Accounting for amalgamations: distinguish merger (pooling) and purchase (fair value allocation), with specific goodwill and disclosure rules. Accounting for amalgamations distinguishes merger (pooling of interests) and purchase methods. Mergers require recording transferor assets, liabilities and reserves at existing carrying amounts, aggregation of profit and loss balances, harmonisation of accounting policies and reserves adjustment for share capital differences. Purchases permit recording at carrying amounts or allocating consideration to identifiable assets and liabilities at fair value, recognition of goodwill where consideration exceeds net assets (or Capital Reserve if lower), preservation of statutory reserves where required, valuation of consideration including contingent elements, and amortisation of goodwill generally over not more than five years.