Metody rozliczania w księgach rachunkowych transakcji fuzji i przejęć spółek kapitałowych

Considering mergers and acquisitions various issues have to be discussed. Among others they cover economics, legal, social, tax and accounting aspects. The main aim of this paper is to introduce the elementary principles of accounting for mergers and acquisitions. The basis for this study is law regulation provided by the act on accounting amended in November 9, 2000 and Commercial Code. These regulations apply to mergers and acquisitions of companies being subject of Commercial Code as well as acquiring a separate part of another entity. The act on accounting provides for two methods of accounting of business combinations: pooling of interests method and purchase method. These methods are not alternatives to each other. Application of any of them depends on certain conditions. The basic one is whether the acquiring company can be identified or not. The business combination in which neither party can be identified as the acquirer have to be accounted for by pooling of interests method. The business combination in which one of the enterprises (the acquirer) obtains control over the net assets and operations of the other (the acquiree) must be accounted for by purchase method.