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Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment

Description

Project History

 
The objective of this IASB research project is to consider how to address issues reported during its Post Implementation Review of IFRS 3 Business Combinations (PIR).

​During the course of the project, the IASB considered a number of ways to address the 'too little too late' goodwill impairment issue, and how it could improve the disclosures for business combinations. Some argue that one of the causes of the delayed recognition of goodwill impairment is the shielding effect created by internally generated goodwill and other factors. Another potential cause is that the impairment test does not directly measure the recoverable amount of the goodwill. To address these concerns, the IASB developed the headroom approach; however, the approach was considered overly complex and not explored further by the IASB.

After concluding that it would not be possible to make the impairment test significantly more effective, the IASB decided to refocus the objectives of the project as follows: 
  1. Objective A - Exploring whether to simplify the accounting for goodwill by permitting an indicator-only approach to determine when an impairment test is required; and/or reintroducing amortisation of goodwill;
  2. Objective B - Exploring whether to improve the calculation of value in use by permitting cash flow projections to include future restructurings and future enhancements to an asset; and the use of post-tax inputs in the calculation of value in use; and
  3. Objective C - Identifying disclosures to enable investors to assess management's rationale for the business combination; and whether the subsequent performance of the acquired business, or combined business, meets expectations set at the acquisition date.
At its meeting in June 2019, the IASB reached preliminary views on the project objectives mentioned above.  

 
In July 2019 the FASB issued an Invitation to Comment (ITC) on Identifiable Intangible Assets and Subsequent Accounting for Goodwill.  The FASB ITC considered similar issues to those being considered in the project. 

 
Recent developments

The IASB issued it Discussion Paper 2020/1 Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment on 19 March 2020 (the 'DP').

On 29 May 2020, EFRAG has published its draft comment letter in response to the IASB's DP 2020/1 Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment and seeks constituents' views on the proposals. Comments on the draft comment letter are requested by 30 November 2020.

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