After the dust settles – Accounting issues for business combinations

Description

Abstract: Why borrowers’ financial statements often look markedly different following a merger or an acquisition is connected to the accounting rules for business combinations. This article offers some points lenders should keep in mind as they review their borrowers’ financial statements. It discusses the basics of purchase price allocation, and notes that business appraisers can help a borrower with the more complicated aspects of a business combination, such as earnouts, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and bargain purchase prices.