IFRS 3 Business Combinations

Overview
IFRS 3 Business Combinations outlines the accounting when an acquirer obtains control of a
business (e.g. an acquisition or merger). Such business combinations are accounted for using the
'acquisition method', which generally requires assets acquired and liabilities assumed to be
measured at their fair values at the acquisition date.
A revised version of IFRS 3 was issued in January 2008 and applies to business combinations
occurring in an entity's first annual period beginning on or after 1 July 2009.
History of IFRS 3
Date

Development

Comments

July 2001

Project added to IASB agenda

(carried over from the old IASC)

History of the project

5 December 2002

Exposure Draft ED 3 Business

Combinationsand related exposure
drafts proposing amendments to
IAS 36 and IAS 38 published

Comment deadline 4 April

2003

31 March 2004

IFRS
3 Business
Combinations (2004) and related amended
versions
of IAS
36 and IAS
38 issued
(IFRS 3 supersedes IAS 22)

Effective
for
business
combinations for which the
agreement date is on or
after 31 March 2004

29 April 2004

Exposure Draft Combinations by

Contract Alone or Involving Mutual
Entitiespublished
(These
proposals
were
not
finalised, but instead considered
as part of the June 2005 exposure
draft)

Comment deadline 31 July

2004

30 June 2005

Exposure Draft Proposed Amendments to IFRS 3 published

Comment deadline
October 2005

10 January 2008

IFRS
3 Business
tions (2008) issued

Combina-

Applies to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after

the beginning of the first
annual reporting period
beginning on or after 1
July 2009

6 May 2010

Amended by Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2010 (measurement of non-controlling interests,

replaced share-based payment

Effective
for
annual
periods beginning on or
after 1 July 2010

28

awards, transitional arrangements

for contingent consideration)
12 December 2013

Amended by Annual Improvements to IFRSs 20102012

Cycle (contingent consideration)

Applicable for business

combinations for which the
acquisition date is on or
after 1 July 2014

12 December 2013

Amended by Annual Improvements to IFRSs 20112013

Cycle(scope exception for joint
ventures)

Effective
for
annual
periods beginning on or
after 1 July 2014

Related Interpretations
o

None

Amendments under consideration by the IASB

o

IFRS 3 Definition of a business

IFRS 3/IFRS 11 Remeasurement of previously held interests

Common control transactions

Summary of IFRS 3
Background
IFRS 3 (2008) seeks to enhance the relevance, reliability and comparability of information
provided about business combinations (e.g. acquisitions and mergers) and their effects. It sets
out the principles on the recognition and measurement of acquired assets and liabilities, the determination of goodwill and the necessary disclosures.
IFRS 3 (2008) resulted from a joint project with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) and replaced IFRS 3 (2004). FASB issued a similar standard in December 2007 (SFAS
141(R)). The revisions result in a high degree of convergence between IFRSs and US GAAP in
the accounting for business combinations, although some potentially significant differences
remain.
Key definitions
[IFRS 3, Appendix A]
business combination
A transaction or other event in which an acquirer obtains control of one or more businesses. Transactions sometimes referred to as 'true mergers' or 'mergers of equals' are
also business combinations as that term is used in [IFRS 3]
business
An integrated set of activities and assets that is capable of being conducted and
managed for the purpose of providing a return in the form of dividends, lower costs or
other economic benefits directly to investors or other owners, members or participants
acquisition date
The date on which the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree

acquirer
The entity that obtains control of the acquiree
acquiree
The business or businesses that the acquirer obtains control of in a business combination
Scope
IFRS 3 must be applied when accounting for business combinations, but does not apply to:
o

The formation of a joint venture* [IFRS 3.2(a)]

The acquisition of an asset or group of assets that is not a business, although general
guidance is provided on how such transactions should be accounted for [IFRS 3.2(b)]

Combinations of entities or businesses under common control (the IASB has a

separate agenda project on common control transactions) [IFRS 3.2(c)]

Acquisitions by an investment entity of a subsidiary that is required to be measured at

fair value through profit or loss under IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements.
[IFRS 3.2A]

* Annual Improvements to IFRSs 20112013 Cycle, effective for annual periods beginning on or
after 1 July 2014, amends this scope exclusion to clarify that is applies to the accounting for the
formation of a joint arrangement in the financial statements of the joint arrangement itself.
Determining whether a transaction is a business combination
IFRS 3 provides additional guidance on determining whether a transaction meets the definition of
a business combination, and so accounted for in accordance with its requirements. This guidance
includes:
o

Business combinations can occur in various ways, such as by transferring cash,

incurring liabilities, issuing equity instruments (or any combination thereof), or by not
issuing consideration at all (i.e. by contract alone) [IFRS 3.B5]

Business combinations can be structured in various ways to satisfy legal, taxation or

other objectives, including one entity becoming a subsidiary of another, the transfer of
net assets from one entity to another or to a new entity [IFRS 3.B6]

The business combination must involve the acquisition of a business, which generally
has three elements: [IFRS 3.B7]
o

Inputs an economic resource (e.g. non-current assets, intellectual

property) that creates outputs when one or more processes are applied to it

Process a system, standard, protocol, convention or rule that when

applied to an input or inputs, creates outputs (e.g. strategic management,
operational processes, resource management)

Output the result of inputs and processes applied to those inputs.

