# Acquisition date

> The date on which a parent obtains control of another company. The new subsidiary's results are included in the group accounts from this date.

Source: https://finconsol.com/blog/glossary/acquisition-date/ (updated 28 October 2026)

## Why does it matter in a group?

The acquisition date is the day the parent obtains [control](/blog/glossary/control/) of the other company. It is not necessarily the day the contract is signed or the cash moves.[1](#src-1) From that day the new [subsidiary](/blog/glossary/subsidiary/)'s income and expenses go into the group accounts, and its assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on that day (see [fair value adjustment](/blog/glossary/fair-value-adjustment/)). The reserves it holds on that day are [pre-acquisition reserves](/blog/glossary/pre-acquisition-reserves/). A wrong date moves profit from one month to another.

## A small example

Zenvara gains control of Quillfern GmbH on 16 September 2026. Quillfern made a profit of EUR 90,000 evenly through September, which is GBP 76,050 at the average rate of 0.8450. The September group accounts include only the 15 days from 16 to 30 September, which is GBP 38,025 of that profit, and nothing earlier.

## Sources

## Sources

1. IFRS 3 [Business Combinations](https://www.ifrs.org/issued-standards/list-of-standards/ifrs-3-business-combinations/), paragraphs 8 and 9.