parent investment in the Combined Balance Sheet. Consequently, for certain financial statement line items, including cash and cash equivalents, deferred tax assets and retirement and nonpension postretirement benefit obligations presented in the Combined Balance Sheet at September 30, 2021, the values of these accounts increased compared to the Combined Balance Sheet at December 31, 2020, with more assets and liabilities being specifically identifiable. In addition, the cash flow impacts from the establishment of these new legal entities and other current income tax liabilities were assumed to be settled with Parent through the Net parent investment account and have been presented in the Combined Statement of Cash Flows within “Taxes (including items settled with Parent)”.
Prior to the Separation, Kyndryl’s operations are included in the consolidated U.S. federal, certain state and local and foreign income tax returns filed by IBM, where applicable. The income tax provision included in these combined financial statements has been calculated using the separate return basis, as if Kyndryl had filed separate tax returns. Post separation, Kyndryl’s operating footprint, as well as tax return elections and assertions, are expected to be different, and therefore Kyndryl’s hypothetical income taxes, as presented in the combined financial statements, are not expected to be indicative of the Company’s future income taxes. Current income tax liabilities, including amounts for