International Accounting Standard (IAS) 27 «Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements»

CONTENTS

paragraphs

INTRODUCTION

IN1-IN14

INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARD 27

CONSOLIDATED AND SEPARATE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SCOPE

1-3

DEFINITIONS

4-8

PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9-11

SCOPE OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12-21

CONSOLIDATION PROCEDURES

22-36

ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES, JOINTLY

CONTROLLED ENTITIES AND ASSOCIATES IN SEPARATE FINANCIAL

STATEMENTS

37-39

DISCLOSURE

40-42

EFFECTIVE DATE

43

WITHDRAWAL OF OTHER PRONOUNCEMENTS

44-45

APPENDIX

Amendments to other pronouncements

APPROVAL OF IAS 27 BY THE BOARD

BASIS FOR CONCLUSIONS

DISSENTING OPINION

IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE

International Accounting Standard 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (IAS 27) is set out in paragraphs 1-45 and the Appendix. All the paragraphs have equal authority but retain the IASC format of the Standard when it was adopted by the IASB. IAS 27 should be read in the context of the Basis for Conclusions, the Preface to International Financial Reporting Standards and the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements. IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors provides a basis for selecting and applying accounting policies in the absence of explicit guidance.

Introduction

IN1

International Accounting Standard 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (IAS 27) replaces IAS 27 (revised 2000) Consolidated Financial Statements and Accounting for Investments in Subsidiaries and should be applied for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005. Earlier application is encouraged. The Standard also replaces SIC-33 Consolidation and Equity Method - Potential Voting Rights and Allocation of Ownership Interests.

Reasons for revising IAS 27

IN2

The International Accounting Standards Board developed this revised IAS 27 as part of its project on Improvements to International Accounting Standards. The project was undertaken in the light of queries and criticisms raised in relation to the Standards by securities regulators, professional accountants and other interested parties. The objectives of the project were to reduce or eliminate alternatives, redundancies and conflicts within the Standards, to deal with some convergence issues and to make other improvements.

IN3

For IAS 27 the Board's main objective was to reduce alternatives in accounting for subsidiaries in consolidated financial statements and in accounting for investments in the separate financial statements of a parent, venturer or investor. The Board did not reconsider the fundamental approach to consolidation of subsidiaries contained in IAS 27.

The main changes

IN4

The main changes from the previous version of IAS 27 are described below.

Scope

IN5

The Standard applies to accounting for investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates in the separate financial statements of a parent, a venturer or investor. Therefore, the title of the Standard was amended as shown in paragraph IN1.

Exemptions from consolidating investments in subsidiaries

IN6

The Standard modifies the exemption from preparing consolidated financial statements. Paragraph 8 in the previous version of IAS 27 (now paragraph 10) was amended so that a parent need not present consolidated financial statements if:

(a)

the parent is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary, or the parent is a partially-owned subsidiary of another entity and its other owners, including those not otherwise entitled to vote, have been informed about, and do not object to, the parent not preparing consolidated financial statements;

(b)

the parent's debt or equity instruments are not traded in a public market (a domestic or foreign stock exchange or an over-the-counter market, including local and regional markets);

(c)

the parent did not file, nor is it in the process of filing, its financial statements with a securities commission or other regulatory organisation for the purpose of issuing any class of instruments in a public market; and

(d)

the ultimate or any intermediate parent of the parent produces consolidated financial statements available for public use that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards.

The Standard clarifies the requirements for a parent exempted from preparing consolidated financial statements when the parent elects, or is required by local regulations, to present separate financial statements (see paragraphs IN13 and IN14).

Temporary control

IN7

The Standard does not require consolidation of a subsidiary acquired when there is evidence that control is intended to be temporary. However, there must be evidence that the subsidiary is acquired with the intention to dispose of it within twelve months and that management is actively seeking a buyer. In addition, the words 'in the near future' were replaced with the words 'within twelve months'. When a subsidiary previously excluded from consolidation is not disposed of within twelve months it must be consolidated as from the date of acquisition unless narrowly specified circumstances apply.^*

IN8

The Standard stipulates that the requirement to consolidate investments in subsidiaries applies to venture capital organisations, mutual funds, unit trusts and similar entities. This was added for clarification.

