IAS 28 and IFRS 3 — Associates and common control

Date recorded:

Issue

In October 2012, the Interpretations Committee received a request seeking clarification of the accounting for an acquisition of an interest in an associate or joint venture from an entity under common control. The submitter’s question was whether it is appropriate to apply the scope exemption for business combinations under common control, which is set out in IFRS 3 Business Combinations, by analogy to the acquisition of an interest in an associate or joint venture under common control.

 

Decision not to add

May 2013

 

Reason

The Interpretations Committee observed that paragraph 32 of IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures has guidance on the acquisition of an interest in an associate or joint venture and does not distinguish between acquisition of an investment under common control and acquisition of an investment from an entity that is not under common control. The Interpretations Committee also observed that paragraph 10 of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors requires management to use its judgement in developing and applying an accounting policy only in the absence of a Standard that specifically applies to a transaction.

The Interpretations Committee also observed that paragraph 26 of IAS 28 states that many of the procedures that are appropriate for the application of the equity method are similar to the consolidation procedures described in IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements. That paragraph further states that the concepts underlying the procedures used in accounting for the acquisition of a subsidiary are also adopted in accounting for the acquisition of an investment in an associate or a joint venture. The Interpretations Committee also observed that paragraph 2(c) of IFRS 3 states that IFRS 3 does not apply to a combination of entities or businesses under common control. The Interpretations Committee observed that some might read these paragraphs as contradicting the guidance in paragraph 32 of IAS 28, and so potentially leading to a lack of clarity.

The Interpretations Committee was specifically concerned that this lack of clarity has led to diversity in practice for the accounting of the acquisition of an interest in an associate or joint venture under common control.

The Interpretations Committee noted that accounting for the acquisition of an interest in an associate or joint venture under common control would be better considered within the context of broader projects on accounting for business combinations under common control and the equity method of accounting. The Interpretations Committee also noted that the IASB, in its May 2012 meeting, added a project on accounting for business combinations under common control as one of the priority research projects as well as a project on the equity method of accounting as one of the research activities to its future agenda. Consequently, the Interpretations Committee decided not to take this issue onto its agenda.

 

IFRIC reference:

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