The Accounting of Consolidation Differences in the European Accounting Practice

Abstract

This paper aims at recognising the accounting methods for consolidation differences in the IAS/IFRS consolidated financial statements actually utilised by the major parent-companies listed on regulated markets in the lead EU Countries. To this end, first of all the accounting criteria for positive and negative consolidation differences in the consolidated financial statements established by IFRS 3 have been recognised. Then, a sample of No. 250 parent-companies listed on regulated European markets and that prepare their consolidated financial statements in accordance with IAS/IFRS has been selected, in order to ascertain the effective accounting methods commonly used by European business practice. Finally, some aspects of special interest that emerged from the results of the empirical survey will be analysed, together with some questions that the same results have produced.