IN9

An entity is not permitted to exclude from consolidation an entity it continues to control simply because that entity is operating under severe long-term restrictions that significantly impair its ability to transfer funds to the parent. Control must be lost for exclusion to occur.

Consolidation procedures

Potential voting rights

IN10

The Standard requires an entity to consider the existence and effect of potential voting rights currently exercisable or convertible when assessing whether it has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of another entity. This requirement was previously included in SIC-33, which has been superseded.

Accounting policies

IN11

The Standard requires an entity to use uniform accounting policies for reporting like transactions and other events in similar circumstances. The previous version of IAS 27 provided an exception to this requirement when it was 'not practicable to use uniform accounting policies'.

Minority interests

IN12

This Standard requires an entity to present minority interests in the consolidated balance sheet within equity, separately from the parent shareholders' equity. Though the previous version of IAS 27 precluded presentation of minority interests within liabilities, it did not require presentation within equity.

Separate financial statements

IN13

The Standard prescribes the accounting treatment for investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates when an entity elects, or is required by local regulations, to present separate financial statements. It requires these investments to be accounted for at cost or in accordance with IAS 39

Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

IN14

The Standard retains an alternative for accounting for these investments in an investor's separate financial statements.

International Accounting Standard 27

Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements

Scope

l

This Standard shall be applied in the preparation and presentation of consolidated financial statements for a group of entities under the control of a parent.

2

This Standard does not deal with methods of accounting for business combinations and their effects on consolidation, including goodwill arising on a business combination (see IFRS 3 Business Combinations).

3

This Standard shall also be applied in accounting for investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates when an entity elects, or is required by local regulations, to present separate financial statements.

Definitions

4

The following terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified:

Consolidated financial statements are the financial statements of a group presented as those of a single economic entity.

Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

The cost method is a method of accounting for an investment whereby the investment is recognised at cost. The investor recognises income from the investment only to the extent that the investor receives distributions from accumulated profits of the investee arising after the date of acquisition. Distributions received in excess of such profits are regarded as a recovery of investment and are recognised as a reduction of the cost of the investment.

A group is a parent and all its subsidiaries.

Minority interest is that portion of the profit or loss and net assets of a subsidiary attributable to equity interests that are not owned, directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, by the parent.

A parent is an entity that has one or more subsidiaries.

Separate financial statements are those presented by a parent, an investor in an associate or a venturer in a jointly controlled entity, in which the investments are accounted for on the basis of the direct equity interest rather than on the basis of the reported results and net assets of the investees.

A subsidiary is an entity, including an unincorporated entity such as a partnership, that is controlled by another entity (known as the parent).

5

A parent or its subsidiary may be an investor in an associate or a venturer in a jointly controlled entity. In such cases, consolidated financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with this Standard are also prepared so as to comply with IAS 28 Investments in Associates and IAS 31 Interests in Joint Ventures.

6

For an entity described in paragraph 5, separate financial statements are those prepared and presented in addition to the financial statements referred to in paragraph 5. Separate financial statements need not be appended to, or accompany, those statements.

7

The financial statements of an entity that does not have a subsidiary, associate or venturer's interest in a jointly controlled entity are not separate financial statements.

8

A parent that is exempted in accordance with paragraph 10 from presenting consolidated financial statements may present separate financial statements as its only financial statements.

Presentation of consolidated financial statements

9

A parent, other than a parent described in paragraph 10, shall present consolidated financial statements in which it consolidates its investments in subsidiaries in accordance with this Standard.

10

A parent need not present consolidated financial statements if and only if:

(a)

the parent is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary, or is a partially-owned subsidiary of another entity and its other owners, including those not otherwise entitled to vote, have been informed about, and do not object to, the parent not presenting consolidated financial statements;

(b)

the parent's debt or equity instruments are not traded in a public market (a domestic or foreign stock exchange or an over-the-counter market, including local and regional markets);

(c)

the parent did not file, nor is it in the process of filing, its financial statements with a securities commission or other regulatory organisation for the purpose of issuing any class of instruments in a public market; and

(d)

the ultimate or any intermediate parent of the parent produces consolidated financial statements available for public use that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards.

