Pooling of Interests
Definition
A historical method of accounting for business combinations in which the assets and liabilities of the combining entities were carried forward at their existing book values rather than being restated to fair value. Pooling of interests was prohibited by IFRS 3 (2004) and SFAS 141 (2001, now ASC 805) in favour of the acquisition method, which requires fair value measurement of all identifiable assets and liabilities. The method is still referenced in historical financial analysis and academic literature.
Complementary Terms
Concepts that frequently appear alongside Pooling of Interests in practice.
The required accounting method for business combinations under IFRS 3 and ASC 805, which involves identifying the acquirer, determining the acquisition date, recognising and measuring the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value, and recognising goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase. The acquisition method replaced the previously permitted pooling of interests method and ensures that all identifiable intangible assets are separately recognised at fair value on the acquirer's balance sheet.
The excess of the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired over the purchase consideration in a business combination, now termed a bargain purchase gain under current standards. Under IFRS 3, negative goodwill is recognised immediately in profit or loss after the acquirer reassesses the identification and measurement of all assets and liabilities.
The period following a business combination during which the acquirer may adjust the provisional amounts recognised at the acquisition date as new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed at that date. Under IFRS 3 and ASC 805, the measurement period cannot exceed 12 months from the acquisition date.
A valuation approach that estimates the value of a business by adjusting the book values of all assets and liabilities to their fair values, including the recognition of off-balance-sheet intangible assets that meet IFRS 3 or ASC 805 recognition criteria. The adjusted net asset method is primarily used for asset-holding companies, investment vehicles, and businesses where value resides primarily in the asset base rather than earnings capacity.
An initial estimate recognised in a purchase price allocation when the accounting for a business combination is incomplete at the end of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurs. Under IFRS 3 and ASC 805, the acquirer has a measurement period of up to 12 months from the acquisition date to finalise the fair values of identifiable assets, liabilities, and consideration.
The equity in a subsidiary not attributable to the parent company, representing the ownership stake held by minority shareholders. Under IFRS 3, the acquirer chooses for each business combination to measure the NCI either at fair value (which results in full goodwill) or at its proportionate share of the acquiree's identifiable net assets (which results in partial goodwill).
A business combination in which the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired exceeds the consideration transferred, resulting in a gain rather than goodwill. Under IFRS 3 and ASC 805, the acquirer must reassess whether all assets and liabilities have been correctly identified and measured before recognising a bargain purchase gain in profit or loss.
The US GAAP standard on lease accounting that, like IFRS 16, requires lessees to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for most leases. ASC 842 retains a distinction between operating leases (straight-line expense) and finance leases (front-loaded expense) on the income statement, unlike IFRS 16 which treats all leases similarly.
Further Reading
A potential obligation arising from past events whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the entity's control, or a present obligation where payment is not probable or the amount cannot be reliably measured.
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