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IASB Snapshot – IFRS® Standards Discussion Paper, Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment

March 27, 2020 International Activity

Summary

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is carrying out research to investigate how companies can provide users of financial statements with better information about business combinations at a reasonable cost. This includes investigating possible improvements to IFRS 3 Business Combinations and IAS 36 Impairment of Assets.

The IASB’s preliminary views on these improvements are included in its Discussion Paper, Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment published on March 19, 2020.

Staff Contact(s)

Jayshal Rajendra Daya, CPA, CA Principal, Accounting Standards Board

Challenging questions

The Discussion Paper investigates challenging questions, such as how companies should account for goodwill after the business combination.

It also investigates whether:

  • there are simplifications that can be made to the current impairment tests; and
  • additional information should be disclosed about the performance of an acquisition in the post-combination period.

Preliminary views

The IASB’s preliminary views presented in the Discussion Paper include the following: 

  • Better disclosures about business combinations should be required.  
  • The impairment test cannot be made more effective.
  • Amortization of goodwill should not be reintroduced. 
  • A requirement to present total equity before goodwill should be introduced.
  • Relief from the mandatory annual quantitative impairment test should be provided. 
  • Improvements to the value in use calculation should be introduced. 
  • Identifiable intangible assets should continue to be recognized separately from goodwill. 

Have your say

Have your say on this Discussion Paper’s proposals through the following opportunities:

  • Respond directly to the IASB on this Discussion Paper by December 31, 2020.
  • Stay tuned! The AcSB will be hosting virtual roundtables in July and September 2020.

We value your input and look forward to your feedback on this Discussion Paper.

The AcSB considers your comments prior to finalizing its comment letter. We also share Canadian feedback with the IASB through our involvement in international activities.

We therefore also encourage you to share your views directly with the AcSB.

Stay informed

Follow the AcSB’s project page for updates.

IASB Snapshot – IFRS® Standards Discussion Paper, Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment

Learn about the changes recently proposed by reading the easy-to-understand overview of the IASB’s Discussion Paper, Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment.