Difference Between Amalgamation and Absorption (with Comparison Chart)

Amalgamation, as its name suggests, is nothing but two companies becoming one. On the other hand, Absorption is the process in which the one dominant company takes control over the weaker company. These are two business strategies adopted by the companies to expand itself and take a competitive position in the market. But, here one should know that Amalgamation can occur in two ways i.e. in the form of merger or the form of absorption.

Amalgamation is the legal process, in which two or more companies combine themselves to form a new company. On the other hand, absorption is when two or more companies are combined into an existing company. Here, we have compiled all the differences between amalgamation and absorption of companies, which you were looking for.

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Amalgamation	Absorption
Meaning	The process in which two or more than companies are wound up to form a new company, which acquires their business is known as Amalgamation.	The process in which one company takes over the other company is known as Absorption.
Act	Voluntary	Voluntary or hostile
Minimum number of companies involved	Three	Two
Creation of new company	Yes, a new company is formed	No, new company is not formed
Size of entities	The entities are of the same size.	The bigger the entity overpowers the smaller entity.
How many companies are liquidated?	Minimum 2 companies	Only one, i.e. the merged company

Definition of Amalgamation

Amalgamation is a process in which two companies liquidate to create a new company, which takes over the business of the liquidating companies. The transferor companies lose their identity to form a new company (transferee company). It includes absorption of one company by the other company. Accounting Standard – 14, issued by ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) deals with Accounting for Amalgamation. Methods of accounting for amalgamation are Pooling of interest Method and Purchase Method.

In this process, the companies which go into liquidation is known as Amalgamating Companies or Vendor Companies whereas the company which is newly formed is referred to as the Amalgamated Company or Vendee Company.

The liquidating companies are of the same nature and size, who mutually decide to wound up the company to form a separate legal entity with a new name. The transferee company has the right over the assets and liabilities of the transferor company. There are various advantages of amalgamation i.e. synergy, expansion, reduction in competition, an increase in efficiency, etc. Amalgamation is divided into two categories:

Amalgamation in the nature of merger: Two company merges to form a new company.
Amalgamation in the nature of purchase: One company purchases another company.

Definition of Absorption

The process in which one company acquires the business of another company is known as Absorption. In this process, a smaller existing company is overpowered by an existing larger company. No new company is established in absorption. There are two companies involved in this process, i.e. the company who takes over the business of the other company is known as Absorbing Company, and the company whose business is taken over is known as Absorbed Company. AS – 14, Accounting for Amalgamation, governs the absorption of companies.

In this process, the weaker company looses its identity by merging itself with the stronger company. The transferee company exercises control over the transferor company. The two companies differ in their size, structure, financial condition and operations. The companies either mutually take the decision of absorption, or it can be a hostile takeover.

The main reason behind absorption is gaining synergy, expansion, and instantaneous growth.

Key Differences Between Amalgamation and Absorption

The following are the differences between amalgamation and absorption:

When two companies join and liquidate to give birth to a new company is known as Amalgamation. Absorption is a process whereby one company occupies control over the other company.
Amalgamation is voluntary in nature, whereas Absorption can be discretionary or hostile.
In amalgamation, there are minimum three companies involved, i.e. two amalgamating companies and one new company which is formed by the fusion of the two companies. Conversely, in Absorption, only two companies are involved.
In amalgamation, the formation of the new company is there while in absorption no such new company is formed.
The size of the companies going through amalgamation is more or less the same. On the contrary, one company of bigger size overpowers the company of smaller size in Absorption.
Amalgamation is a wider term than Absorption because the former includes the latter.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, in Amalgamation, the two companies are liquidated to form a new company, but in Absorption, only the merged company goes into liquidation, but there is no formation of a new company. Here is an example which will clarify the difference, i.e. A Ltd. and B Ltd. joined to form AB Ltd., it is known as an amalgamation, whereas A Ltd takes over the business of B Ltd., so B Ltd. loses its existence, and only A Ltd. exists, it is known as absorption.