11

A parent that elects in accordance with paragraph 10 not to present consolidated financial statements, and presents only separate financial statements, complies with paragraphs 37-42.

Scope of consolidated financial statements

12

Consolidated financial statements shall include all subsidiaries of the parent.^*

13

Control is presumed to exist when the parent owns, directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, more than half of the voting power of an entity unless, in exceptional circumstances, it can be clearly demonstrated that such ownership does not constitute control. Control also exists when the parent owns half or less of the voting power of an entity when there is:^*

(a)

power over more than half of the voting rights by virtue of an agreement with other investors;

(b)

power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity under a statute or an agreement;

(c)

power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body and control of the entity is by that board or body; or

(d)

power to cast the majority of votes at meetings of the board of directors or equivalent governing body and control of the entity is by that board or body.

14

An entity may own share warrants, share call options, debt or equity instruments that are convertible into ordinary shares, or other similar instruments that have the potential, if exercised or converted, to give the entity voting power or reduce another party's voting power over the financial and operating policies of another entity (potential voting rights). The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible, including potential voting rights held by another entity, are considered when assessing whether an entity has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of another entity. Potential voting rights are not currently exercisable or convertible when, for example, they cannot be exercised or converted until a future date or until the occurrence of a future event.

15

In assessing whether potential voting rights contribute to control, the entity examines all facts and circumstances (including the terms of exercise of the potential voting rights and any other contractual arrangements whether considered individually or in combination) that affect potential voting rights, except the intention of management and the financial ability to exercise or convert.

16

[Deleted]

17

[Deleted]

18

[Deleted]

19

A subsidiary is not excluded from consolidation simply because the investor is a venture capital organisation, mutual fund, unit trust or similar entity.

20

A subsidiary is not excluded from consolidation because its business activities are dissimilar from those of the other entities within the group. Relevant information is provided by consolidating such subsidiaries and disclosing additional information in the consolidated financial statements about the different business activities of subsidiaries. For example, the disclosures required by IAS 14 Segment Reporting help to explain the significance of different business activities within the group.

21

A parent loses control when it loses the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an investee so as to obtain benefit from its activities. The loss of control can occur with or without a change in absolute or relative ownership levels. It could occur, for example, when a subsidiary becomes subject to the control of a government, court, administrator or regulator. It could also occur as a result of a contractual agreement.

Consolidation procedures

22

In preparing consolidated financial statements, an entity combines the financial statements of the parent and its subsidiaries line by line by adding together like items of assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses. In order that the consolidated financial statements present financial information about the group as that of a single economic entity, the following steps are then taken:

(a)

the carrying amount of the parent's investment in each subsidiary and the parent's portion of equity of each subsidiary are eliminated (see IFRS 3, which describes the treatment of any resultant goodwill);

(b)

minority interests in the profit or loss of consolidated subsidiaries for the reporting period are identified; and

(c)

minority interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the parent shareholders' equity in them. Minority interests in the net assets consist of:

(i)

the amount of those minority interests at the date of the original combination calculated in accordance with IFRS 3; and

(ii)

the minority's share of changes in equity since the date of the combination.

23

When potential voting rights exist, the proportions of profit or loss and changes in equity allocated to the parent and minority interests are determined on the basis of present ownership interests and do not reflect the possible exercise or conversion of potential voting rights.

24

Intragroup balances, transactions, income and expenses shall be eliminated in full.

25

Intragroup balances and transactions, including income, expenses and dividends, are eliminated in full. Profits and losses resulting from intragroup transactions that are recognised in assets, such as inventory and fixed assets, are eliminated in full. Intragroup losses may indicate an impairment that requires recognition in the consolidated financial statements. IAS 12 Income Taxes applies to temporary differences that arise from the elimination of profits and losses resulting from intragroup transactions.

26

The financial statements of the parent and its subsidiaries used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements shall be prepared as of the same reporting date. When the reporting dates of the parent and a subsidiary are different, the subsidiary prepares, for consolidation purposes, additional financial statements as of the same date as the financial statements of the parent unless it is impracticable to do so.

