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Except as described in paragraph 3, entities shall apply this Standard when accounting for business combinations.
2 Except as described in paragraph 3, entities shall apply this Standard when accounting for business combinations.
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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
AASB 3 prescribes how Australian reporting entities must account for acquiring control of other businesses, requiring transactions to be treated as purchases and the acquired assets, liabilities and contingencies measured at fair value. It determines recognition of goodwill (tested for impairment) or immediate profit on bargain buys, covers complex cases like reverse or staged acquisitions, and excludes certain common‑control or mutual restructures. It matters because it ensures transparent, comparable disclosure of what was bought and for how much.
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Direct links to the current provisions in AASB 3 - Business Combinations - July 2004.
2 Except as described in paragraph 3, entities shall apply this Standard when accounting for business combinations.
3 This Standard does not apply to:
(a) business combinations in which separate entities or businesses are brought together to form a joint venture;
(b) business combinations involving entities or businesses under common control;
(c) business combinations involving two or more mutual entities; and
(d) business combinations in which separate entities or businesses are brought together to form a reporting entity by contract alone without the obtaining of an ownership interest (for example, combinations in which separate entities are brought together by contract alone to form a dual listed corporation).
Aus3.1 Restructures of administrative arrangements, as defined in Appendix A of AASB 1004 Contributions, are outside the scope of this Standard. AASB 1004 specifies requirements for restructures of administrative arrangements.
4 A business combination is the bringing together of separate entities or businesses into one reporting entity. The result of nearly all business combinations is that one entity, the acquirer, obtains control of one or more other businesses, the acquiree. If an entity obtains control of one or more other entities that are not businesses, the bringing together of those entities is not a business combination. When an entity acquires a group of assets or net assets that does not constitute a business, it shall allocate the cost of the group between the individual identifiable assets and liabilities in the group based on their relative fair values at the acquisition date.
5 A business combination may be structured in a variety of ways for legal, taxation or other reasons. It may involve the purchase by an entity of the equity of another entity, the purchase of all the net assets of another entity, the assumption of the liabilities of another entity, or the purchase of some of the net assets of another entity that together form one or more businesses. It may be effected by the issue of equity instruments, the transfer of cash, cash equivalents or other assets, or a combination thereof. The transaction may be between the shareholders of the combining entities or between one entity and the shareholders of another entity. It may involve the establishment of a new entity to control the combining entities or net assets transferred, or the restructuring of one or more of the combining entities.
6 A business combination may result in a parent-subsidiary relationship in which the acquirer is the parent and the acquiree a subsidiary of the acquirer. In such circumstances, the acquirer applies this Standard in its consolidated financial statements. It includes its interest in the acquiree in any separate financial statements it issues as an investment in a subsidiary (see AASB 127 Consolidated and Separate Financial statements).
7 A business combination may involve the purchase of the net assets, including any goodwill, of another entity rather than the purchase of the equity of the other entity. Such a combination does not result in a parent-subsidiary relationship.
8 Included within the definition of a business combination, and therefore the scope of this Standard, are business combinations in which one entity obtains control of another entity but for which the date of obtaining control (i.e. the acquisition date) does not coincide with the date or dates of acquiring an ownership interest (i.e. the date or dates of exchange). This situation may arise, for example, when an investee enters into share buy-back arrangements with some of its investors and, as a result, control of the investee changes.
9 This Standard does not specify the accounting by venturers for interests in joint ventures (see AASB 131 Interests in Joint Ventures).
10 A business combination involving entities or businesses under common control is a business combination in which all of the combining entities or businesses are ultimately controlled by the same party or parties both before and after the business combination, and that control is not transitory.
11 A group of individuals shall be regarded as controlling an entity when, as a result of contractual arrangements, they collectively have the power to govern its financial and operating policies so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Therefore, a business combination is outside the scope of AASB 3 when the same group of individuals has, as a result of contractual arrangements, ultimate collective power to govern the financial and operating policies of each of the combining entities so as to obtain benefits from their activities, and that ultimate collective power is not transitory.
12 An entity can be controlled by an individual, or by a group of individuals acting together under a contractual arrangement, and that individual or group of individuals may not be subject to the financial reporting requirements of Australian Accounting Standards. Therefore, it is not necessary for combining entities to be included as part of the same consolidated financial statements for a business combination to be regarded as one involving entities under common control.
13 The extent of minority interests in each of the combining entities before and after the business combination is not relevant to determining whether the combination involves entities under common control. Similarly, the fact that one of the combining entities is a subsidiary that has been excluded from the consolidated financial statements of the group in accordance with AASB 127 is not relevant to determining whether a combination involves entities under common control.