Method of accounting for business combinations

Acquisition method
The acquisition method (called the 'purchase method' in the 2004 version of IFRS 3) is used for
all business combinations. [IFRS 3.4]
Steps in applying the acquisition method are: [IFRS 3.5]
1.

Identification of the 'acquirer'

2.

Determination of the 'acquisition date'

3.

Recognition and measurement of the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed
and any non-controlling interest (NCI, formerly called minority interest) in the acquiree

4.

Recognition and measurement of goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase

Identifying an acquirer
The guidance in IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements is used to identify an acquirer in a
business combination, i.e. the entity that obtains 'control' of the acquiree. [IFRS 3.7]
If the guidance in IFRS 10 does not clearly indicate which of the combining entities is an acquirer,
IFRS 3 provides additional guidance which is then considered:
o

The acquirer is usually the entity that transfers cash or other assets where the
business combination is effected in this manner [IFRS 3.B14]

The acquirer is usually, but not always, the entity issuing equity interests where the
transaction is effected in this manner, however the entity also considers other pertinent
facts and circumstances including: [IFRS 3.B15]
o

relative voting rights in the combined entity after the business combination

the existence of any large minority interest if no other owner or group of

owners has a significant voting interest

the composition of the governing body and senior management of the

combined entity

o
o

the terms on which equity interests are exchanged

The acquirer is usually the entity with the largest relative size (assets, revenues or
profit) [IFRS 3.B16]

For business combinations involving multiple entities, consideration is given to the

entity initiating the combination, and the relative sizes of the combining entities. [IFRS
3.B17]

Acquisition date
An acquirer considers all pertinent facts and circumstances when determining the acquisition
date, i.e. the date on which it obtains control of the acquiree. The ac quisition date may be a date
that is earlier or later than the closing date. [IFRS 3.8-9]
IFRS 3 does not provide detailed guidance on the determination of the acquisition date and
the date identified should reflect all relevant facts and circumstances. Considerations might
include, among others, the date a public offer becomes unconditional (with a controlling

interest acquired), when the acquirer can effect change in the board of directors of the
acquiree, the date of acceptance of an unconditional offer, when the acquirer starts directing
the acquiree's operating and financing policies, or the date competition or other authorities
provide necessarily clearances.

Acquired assets and liabilities

IFRS 3 establishes the following principles in relation to the recognition and measurement of
items arising in a business combination:
Recognition principle. Identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and non-con-

trolling interests in the acquiree, are recognised separately from goodwill [IFRS 3.10]
Measurement principle. All assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business

combination are measured at acquisition-date fair value. [IFRS 3.18]

Exceptions to the recognition and measurement principles
The following exceptions to the above principles apply:
o

Contingent liabilities the requirements of IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets do not apply to the recognition of contingent liabilities arising in a business combination [IFRS 3.22-23]

Income taxes the recognition and measurement of income taxes is in accordance with IAS 12 Income Taxes [IFRS 3.24-25]

Employee benefits assets and liabilities arising from an acquiree's employee

benefits arrangements are recognised and measured in accordance with IAS
19 Employee Benefits (2011) [IFRS 2.26]

Indemnification assets - an acquirer recognises indemnification assets at the

same time and on the same basis as the indemnified item [IFRS 3.27-28]

Reacquired rights the measurement of reacquired rights is by reference to the

remaining contractual term without renewals [IFRS 3.29]

Share-based payment transactions - these are measured by reference to the

method in IFRS 2 Share-based Payment

Assets held for sale IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations is applied in measuring acquired non-current assets and disposal
groups classified as held for sale at the acquisition date.