27

When, in accordance with paragraph 26, the financial statements of a subsidiary used in the preparation of consolidated financial statements are prepared as of a reporting date different from that of the parent, adjustments shall be made for the effects of significant transactions or events that occur between that date and the date of the parent's financial statements. In any case, the difference between the reporting date of the subsidiary and that of the parent shall be no more than three months. The length of the reporting periods and any difference in the reporting dates shall be the same from period to period.

28

Consolidated financial statements shall be prepared using uniform accounting policies for like transactions and other events in similar circumstances.

29

If a member of the group uses accounting policies other than those adopted in the consolidated financial statements for like transactions and events in similar circumstances, appropriate adjustments are made to its financial statements in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

30

The income and expenses of a subsidiary are included in the consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date as defined in IFRS 3. The income and expenses of a subsidiary are included in the consolidated financial statements until the date on which the parent ceases to control the subsidiary. The difference between the proceeds from the disposal of the subsidiary and its carrying amount as of the date of disposal, including the cumulative amount of any exchange differences that relate to the subsidiary recognised in equity in accordance with IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates, is recognised in the consolidated income statement as the gain or loss on the disposal of the subsidiary.

31

An investment in an entity shall be accounted for in accordance with IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement from the date that it ceases to be a subsidiary, provided that it does not become an associate as defined in IAS 28 or a jointly controlled entity as described in IAS 31.

32

The carrying amount of the investment at the date that the entity ceases to be a subsidiary shall be regarded as the cost on initial measurement of a financial asset in accordance with IAS 39.

33

Minority interests shall be presented in the consolidated balance sheet within equity, separately from the parent shareholders' equity. Minority interests in the profit or loss of the group shall also be separately disclosed.

34

The profit or loss is attributed to the parent shareholders and minority interests. Because both are equity, the amount attributed to minority interests is not income or expense.

35

Losses applicable to the minority in a consolidated subsidiary may exceed the minority interest in the subsidiary's equity. The excess, and any further losses applicable to the minority, are allocated against the majority interest except to the extent that the minority has a binding obligation and is able to make an additional investment to cover the losses. If the subsidiary subsequently reports profits, such profits are allocated to the majority interest until the minority's share of losses previously absorbed by the majority has been recovered.

36

If a subsidiary has outstanding cumulative preference shares that are held by minority interests and classified as equity, the parent computes its share of profits or losses after adjusting for the dividends on such shares, whether or not dividends have been declared.

Accounting for investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates in separate financial statements

37

When separate financial statements are prepared, investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates that are not classified as held for sale (or included in a disposal group that is classified as held for sale) in accordance with IFRS 5 shall be accounted for either:

(a)

at cost, or

(b)

in accordance with IAS 39.

The same accounting shall be applied for each category of investments. Investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates that are classified as held for sale (or included in a disposal group that is classified as held for sale) in accordance with IFRS 5 shall be accounted for in accordance with that IFRS.

38

This Standard does not mandate which entities produce separate financial statements available for public use. Paragraphs 37 and 39-42 apply when an entity prepares separate financial statements that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards. The entity also produces consolidated financial statements available for public use as required by paragraph 9, unless the exemption provided in paragraph 10 is applicable.

39

Investments in jointly controlled entities and associates that are accounted for in accordance with IAS 39 in the consolidated financial statements shall be accounted for in the same way in the investor's separate financial statements.

Disclosure

40

The following disclosures shall be made in consolidated financial statements:

(a)

[Deleted]

(b)

[Deleted]

(c)

the nature of the relationship between the parent and a subsidiary when the parent does not own, directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, more than half of the voting power;

(d)

the reasons why the ownership, directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, of more than half of the voting or potential voting power of an investee does not constitute control;

(e)

the reporting date of the financial statements of a subsidiary when such financial statements are used to prepare consolidated financial statements and are as of a reporting date or for a period that is different from that of the parent, and the reason for using a different reporting date or period; and

(f)

the nature and extent of any significant restrictions (eg resulting from borrowing arrangements or regulatory requirements) on the ability of subsidiaries to transfer funds to the parent in the form of cash dividends or to repay loans or advances.