14 All business combinations shall be accounted for by applying the purchase method.
15 The purchase method views a business combination from the perspective of the combining entity that is identified as the acquirer. The acquirer purchases net assets and recognises the assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed, including those not previously recognised by the acquiree. The measurement of the acquirer’s assets and liabilities is not affected by the transaction, nor are any additional assets or liabilities of the acquirer recognised as a result of the transaction, because they are not the subjects of the transaction.
16 Applying the purchase method involves the following steps:
(a) identifying an acquirer;
(b) measuring the cost of the business combination; and
(c) allocating, at the acquisition date, the cost of the business combination to the assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed.
17 An acquirer shall be identified for all business combinations. The acquirer is the combining entity that obtains control of the other combining entities or businesses.
18 Because the purchase method views a business combination from the acquirer’s perspective, it assumes that one of the parties to the transaction can be identified as the acquirer.
19 Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity or business so as to obtain benefits from its activities. A combining entity shall be presumed to have obtained control of another combining entity when it acquires more than one-half of that other entity’s voting rights, unless it can be demonstrated that such ownership does not constitute control. Even if one of the combining entities does not acquire more than one-half of the voting rights of another combining entity, it might have obtained control of that other entity if, as a result of the combination, it obtains:
(a) power over more than one-half of the voting rights of the other entity by virtue of an agreement with other investors; or
(b) power to govern the financial and operating policies of the other entity under a statute or an agreement; or
(c) power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the other entity; or
(d) power to cast the majority of votes at meetings of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the other entity.
20 Although sometimes it may be difficult to identify an acquirer, there are usually indications that one exists. For example:
(a) if the fair value of one of the combining entities is significantly greater than that of the other combining entity, the entity with the greater fair value is likely to be the acquirer;
(b) if the business combination is effected through an exchange of voting ordinary equity instruments for cash or other assets, the entity giving up cash or other assets is likely to be the acquirer; and
(c) if the business combination results in the management of one of the combining entities being able to dominate the selection of the management team of the resulting combined entity, the entity whose management is able so to dominate is likely to be the acquirer.
21 In a business combination effected through an exchange of equity interests, the entity that issues the equity interests is normally the acquirer. However, all pertinent facts and circumstances shall be considered to determine which of the combining entities has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the other entity (or entities) so as to obtain benefits from its (or their) activities. In some business combinations, commonly referred to as reverse acquisitions, the acquirer is the entity whose equity interests have been acquired and the issuing entity is the acquiree. This might be the case when, for example, a private entity arranges to have itself ‘acquired’ by a smaller public entity as a means of obtaining a stock exchange listing. Although legally the issuing public entity is regarded as the parent and the private entity is regarded as the subsidiary, the legal subsidiary is the acquirer if it has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the legal parent so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Commonly the acquirer is the larger entity; however, the facts and circumstances surrounding a combination sometimes indicate that a smaller entity acquires a larger entity. Guidance on the accounting for reverse acquisitions is provided in paragraphs B1-B15 of Appendix B.
22 When a new entity is formed to issue equity instruments to effect a business combination, one of the combining entities that existed before the combination shall be identified as the acquirer on the basis of the evidence available.
23 Similarly, when a business combination involves more than two combining entities, one of the combining entities that existed before the combination shall be identified as the acquirer on the basis of the evidence available. Determining the acquirer in such cases shall include a consideration of, amongst other things, which of the combining entities initiated the combination and whether the assets or revenues of one of the combining entities significantly exceed those of the others.
24 The acquirer shall measure the cost of a business combination as the aggregate of:
(a) the fair values, at the date of exchange, of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the acquirer, in exchange for control of the acquiree; plus
(b) any costs directly attributable to the business combination.
25 The acquisition date is the date on which the acquirer effectively obtains control of the acquiree. When this is achieved through a single exchange transaction, the date of exchange coincides with the acquisition date. However, a business combination may involve more than one exchange transaction, for example when it is achieved in stages by successive share purchases. When this occurs:
(a) the cost of the combination is the aggregate cost of the individual transactions; and
(b) the date of exchange is the date of each exchange transaction (i.e. the date that each individual investment is recognised in the financial statements of the acquirer), whereas the acquisition date is the date on which the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree.
26 Assets given and liabilities incurred or assumed by the acquirer in exchange for control of the acquiree are required by paragraph 24 to be measured at their fair values at the date of exchange. Therefore, when settlement of all or any part of the cost of a business combination is deferred, the fair value of that deferred component shall be determined by discounting the amounts payable to their present value at the date of exchange, taking into account any premium or discount likely to be incurred in settlement.