In applying the principles, an acquirer classifies and designates assets acquired and liabilities
assumed on the basis of the contractual terms, economic conditions, operating and accounting
policies and other pertinent conditions existing at the acquisition date. For example, this might
include the identification of derivative financial instruments as hedging instruments, or the separation of embedded derivatives from host contracts.[IFRS 3.15] However, exceptions are made for
lease classification (between operating and finance leases) and the classification of contracts as
insurance contracts, which are classified on the basis of conditions in place at the inception of the
contract. [IFRS 3.17]

Acquired intangible assets must be recognised and measured at fair value in accordance with the
principles if it is separable or arises from other contractual rights, irrespective of whether the
acquiree had recognised the asset prior to the business combination occurring. This is because
there is always sufficient information to reliably measure the fair value of these assets. [IAS
38.33-37] There is no 'reliable measurement' exception for such assets, as was present under
IFRS 3 (2004).
Goodwill
Goodwill is measured as the difference between:
o

the aggregate of (i) the value of the consideration transferred (generally at fair value),
(ii) the amount of any non-controlling interest (NCI, see below), and (iii) in a business
combination achieved in stages (see below), the acquisition-date fair value of the
acquirer's previously-held equity interest in the acquiree, and

the net of the acquisition-date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed (measured in accordance with IFRS 3). [IFRS 3.32]

This can be written in simplified equation form as follows:

Goodwil
l

Consideration transferred

Amount of noncontrolling
interests

Fair
value
of
previous
equity
interests

Net assets
recognised

If the difference above is negative, the resulting gain is a bargain purchase in profit or loss, which
may arise in circumstances such as a forced seller acting under compulsion. [IFRS 3.34-35]
However, before any bargain purchase gain is recognised in profit or loss, the acquirer is required
to undertake a review to ensure the identification of assets and liabilities is complete, and that
measurements appropriately reflect consideration of all available information. [IFRS 3.36]
Choice in the measurement of non-controlling interests (NCI)
IFRS 3 allows an accounting policy choice, available on a transaction by transaction basis, to
measure non-controlling interests (NCI) either at: [IFRS 3.19]
o

fair value (sometimes called the full goodwill method), or

the NCI's proportionate share of net assets of the acquiree.

The choice in accounting policy applies only to present ownership interests in the acquiree that
entitle holders to a proportionate share of the entity's net assets in the event of a liquidation (e.g.
outside holdings of an acquiree's ordinary shares). Other components of non-controlling interests
at must be measured at acquisition date fair values or in accordance with other applicable IFRSs
(e.g. share-based payment transactions accounted for under IFRS 2 Share-based Payment).
[IFRS 3.19]
Example
P pays 800 to acquire an 80% interest in the ordinary shares of S. The aggregated fair value
of 100% of S's identifiable assets and liabilities (determined in accordance with the require-

ments of IFRS 3) is 600, and the fair value of the non-con trolling interest (the remaining
20% holding of ordinary shares) is 185.
The measurement of the non-controlling interest, and its resultant impacts on the determination of goodwill, under each option is illustrated below:
NCI
based
fair value

on

NCI
based
net assets

Consideration transferred

800

800

Non-controlling interest

185 (1)

120 (2)

985

920

Net assets

(600)

(600)

Goodwill

385

320

on

(1) The fair value of the 20% non-controlling interest in S will not necessarily be proportionate to the price paid by P for its 80% interest, primarily due to any control premium or
discount [IFRS 3.B45]
(2) Calculated as 20% of the fair value of the net assets of 600.

Business combination achieved in stages (step acquisitions)

Prior to control being obtained, an acquirer accounts for its investment in the equity interests of
an acquiree in accordance with the nature of the investment by applying the relevant standard,
e.g. IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (2011), IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements, IAS 39Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement or IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. As part of accounting for the business combination, the acquirer remeasures any previously held interest at fair value and takes this amount into account in the de termination of
goodwill as noted above [IFRS 3.32] Any resultant gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss or
other comprehensive income as appropriate. [IFRS 3.42]
The accounting treatment of an entity's pre-combination interest in an acquiree is consistent with
the view that the obtaining of control is a significant economic event that triggers a remeasurement. Consistent with this view, all of the assets and liabilities of the acquiree are fully remeasured in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 3 (generally at fair value). Accordingly, the determination of goodwill occurs only at the acquisition date. This is different to the accounting for
step acquisitions under IFRS 3(2004).
Measurement period
If the initial accounting for a business combination can be determined only provisionally by the
end of the first reporting period, the business combination is accounted for using provisional
amounts. Adjustments to provisional amounts, and the recognition of newly identified asset and liabilities, must be made within the 'measurement period' where they reflect new information
obtained about facts and circumstances that were in existence at the acquisition date. [IFRS 3.45]
The measurement period cannot exceed one year from the acquisition date and no adjustments
are permitted after one year except to correct an error in accordance with IAS 8. [IFRS 3.50]
Related transactions and subsequent accounting

