(1) Optional Significance Tests – Decrease in Significance – If an acquisition is determined under subsection 8.3(2) of the Instrument to be significant, a reporting issuer has the option under subsections 8.3(3) and (4) of the Instrument of applying optional significance tests using more recent financial statements than those used for the required significance tests in subsection 8.3(2). The optional significance tests under subsections 8.3(3) and (4) have been included to recognize the possible growth of a reporting issuer between the date of its most recently completed year-end and the date of filing a business acquisition report and the corresponding potential decline in significance of the acquisition to the reporting issuer.
(2) Availability of the Optional Significance Tests – The optional significance tests permitted under subsections 8.3(4) and (6) of the Instrument are available to all reporting issuers. However, depending on how or when a reporting issuer integrates the acquired business into its existing operations and the nature of post-acquisition financial records it maintains for the acquired business, it may not be possible for a reporting issuer to apply the optional significance test under subsection 8.3(6).
(3) Optional Investment Test – For the purpose of applying the optional investment test under paragraph 8.3(4)(b) of the Instrument, the reporting issuer’s investments in and advances to the business should be as at the acquisition date and not as at the date of the reporting issuer’s financial statements used to determine its consolidated assets for the optional investment test.
(4) Optional Profit or Loss Test based on Pro Forma Information – A reporting issuer may apply the optional profit or loss test in subsection 8.3(11.1) of the Instrument based on more recent pro forma consolidated specified profit or loss. By permitting reporting issuers to base the optional profit or loss test on pro forma consolidated specified profit or loss, this test recognizes the possible growth of a reporting issuer as a result of acquisitions completed between its most recently completed year end and the date of filing a business acquisition report and the corresponding potential decline in significance of the acquisition to the reporting issuer.