27 The published price at the date of exchange of a quoted equity instrument provides the best evidence of the instrument’s fair value and shall be used, except in rare circumstances. Other evidence and valuation methods shall be considered only in the rare circumstances when the acquirer can demonstrate that the published price at the date of exchange is an unreliable indicator of fair value, and that the other evidence and valuation methods provide a more reliable measure of the equity instrument’s fair value. The published price at the date of exchange is an unreliable indicator only when it has been affected by the thinness of the market. If the published price at the date of exchange is an unreliable indicator or if a published price does not exist for equity instruments issued by the acquirer, the fair value of those instruments could, for example, be estimated by reference to their proportional interest in the fair value of the acquirer or by reference to the proportional interest in the fair value of the acquiree obtained, whichever is the more clearly evident. The fair value at the date of exchange of monetary assets given to owners of the acquiree as an alternative to equity instruments may also provide evidence of the total fair value given by the acquirer in exchange for control of the acquiree. In any event, all aspects of the combination, including significant factors influencing the negotiations, shall be considered. Further guidance on determining the fair value of equity instruments is set out in AASB 139 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.
28 The cost of a business combination includes liabilities incurred or assumed by the acquirer in exchange for control of the acquiree. Future losses or other costs expected to be incurred as a result of a combination are not liabilities incurred or assumed by the acquirer in exchange for control of the acquiree, and are not, therefore, included as part of the cost of the combination.
29 The cost of a business combination includes any costs directly attributable to the combination, such as professional fees paid to accountants, legal advisers, valuers and other consultants to effect the combination. General administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an acquisitions department, and other costs that cannot be directly attributed to the particular combination being accounted for are not included in the cost of the combination: they are recognised as an expense when incurred.
30 The costs of arranging and issuing financial liabilities are an integral part of the liability issue transaction, even when the liabilities are issued to effect a business combination, rather than costs directly attributable to the combination. Therefore, entities shall not include such costs in the cost of a business combination. In accordance with AASB 139, such costs shall be included in the initial measurement of the liability.
31 Similarly, the costs of issuing equity instruments are an integral part of the equity issue transaction, even when the equity instruments are issued to effect a business combination, rather than costs directly attributable to the combination. Therefore, entities shall not include such costs in the cost of a business combination. In accordance with AASB 132 Financial Instruments: Presentation, such costs reduce the proceeds from the equity issue.
32 When a business combination agreement provides for an adjustment to the cost of the combination contingent on future events, the acquirer shall include the amount of that adjustment in the cost of the combination at the acquisition date if the adjustment is probable and can be measured reliably.
33 A business combination agreement may allow for adjustments to the cost of the combination that are contingent on one or more future events. The adjustment might, for example, be contingent on a specified level of profit being maintained or achieved in future periods, or on the market price of the instruments issued being maintained. It is usually possible to estimate the amount of any such adjustment at the time of initially accounting for the combination without impairing the reliability of the information, even though some uncertainty exists. If the future events do not occur or the estimate needs to be revised, the cost of the business combination shall be adjusted accordingly.
34 However, when a business combination agreement provides for such an adjustment, that adjustment is not included in the cost of the combination at the time of initially accounting for the combination if it either is not probable or cannot be measured reliably. If that adjustment subsequently becomes probable and can be measured reliably, the additional consideration shall be treated as an adjustment to the cost of the combination.
35 In some circumstances, the acquirer may be required to make a subsequent payment to the seller as compensation for a reduction in the value of the assets given, equity instruments issued or liabilities incurred or assumed by the acquirer in exchange for control of the acquiree. This is the case, for example, when the acquirer guarantees the market price of equity or debt instruments issued as part of the cost of the business combination and is required to issue additional equity or debt instruments to restore the originally determined cost. In such cases, no increase in the cost of the business combination is recognised. In the case of equity instruments, the fair value of the additional payment is offset by an equal reduction in the value attributed to the instruments initially issued. In the case of debt instruments, the additional payment is regarded as a reduction in the premium or an increase in the discount on the initial issue.
36 The acquirer shall, at the acquisition date, allocate the cost of a business combination by recognising the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that satisfy the recognition criteria in paragraph 37 at their fair values at that date, except for non-current assets (or disposal groups) that are classified as held for sale in accordance with AASB 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, which shall be recognised at fair value less costs to sell. Any difference between the cost of the business combination and the acquirer’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities so recognised shall be accounted for in accordance with paragraphs 51-57.
37 The acquirer shall recognise separately the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities at the acquisition date only if they satisfy the following criteria at that date:
(a) in the case of an asset other than an intangible asset, it is probable that any associated future economic benefits will flow to the acquirer, and its fair value can be measured reliably;
(b) in the case of a liability other than a contingent liability, it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and its fair value can be measured reliably; and
(c) in the case of an intangible asset or a contingent liability, its fair value can be measured reliably.