41

When separate financial statements are prepared for a parent that, in accordance with paragraph 10, elects not to prepare consolidated financial statements, those separate financial statements shall disclose:

(a)

the fact that the financial statements are separate financial statements; that the exemption from consolidation has been used; the name and country of incorporation or residence of the entity whose consolidated financial statements that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards have been produced for public use; and the address where those consolidated financial statements are obtainable;

(b)

a list of significant investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates, including the name, country of incorporation or residence, proportion of ownership interest and, if different, proportion of voting power held; and

(c)

a description of the method used to account for the investments listed under (b).

42

When a parent (other than a parent covered by paragraph 41), venturer with an interest in a jointly controlled entity or an investor in an associate prepares separate financial statements, those separate financial statements shall disclose:

(a)

the fact that the statements are separate financial statements and the reasons why those statements are prepared if not required by law;

(b)

a list of significant investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates, including the name, country of incorporation or residence, proportion of ownership interest and, if different, proportion of voting power held; and

(c)

a description of the method used to account for the investments listed under (b);

and shall identify the financial statements prepared in accordance with paragraph 9 of this Standard, IAS 28 and IAS 31 to which they relate.

Effective date

43

An entity shall apply this Standard for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005. Earlier application is encouraged. If an entity applies this Standard for a period beginning before 1 January 2005, it shall disclose that fact.

Withdrawal of other pronouncements

44

This Standard supersedes IAS 27 Consolidated Financial Statements and Accounting for Investments in Subsidiaries (revised in 2000).

45

This Standard supersedes SIC-33 Consolidation and Equity Method - Potential Voting Rights and Allocation of Ownership Interests.

Approval of IAS 27 by the Board

International Accounting Standard 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements was approved for issue by thirteen of the fourteen members of the International Accounting Standards Board. Mr. Yamada dissented. His dissenting opinion is set out after the Basis for Conclusions.

Sir David Tweedie

Chairman

Thomas E Jones

Vice-Chairman

Mary E Barth

Hans-Georg Bruns

Anthony T Cope

Robert P Garnett

Gilbert Gelard

James J Leisenring

Warren J McGregor

Patricia L O'Malley

Harry K Schmid

John T Smith

Geoffrey Whittington

Tatsumi Yamada

Basis for Conclusions on

IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements

This Basis for Conclusions accompanies, but is not part of, IAS 27.

Introduction

BC1

This Basis for Conclusions summarises the International Accounting Standards Board's considerations in reaching its conclusions on revising IAS 27 Consolidated Financial Statements and Accounting for Investments in Subsidiaries in 2003. Individual Board members gave greater weight to some factors than to others.

BC2

In July 2001 the Board announced that, as part of its initial agenda of technical projects, it would undertake a project to improve a number of Standards, including IAS 27. The project was undertaken in the light of queries and criticisms raised in relation to the Standards by securities regulators, professional accountants and other interested parties. The objectives of the Improvements project were to reduce or eliminate alternatives, redundancies and conflicts within Standards, to deal with some convergence issues and to make other improvements. In May 2002 the Board published its proposals in an Exposure Draft of Improvements to International Accounting Standards, with a comment deadline of 16 September 2002. The Board received over 160 comment letters on the Exposure Draft.

BC3

Because the Board's intention was not to reconsider the fundamental approach to consolidation established in IAS 27, this Basis for Conclusions does not discuss requirements in IAS 27 that the Board has not reconsidered.

Presentation of consolidated financial statements

Exemption from preparing consolidated financial statements

BC4

Paragraph 7 of the previous version of IAS 27 required consolidated financial statements to be presented. However, paragraph 8 permitted a parent that is a wholly-owned or virtually wholly-owned subsidiary not to prepare consolidated financial statements. The Board considered whether to withdraw or amend this exemption from the general requirement.

BC5

The Board decided to retain an exemption, so that entities in a group that are required by law to produce financial statements available for public use in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, in addition to consolidated financial statements, would not be unduly burdened.

BC6

The Board noted that in some circumstances users can find sufficient information for their purposes regarding a subsidiary from either its separate financial statements or consolidated financial statements. In addition, the users of financial statements of a subsidiary often have, or can get access to, more information.