General principles
In general:
o

transactions that are not part of what the acquirer and acquiree (or its former owners)
exchanged in the business combination are identified and accounted for separately
from business combination

the recognition and measurement of assets and liabilities arising in a business combination after the initial accounting for the business combination is dealt with under other
relevant standards, e.g. acquired inventory is subsequently accounted under IAS 2 In-

ventories. [IFRS 3.54]

When determining whether a particular item is part of the exchange for the acquiree or whether it
is separate from the business combination, an acquirer considers the reason for the transaction,
who initiated the transaction and the timing of the transaction. [IFRS 3.B50]
Contingent consideration
Contingent consideration must be measured at fair value at the time of the business combination
and is taken into account in the determination of goodwill. If the amount of contingent consideration changes as a result of a post-acquisition event (such as meeting an earnings target),
accounting for the change in consideration depends on whether the additional consideration is
classified as an equity instrument or an asset or liability: [IFRS 3.58]
o

If the contingent consideration is classified as an equity instrument, the original amount

is not remeasured

If the additional consideration is classified as an asset or liability that is a financial instrument, the contingent consideration is measured at fair value and gains and losses
are recognised in either profit or loss or other comprehensive income in accordance
with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments or IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and
Measurement

If the additional consideration is not within the scope of IFRS 9 (or IAS 39), it is
accounted for in accordance with IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets or other IFRSs as appropriate.

Note: Annual Improvements to IFRSs 20102012 Cycle changes these requirements for business
combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after 1 July 2014. Under the amended requirements, contingent consideration that is classified as an asset or liability is measured at fair
value at each reporting date and changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, both for
contingent consideration that is within the scope of IFRS 9/IAS 39 or otherwise.
Where a change in the fair value of contingent consideration is the result of additional information
about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date, these changes are accounted
for as measurement period adjustments if they arise during the measurement period (see above).
[IFRS 3.58]
Acquisition costs
Costs of issuing debt or equity instruments are accounted for under IAS 32Financial Instruments:
Presentation and IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement/IFRS 9 Financial
Instruments. All other costs associated with an acquisition must be expensed, including reim-

bursements to the acquiree for bearing some of the acquisition costs. Examples of costs to be
expensed include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation and other professional or
consulting fees; and general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal
acquisitions department. [IFRS 3.53]
Pre-existing relationships and reacquired rights
If the acquirer and acquiree were parties to a pre-existing relationship (for instance, the acquirer
had granted the acquiree a right to use its intellectual property), this must must be accounted for
separately from the business combination. In most cases, this will lead to the recognition of a gain
or loss for the amount of the consideration transferred to the vendor which effectively represents
a 'settlement' of the pre-existing relationship. The amount of the gain or loss is measured as
follows:
o

for pre-existing non-contractual relationships (for example, a lawsuit): by reference to

fair value

for pre-existing contractual relationships: at the lesser of (a) the favourable/unfavourable contract position and (b) any stated settlement provisions in the contract
available to the counterparty to whom the contract is unfavourable. [IFRS 3.B51-53]

However, where the transaction effectively represents a reacquired right, an intangible asset is
recognised and measured on the basis of the remaining contractual term of the related contract
excluding any renewals. The asset is then subsequently amortised over the remaining contractual
term, again excluding any renewals. [IFRS 3.55]
Contingent liabilities
Until a contingent liability is settled, cancelled or expired, a contingent liability that was recognised
in the initial accounting for a business combination is measured at the higher of the amount the
liability would be recognised under IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent
Assets, and the amount less accumulated amortisation under IAS 18 Revenue. [IFRS 3.56]
Contingent payments to employees and shareholders
As part of a business combination, an acquirer may enter into arrangements with selling shareholders or employees. In determining whether such arrangements are part of the business combination or accounted for separately, the acquirer considers a number of factors, including whether
the arrangement requires continuing employment (and if so, its term), the level or remuneration
compared to other employees, whether payments to shareholder employees are incremental to
non-employee shareholders, the relative number of shares owns, linkages to valuation of the
acquiree, how the consideration is calculated, and other agreements and issues. [IFRS 3.B55]
Where share-based payment arrangements of the acquiree exist and are replaced, the value of
such awards must be apportioned between pre-combination and post-combination service and
accounted for accordingly. [IFRS 3.B56-B62B]
Indemnification assets
Indemnification assets recognised at the acquisition date (under the exceptions to the general
recognition and measurement principles noted above) are subsequently measured on the same
basis of the indemnified liability or asset, subject to contractual impacts and collectibility. Indemnification assets are only derecognised when collected, sold or when rights to it are lost. [IFRS
3.57]
Other issues
In addition, IFRS 3 provides guidance on some specific aspects of business com binations
including:
o

business combinations achieved without the transfer of consideration, e.g. 'dual listed'
and 'stapled' arrangements [IFRS 3.43-44]

reverse acquisitions [IFRS 3.B19]

identifying intangible assets acquired [IFRS 3.B31-34]