38 The acquirer’s statement of comprehensive income shall incorporate the acquiree’s profits and losses after the acquisition date by including the acquiree’s income and expenses based on the cost of the business combination to the acquirer. For example, depreciation expense included after the acquisition date in the acquirer’s statement of comprehensive income that relates to the acquiree’s depreciable assets shall be based on the fair values of those depreciable assets at the acquisition date, that is, their cost to the acquirer.
39 Application of the purchase method starts from the acquisition date, which is the date on which the acquirer effectively obtains control of the acquiree. Because control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity or business so as to obtain benefits from its activities, it is not necessary for a transaction to be closed or finalised at law before the acquirer obtains control. All pertinent facts and circumstances surrounding a business combination shall be considered in assessing when the acquirer has obtained control.
40 Because the acquirer recognises the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that satisfy the recognition criteria in paragraph 37 at their fair values at the acquisition date, any minority interest in the acquiree is stated at the minority’s proportion of the net fair value of those items. Paragraphs B16 and B17 of Appendix B provide guidance on determining the fair values of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities for the purpose of allocating the cost of a business combination.
41 In accordance with paragraph 36, the acquirer recognises separately as part of allocating the cost of the combination only the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquiree that existed at the acquisition date and satisfy the recognition criteria in paragraph 37. Therefore:
(a) the acquirer shall recognise liabilities for terminating or reducing the activities of the acquiree as part of allocating the cost of the combination only when the acquiree has, at the acquisition date, an existing liability for restructuring recognised in accordance with AASB 137 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets; and
(b) the acquirer, when allocating the cost of the combination, shall not recognise liabilities for future losses or other costs expected to be incurred as a result of the business combination.
42 A payment that an entity is contractually required to make, for example, to its employees or suppliers in the event that it is acquired in a business combination is a present obligation of the entity that is regarded as a contingent liability until it becomes probable that a business combination will take place. The contractual obligation is recognised as a liability by that entity in accordance with AASB 137 when a business combination becomes probable and the liability can be measured reliably. Therefore, when the business combination is effected, that liability of the acquiree is recognised by the acquirer as part of allocating the cost of the combination.
43 However, an acquiree’s restructuring plan whose execution is conditional upon its being acquired in a business combination is not, immediately before the business combination, a present obligation of the acquiree. Nor is it a contingent liability of the acquiree immediately before the combination because it is not a possible obligation arising from a past event whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the acquiree. Therefore, an acquirer shall not recognise a liability for such restructuring plans as part of allocating the cost of the combination.
44 The identifiable assets and liabilities that are recognised in accordance with paragraph 36 include all of the acquiree’s assets and liabilities that the acquirer purchases or assumes, including all of its financial assets and financial liabilities. They might also include assets and liabilities not previously recognised in the acquiree’s financial statements, for example, because they did not qualify for recognition before the acquisition. For example, a tax benefit arising from the acquiree’s tax losses that was not recognised by the acquiree before the business combination qualifies for recognition as an identifiable asset in accordance with paragraph 36 if it is probable that the acquirer will have future taxable profits against which the unrecognised tax benefit can be applied.
45 In accordance with paragraph 37, the acquirer recognises separately an intangible asset of the acquiree at the acquisition date only if it meets the definition of an intangible asset in AASB 138 Intangible Assets and its fair value can be measured reliably. This means that the acquirer recognises as an asset separately from goodwill an in-process research and development project of the acquiree if the project meets the definition of an intangible asset and its fair value can be measured reliably. AASB 138 provides guidance on determining whether the fair value of an intangible asset acquired in a business combination can be measured reliably.
46 A non-monetary asset without physical substance must be identifiable to meet the definition of an intangible asset. In accordance with AASB 138, an asset meets the identifiability criterion in the definition of an intangible asset only if it:
(a) is separable, that is, capable of being separated or divided from the entity and sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged, either individually or together with a related contract, asset or liability; or
(b) arises from contractual or other legal rights, regardless of whether those rights are transferable or separable from the entity or from other rights and obligations.
47 Paragraph 37 specifies that the acquirer recognises separately a contingent liability of the acquiree as part of allocating the cost of a business combination only if its fair value can be measured reliably. If its fair value cannot be measured reliably:
(a) there is a resulting effect on the amount recognised as goodwill or accounted for in accordance with paragraph 56; and
(b) the acquirer shall disclose the information about that contingent liability required to be disclosed by AASB 137.
Paragraph B16(l) of Appendix B provides guidance on determining the fair value of a contingent liability.