BC7

Having agreed to retain an exemption, the Board decided to modify the circumstances in which an entity would be exempt and considered the following criteria.

Unanimous agreement of the owners of the minority interests

BC8

The Exposure Draft proposed to extend the exemption to a parent that is not wholly-owned if the owners of the minority interest, including those not otherwise entitled to vote, unanimously agree.

BC9

Some respondents disagreed with the proposal for unanimous agreement of minority shareholders to be a condition for exemption, in particular because of the practical difficulties in obtaining responses from all of those shareholders. The Board decided that the exemption should be available to a parent that is not wholly-owned when the owners of the minority interests have been informed about, and do not object to, consolidated financial statements not being presented.

Exemption available only to non-public entities

BC10

The Board believes that the information needs of users of financial statements of entities whose debt or equity instruments are traded in a public market are best served when investments in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates are accounted for in accordance with IASs 27, 28 Investments in Associates and 31 Interests in Joint Ventures. The Board therefore decided that the exemption from preparing such consolidated financial statements should not be available to such entities or to entities in the process of issuing instruments in a public market.

BC11

The Board decided that a parent that meets the criteria for exemption from the requirement to prepare consolidated financial statements should, in its separate financial statements, account for those subsidiaries in the same way as other parents, venturers with interests in jointly controlled entities or investors in associates account for investments in their separate financial statements. The Board draws a distinction between accounting for such investments as equity investments and accounting for the economic entity that the parent controls. In relation to the former, the Board decided that each category of investment should be accounted for consistently.

BC12

The Board decided that the same approach to accounting for investments in separate financial statements should apply irrespective of the circumstances for which they are prepared. Thus, parents that present consolidated financial statements, and those that do not because they are exempted, should present the same form of separate financial statements.

Scope of consolidated financial statements

Scope exclusions

BC13

Paragraph 13 of the previous version of IAS 27 required a subsidiary to be excluded from consolidation when control is intended to be temporary or when the subsidiary operates under severe long-term restrictions.

Temporary control

BC14

The Board considered whether to remove this scope exclusion and thereby converge with other standard-setters that had recently eliminated a similar exclusion. The Board decided to consider this issue as part of a comprehensive standard dealing with asset disposals. It decided to retain an exemption from consolidating a subsidiary when there is evidence that the subsidiary is acquired with the intention to dispose of it within twelve months and that management is actively seeking a buyer. The Board's Exposure Draft ED 4 Disposal of Non-current Assets and Presentation of Discontinued Operations proposes to measure and present assets held for sale in a consistent manner irrespective of whether they are held by an investor or in a subsidiary. Therefore, ED 4 proposes to eliminate the exemption from consolidation when control is intended to be temporary and contains a draft consequential amendment to IAS 27 to achieve this.^*

Severe long-term restrictions impairing ability to transfer funds to the parent

BC15

The Board decided to remove the exclusion of a subsidiary from consolidation when there are severe long-term restrictions that impair a subsidiary's ability to transfer funds to the parent. It did so because such circumstances may not preclude control. The Board decided that a parent, when assessing its ability to control a subsidiary, should consider restrictions on the transfer of funds from the subsidiary to the parent. In themselves, such restrictions do not preclude control.

Venture capital organisations, private equity entities and similar organisations

BC16

The Exposure Draft of IAS 27 proposed to clarify that a subsidiary should not be excluded from consolidation simply because the entity is a venture capital organisation, mutual fund, unit trust or similar entity. Some respondents from the private equity industry disagreed with this proposed clarification. They argued that private equity entities should not be required to consolidate the investments they control in accordance with the requirements in IAS 27. They argued that they should measure those investments at fair value. Those respondents raised varying arguments - some based on whether control is exercised, some on the length of time that should be provided before consolidation is required, and some on whether consolidation was an appropriate basis for private equity entities or the type of investments they make.

BC17

Some respondents also noted that the Board decided to exclude venture capital organisations and similar entities from the scope of IASs 28 and 31 when investments in associates or jointly controlled entities are measured at fair value in accordance with IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. In the view of these respondents, the Board was proposing that similar assets should be accounted for in dissimilar ways.