Disclosure
Disclosure of information about current business combinations
An acquirer is required to disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to
evaluate the nature and financial effect of a business combination that occurs either during the
current reporting period or after the end of the period but before the financial statements are authorised for issue. [IFRS 3.59]
Among the disclosures required to meet the foregoing objective are the following: [IFRS 3.B64B66]
o

name and a description of the acquiree

acquisition date

percentage of voting equity interests acquired

primary reasons for the business combination and a description of how the acquirer
obtained control of the acquiree

description of the factors that make up the goodwill recognised

qualitative description of the factors that make up the goodwill recognised, such as
expected synergies from combining operations, intangible assets that do not qualify for
separate recognition

acquisition-date fair value of the total consideration transferred and the acquisitiondate fair value of each major class of consideration

details of contingent consideration arrangements and indemnification assets

details of acquired receivables

the amounts recognised as of the acquisition date for each major class of assets
acquired and liabilities assumed

details of contingent liabilities recognised

total amount of goodwill that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes

details about any transactions that are recognised separately from the acquisition of
assets and assumption of liabilities in the business combination

information about a bargain purchase

information about the measurement of non-controlling interests

details about a business combination achieved in stages

information about the acquiree's revenue and profit or loss

information about a business combination whose acquisition date is after the end of
the reporting period but before the financial statements are authorised for issue

o
Disclosure of information about adjustments of past business combinations
An acquirer is required to disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to
evaluate the financial effects of adjustments recognised in the current reporting period that relate
to business combinations that occurred in the period or previous reporting periods. [IFRS 3.61]
Among the disclosures required to meet the foregoing objective are the following: [IFRS 3.B67]
o

details when the initial accounting for a business combination is incomplete for particular assets, liabilities, non-controlling interests or items of consideration (and the
amounts recognised in the financial statements for the business combination thus have
been determined only provisionally)

follow-up information on contingent consideration

follow-up information about contingent liabilities recognised in a business combination

a reconciliation of the carrying amount of goodwill at the beginning and end of the
reporting period, with various details shown separately

the amount and an explanation of any gain or loss recognised in the current reporting
period that both:
o

relates to the identifiable assets acquired or liabilities assumed in a

business combination that was effected in the current or previous reporting
period, and

is of such a size, nature or incidence that disclosure is relevant to understanding the combined entity's financial statements.

Deloitte guide to IFRS 3 and IAS 27

In July 2008, the Deloitte IFRS Global Office has published Business Combinations
and Changes in Ownership Interests: A Guide to the Revised IFRS 3 and IAS 27 . This
164-page guide deals mainly with accounting for business combinations under IFRS
3(2008). Where appropriate, it deals with related requirements of IAS 27(2008) particularly as regards the definition of control, accounting for non-controlling interests,
and changes in ownership interests. Other aspects of IAS 27 (such as the requirements to prepare consolidated financial statements and detailed procedures for consolidation) are not addressed.
o

Click to download the new Guide to IFRS 3 and IAS 27(PDF 647k).

Overview of differences between IFRS 3 (2008) and IFRS 3 (2004)

The table below summarises some of key differences in accounting for business combinations
under IFRS 3 (2008) and IFRS 3 (2004). The table is not exhaustive.

Area

High-level overview of changes

Transaction costs

acquisition costs such as advisers fees,

stamp duty and similar costs cannot be
included in the measurement of goodwill

Calculation of goodwill

pre-existing

ownership

interests

are

measured fair valued at acquisition date

o

option to measure non-controlling interests

on the basis of fair value or net assets
(transaction by transaction)

Contingent consideration (e.g.

earn-outs)

fair value accounting at the acquisition date

subsequent changes do not impact goodwill

but are accounted for separately

Transactions arising in conjunction with business combinations

new detailed guidance on the split between

compensation and consideration for replacement share-based payment awards

settlement

of

pre-existing

relationships

(contracts, legal cases, etc.) can result in a

gain/loss
o

unrecognised deferred taxes no longer

impact goodwill on subsequent measurement

Recognition and measurement

'reliable measurement' exclusion for intangible assets removed

new guidance on indemnification assets and

assets not expected to be used

Changes
in
interests
(see IFRS 10)

ownership

buying or selling minority interests in a subsidiary only impacts equity

loss of control requires fair valuing of

retained holding and recycling of reserves