48 After their initial recognition, the acquirer shall measure contingent liabilities that are recognised separately in accordance with paragraph 36 at the higher of:
(a) the amount that would be recognised in accordance with AASB 137; and
(b) the amount initially recognised less, when appropriate, cumulative amortisation recognised in accordance with AASB 118 Revenue.
49 The requirement in paragraph 48 does not apply to contracts accounted for in accordance with AASB 139. However, loan commitments excluded from the scope of AASB 139 that are not commitments to provide loans at below-market interest rates are accounted for as contingent liabilities of the acquiree if, at the acquisition date, it is not probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation or if the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability. Such a loan commitment is, in accordance with paragraph 37, recognised separately as part of allocating the cost of a combination only if its fair value can be measured reliably.
50 Contingent liabilities recognised separately as part of allocating the cost of a business combination are excluded from the scope of AASB 137. However, the acquirer shall disclose for those contingent liabilities the information required to be disclosed by AASB 137 for each class of provision.
51 The acquirer shall, at the acquisition date:
(a) recognise goodwill acquired in a business combination as an asset; and
(b) initially measure that goodwill at its cost, being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the acquirer’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised in accordance with paragraph 36.
52 Goodwill acquired in a business combination represents a payment made by the acquirer in anticipation of future economic benefits from assets that are not capable of being individually identified and separately recognised.
53 To the extent that the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities or contingent liabilities do not satisfy the criteria in paragraph 37 for separate recognition at the acquisition date, there is a resulting effect on the amount recognised as goodwill (or accounted for in accordance with paragraph 56). This is because goodwill is measured as the residual cost of the business combination after recognising the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities.
54 After initial recognition, the acquirer shall measure goodwill acquired in a business combination at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
55 Goodwill acquired in a business combination shall not be amortised. Instead, the acquirer shall test it for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired, in accordance with AASB 136 Impairment of Assets.
56 If the acquirer’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised in accordance with paragraph 36 exceeds the cost of the business combination, the acquirer shall:
(a) reassess the identification and measurement of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities and the measurement of the cost of the combination; and
(b) recognise immediately in profit or loss any excess remaining after that reassessment.
57 A gain recognised in accordance with paragraph 56 could comprise one or more of the following components:
(a) errors in measuring the fair value of either the cost of the combination or the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities or contingent liabilities. Possible future costs arising in respect of the acquiree that have not been reflected correctly in the fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities or contingent liabilities are a potential cause of such errors; or
(b) a requirement in an accounting standard to measure identifiable net assets acquired at an amount that is not fair value, but is treated as though it is fair value for the purpose of allocating the cost of the combination. For example, the guidance in Appendix B on determining the fair values of the acquiree’s identifiable assets and liabilities requires the amount assigned to tax assets and liabilities to be undiscounted; or
(c) a bargain purchase.
58 A business combination may involve more than one exchange transaction, for example when it occurs in stages by successive share purchases. If so, each exchange transaction shall be treated separately by the acquirer, using the cost of the transaction and fair value information at the date of each exchange transaction, to determine the amount of any goodwill associated with that transaction. This results in a step-by-step comparison of the cost of the individual investments with the acquirer’s interest in the fair values of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities at each step.
59 When a business combination involves more than one exchange transaction, the fair values of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities may be different at the date of each exchange transaction. Because:
(a) the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are notionally restated to their fair values at the date of each exchange transaction to determine the amount of any goodwill associated with each transaction; and
(b) the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities must then be recognised by the acquirer at their fair values at the acquisition date,
any adjustment to those fair values relating to previously held interests of the acquirer is a revaluation and shall be accounted for as such. However, because this revaluation arises on the initial recognition by the acquirer of the acquiree’s assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities, it does not signify that the acquirer has elected to apply an accounting policy of revaluing those items after initial recognition in accordance with, for example, AASB 116 Property, Plant and Equipment.
60 Before qualifying as a business combination, a transaction may qualify as an investment in an associate and be accounted for in accordance with AASB 128 Investments in Associates using the equity method. If so, the fair values of the investee’s identifiable net assets at the date of each earlier exchange transaction will have been determined previously in applying the equity method to the investment.
61 The initial accounting for a business combination involves identifying and determining the fair values to be assigned to the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities and the cost of the combination.
