Issue
The Interpretations Committee received requests for guidance on how to account for transactions in which the former shareholders of a non-listed operating entity become the majority shareholders of the combined entity by exchanging their shares for new shares of a listed non-operating entity. However, the transaction is structured such that the listed non-operating entity acquires the entire share capital of the non-listed operating entity.
Decision not to add
March 2013
Reason
In the absence of a Standard that specifically applies to this transaction the Interpretations Committee observed that the analysed transaction has some features of a reverse acquisition under IFRS 3 Business Combinations because the former shareholders of the legal subsidiary obtain control of the legal parent. Consequently, it is appropriate to apply by analogy, in accordance with paragraphs 10–12 of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Estimates and Errors, the guidance in paragraphs B19–B27 of IFRS 3 for reverse acquisitions. Application of the reverse acquisitions guidance by analogy results in the non-listed operating entity being identified as the accounting acquirer, and the listed non-operating entity being identified as the accounting acquiree. The Interpretations Committee noted that in applying the reverse acquisition guidance in paragraph B20 of IFRS 3 by analogy, the accounting acquirer is deemed to have issued shares to obtain control of the acquiree.
If the listed non-operating entity qualifies as a business on the basis of the guidance in paragraph B7 of IFRS 3, IFRS 3 would be applicable to the transaction. However, if the listed non-operating entity is not a business, the transaction is not a business combinations and is therefore not within the scope of IFRS 3. Because the analysed transaction is not within the scope of IFRS 3, the Interpretations Committee noted that it is therefore a share-based payment transaction which should be accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payment.
The Interpretations Committee observed that on the basis of the guidance in paragraph 13A of IFRS 2, any difference in the fair value of the shares deemed to have been issued by the accounting acquirer and the fair value of the accounting acquiree’s identifiable net assets represents a service received by the accounting acquirer. The Interpretations Committee concluded that, regardless of the level of monetary or non-monetary assets owned by the non-listed operating entity, the entire difference should be considered to be payment for a service of a stock exchange listing for its shares, and that no amount should be considered a cost of raising capital. The Interpretations Committee observed that the service received in the form of a stock exchange listing does not meet the definition of an intangible asset because it is not “identifiable” in accordance with paragraph 12 of IAS 38 Intangible Assets (i.e. it is not separable). The service received also does not meet the definition of an asset that should be recognised in accordance with other Standards and the Conceptual Framework.
The Interpretations Committee also observed that on the basis of the guidance in paragraph 8 of IFRS 2 which states that “when the goods or services received or acquired in a share-based payment transaction do not qualify for recognition as assets, they shall be recognised as expenses”, the cost of the service received is recognised as an expense.
On the basis of the analysis above, the Interpretations Committee determined that, in the light of the existing IFRS requirements, neither an interpretation nor an amendment to Standards was necessary and consequently decided not to add this issue to its agenda.
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