One area of accounting where there is much variation and several
"generally accepted accounting principles" is the area of business
combinations. Currently there are two major accounting treatments for
business combinations. Under one alternative, purchase accounting, the
assets or capital stock of the acquired company are entered on the books
of the acquiring company at cost, which is presumably fair value. This
treatment is similar to that accorded other asset acquisitions. Under
the second alternative, pooling-of-interests accounting, the accounts
of the combining companies are recorded at the book values previously
recorded by the separate companies.