62 If the initial accounting for a business combination can be determined only provisionally by the end of the period in which the combination is effected because either the fair values to be assigned to the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities or contingent liabilities or the cost of the combination can be determined only provisionally, the acquirer shall account for the combination using those provisional values. The acquirer shall recognise any adjustments to those provisional values as a result of completing the initial accounting:
(i) the carrying amount of an identifiable asset, liability or contingent liability that is recognised or adjusted as a result of completing the initial accounting shall be calculated as if its fair value at the acquisition date had been recognised from that date;
(ii) goodwill or any gain recognised in accordance with paragraph 56 shall be adjusted from the acquisition date by an amount equal to the adjustment to the fair value at the acquisition date of the identifiable asset, liability or contingent liability being recognised or adjusted;
(iii) comparative information presented for the periods before the initial accounting for the combination is complete shall be presented as if the initial accounting had been completed from the acquisition date. This includes any additional depreciation, amortisation or other profit or loss effect recognised as a result of completing the initial accounting.
63 Except as outlined in paragraphs 33, 34 and 65, adjustments to the initial accounting for a business combination after that initial accounting is complete shall be recognised only to correct an error in accordance with AASB 108 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. Adjustments to the initial accounting for a business combination after that accounting is complete shall not be recognised for the effect of changes in estimates. In accordance with AASB 108, the effect of a change in estimates shall be recognised in the current and future periods.
64 AASB 108 requires an entity to account for an error correction retrospectively, and to present financial statements as if the error had never occurred by restating the comparative information for the prior period(s) in which the error occurred. Therefore, the carrying amount of an identifiable asset, liability or contingent liability of the acquiree that is recognised or adjusted as a result of an error correction shall be calculated as if its fair value or adjusted fair value at the acquisition date had been recognised from that date. Goodwill or any gain recognised in a prior period in accordance with paragraph 56 shall be adjusted retrospectively by an amount equal to the fair value at the acquisition date (or the adjustment to the fair value at the acquisition date) of the identifiable asset, liability or contingent liability being recognised (or adjusted).
65 If the potential benefit of the acquiree’s income tax loss carry-forwards or other deferred tax assets did not satisfy the criteria in paragraph 37 for separate recognition when a business combination is initially accounted for but is subsequently realised, the acquirer shall recognise that benefit as income in accordance with AASB 112 Income Taxes. In addition, the acquirer shall:
(a) reduce the carrying amount of goodwill to the amount that would have been recognised if the deferred tax asset had been recognised as an identifiable asset from the acquisition date; and
(b) recognise the reduction in the carrying amount of the goodwill as an expense.
However, this procedure shall not result in the creation of an excess as described in paragraph 56, nor shall it increase the amount of any gain previously recognised in accordance with paragraph 56.
66 An acquirer shall disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effect of business combinations that were effected:
(a) during the period;
(b) after the end of the reporting period but before the financial statements are authorised for issue.
67 To give effect to the principle in paragraph 66(a), the acquirer shall disclose the following information for each business combination that was effected during the period:
(a) the names and descriptions of the combining entities or businesses;
(b) the acquisition date;
(c) the percentage of voting equity instruments acquired;
(d) the cost of the combination and a description of the components of that cost, including any costs directly attributable to the combination. When equity instruments are issued or issuable as part of the cost, the following shall also be disclosed:
(i) the number of equity instruments issued or issuable; and
(ii) the fair value of those instruments and the basis for determining that fair value. If a published price does not exist for the instruments at the date of exchange, the significant assumptions used to determine fair value shall be disclosed. If a published price exists at the date of exchange but was not used as the basis for determining the cost of the combination, that fact shall be disclosed together with: the reasons the published price was not used; the method and significant assumptions used to attribute a value to the equity instruments; and the aggregate amount of the difference between the value attributed to, and the published price of, the equity instruments;
(e) details of any operations the entity has decided to dispose of as a result of the combination;
(f) the amounts recognised at the acquisition date for each class of the acquiree’s assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities, and, unless disclosure would be impracticable, the carrying amounts of each of those classes, determined in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, immediately before the combination. If such disclosure would be impracticable, that fact shall be disclosed, together with an explanation of why this is the case;
(g) the amount of any excess recognised in profit or loss in accordance with paragraph 56, and the line item in the statement of comprehensive income in which the excess is recognised;
(h) a description of the factors that contributed to a cost that results in the recognition of goodwill – a description of each intangible asset that was not recognised separately from goodwill and an explanation of why the intangible asset’s fair value could not be measured reliably – or a description of the nature of any excess recognised in profit or loss in accordance with paragraph 56; and
(i) the amount of the acquiree’s profit or loss since the acquisition date included in the acquirer’s profit or loss for the period, unless disclosure would be impracticable. If such disclosure would be impracticable, that fact shall be disclosed, together with an explanation of why this is the case.
68 The information required to be disclosed by paragraph 67 shall be disclosed in aggregate for business combinations effected during the reporting period that are individually immaterial.
69 If the initial accounting for a business combination that was effected during the period was determined only provisionally as described in paragraph 62, that fact shall also be disclosed together with an explanation of why this is the case.
70 To give effect to the principle in paragraph 66(a), the acquirer shall disclose the following information, unless such disclosure would be impracticable:
(a) the revenue of the combined entity for the period as though the acquisition date for all business combinations effected during the period had been the beginning of that period;
(b) the profit or loss of the combined entity for the period as though the acquisition date for all business combinations effected during the period had been the beginning of the period.
If disclosure of this information would be impracticable, that fact shall be disclosed, together with an explanation of why this is the case.
71 To give effect to the principle in paragraph 66(b), the acquirer shall disclose the information required by paragraph 67 for each business combination effected after the end of the reporting period but before the financial statements are authorised for issue, unless such disclosure would be impracticable. If disclosure of any of that information would be impracticable, that fact shall be disclosed, together with an explanation of why this is the case.
72 An acquirer shall disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to evaluate the financial effects of gains, losses, error corrections and other adjustments recognised in the current period that relate to business combinations that were effected in the current or in previous periods.
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Compiled versions of Standards, original Standards and amending Standards (see Compilation Details) are available on the AASB website: www.aasb.gov.au.
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COPYRIGHT
© 2009 Commonwealth of Australia
This compiled AASB Standard contains International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation copyright material. Reproduction within Australia in unaltered form (retaining this notice) is permitted for personal and non-commercial use subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights for commercial purposes within Australia should be addressed to The Director of Finance and Administration, Australian Accounting Standards Board, PO Box 204, Collins Street West, Victoria 8007.
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COMPILATION DETAILS
Comparison With IFRS 3
Accounting Standard
AASB 3 Business Combinations
Paragraphs
Objective 1
Application Aus1.1 – Aus1.7
Scope 2 – Aus3.1
Identifying a business combination 4 – 9
Business combinations involving entities under common control 10 – 13
Method of Accounting 14 – 15
Application of the Purchase Method 16
Identifying the acquirer 17 – 23
Cost of a business combination 24 – 31
Adjustments to the cost of a business combination contingent on future events 32 – 35
Allocating the cost of a business combination to the assets
acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities
assumed 36 – 40
Acquiree’s identifiable assets and liabilities 41 – 44
Acquiree’s intangible assets 45 – 46
Acquiree’s contingent liabilities 47 – 50
Goodwill 51 – 55
Excess of acquirer’s interest in the net fair value of acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities over cost 56 – 57
Business combination achieved in stages 58 – 60
Initial accounting determined provisionally 61 – 62
Adjustments after the initial accounting is complete63 – 64
Recognition of deferred tax assets after the initial accounting is complete 65
Disclosure 66 – 77
Restructures of Local Governments Aus77.1 – Aus77.7
Appendices:
A. Defined Terms Page 33
B. Application Supplement Page 36
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES Page 42
BASIS FOR CONCLUSIONS ON IFRS 3
(available on the AASB website)
Australian Accounting Standard AASB 3 Business Combinations (as amended) is set out in paragraphs 1 – Aus77.7 and Appendices A – B. All the paragraphs have equal authority. Paragraphs in bold type state the main principles. Terms defined in this Standard are in italics the first time they appear in the Standard. AASB 3 is to be read in the context of other Australian Accounting Standards, including AASB 1048 Interpretation and Application of Standards, which identifies the Australian Accounting Interpretations. In the absence of explicit guidance, AASB 108 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors provides a basis for selecting and applying accounting policies.
This compiled Standard applies to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009 but before 1 July 2009. It takes into account amendments up to and including 13 December 2007 and was prepared on 20 October 2009 by the staff of the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB).
This compilation is not a separate Accounting Standard made by the AASB. Instead, it is a representation of AASB 3 (July 2004) as amended by other Accounting Standards, which are listed in the Table below.
| Standard | Date made | Application date(annual reporting periods … on or after …) | Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| AASB 3 | 15 Jul 2004 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2005 | |
| AASB 2005-6 | 22 Jun 2005 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2006 | see (a) below |
| AASB 2007-4 | 30 Apr 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jul 2007 | see (b) below |
| AASB 2007-8 | 24 Sep 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2009 | see (c) below |
| AASB 2007-9 | 13 Dec 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jul 2008 | see (d) below |
| AASB 2007-10 | 13 Dec 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2009 | see (c) below |
(a) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 January 2006.
(b) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 July 2007.
(c) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 January 2009, provided that AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements (September 2007) is also applied to such periods.
(d) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 July 2008, provided that the Standards and Interpretation listed in paragraph 6 of AASB 2007-9 are also applied to such periods.
Table of Amendments to Standard
| Paragraph affected | How affected | By … [paragraph] |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [6] |
| 3 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [7] |
| Aus3.1 | deletedadded | AASB 2005-6 [8]AASB 2007-9 [10] |
| Aus3.2 | deleted | AASB 2005-6 [8] |
| 4 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Heading after 9 | added | AASB 2005-6 [9] |
| 10-13 | added | AASB 2005-6 [10] |
| 27 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| 38 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| 49 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Aus56.1 | deleted | AASB 2005-6 [11] |
| 57 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [12] |
| 62 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [13] |
| 64 | amended | AASB 2007-10 [30] |
| 66 | amendedamended | AASB 2007-8 [6]AASB 2007-10 [31] |
| 67 | amendedamended | AASB 2005-6 [14]AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| 71 | amendedamended | AASB 2007-8 [6]AASB 2007-10 [32] |
| Aus77.1-Aus77.7 | added | AASB 2007-9 [10] |
| A Defined Terms | amendedamended | AASB 2005-6 [15]AASB 2007-9 [8, 9] |
| A Additional Australian Defined Terms | deleted | AASB 2005-6 [16] |
| B8 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| B9 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [17] |
| B16 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Paragraph affected | How affected | By … [paragraph] |
|---|---|---|
| B3 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Example 5 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| Example 6 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
References to ‘financial report(s)’ were amended to ‘financial statements’ by AASB 2007-8 and AASB 2007-10, except in relation to specific Corporations Act references and interim financial reports. These amendments are not shown in the above Tables of Amendments.
This compiled Standard applies to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009 but before 1 July 2009. It takes into account amendments up to and including 13 December 2007 and was prepared on 20 October 2009 by the staff of the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB).
This compilation is not a separate Accounting Standard made by the AASB. Instead, it is a representation of AASB 3 (July 2004) as amended by other Accounting Standards, which are listed in the Table below.
| Standard | Date made | Application date(annual reporting periods … on or after …) | Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| AASB 3 | 15 Jul 2004 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2005 | |
| AASB 2005-6 | 22 Jun 2005 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2006 | see (a) below |
| AASB 2007-4 | 30 Apr 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jul 2007 | see (b) below |
| AASB 2007-8 | 24 Sep 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2009 | see (c) below |
| AASB 2007-9 | 13 Dec 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jul 2008 | see (d) below |
| AASB 2007-10 | 13 Dec 2007 | (beginning) 1 Jan 2009 | see (c) below |
(a) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 January 2006.
(b) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 July 2007.
(c) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 January 2009, provided that AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements (September 2007) is also applied to such periods.
(d) Entities may elect to apply this Standard to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 July 2008, provided that the Standards and Interpretation listed in paragraph 6 of AASB 2007-9 are also applied to such periods.
Table of Amendments to Standard
| Paragraph affected | How affected | By … [paragraph] |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [6] |
| 3 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [7] |
| Aus3.1 | deletedadded | AASB 2005-6 [8]AASB 2007-9 [10] |
| Aus3.2 | deleted | AASB 2005-6 [8] |
| 4 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Heading after 9 | added | AASB 2005-6 [9] |
| 10-13 | added | AASB 2005-6 [10] |
| 27 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| 38 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| 49 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Aus56.1 | deleted | AASB 2005-6 [11] |
| 57 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [12] |
| 62 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [13] |
| 64 | amended | AASB 2007-10 [30] |
| 66 | amendedamended | AASB 2007-8 [6]AASB 2007-10 [31] |
| 67 | amendedamended | AASB 2005-6 [14]AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| 71 | amendedamended | AASB 2007-8 [6]AASB 2007-10 [32] |
| Aus77.1-Aus77.7 | added | AASB 2007-9 [10] |
| A Defined Terms | amendedamended | AASB 2005-6 [15]AASB 2007-9 [8, 9] |
| A Additional Australian Defined Terms | deleted | AASB 2005-6 [16] |
| B8 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| B9 | amended | AASB 2005-6 [17] |
| B16 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Paragraph affected | How affected | By … [paragraph] |
|---|---|---|
| B3 | amended | AASB 2007-4 [19] |
| Example 5 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
| Example 6 | amended | AASB 2007-8 [6] |
References to ‘financial report(s)’ were amended to ‘financial statements’ by AASB 2007-8 and AASB 2007-10, except in relation to specific Corporations Act references and interim financial reports. These amendments are not shown in the above Tables of Amendments.
AASB 3 Business Combinations as amended incorporates IFRS 3 Business Combinations as issued and amended by the International
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.