Consolidation of entities that are not majority-owned is opposed by some companies, particularly biotechnology and pharmaceutical concerns, whose financial strength could be hurt by reporting consolidated financials. Accounting professionals have argued that some firms deliberately avoid consolidating results by owning less than 50% of the voting stock in an entity, even though they effectively control it by hiring and firing management.

In what instances would a company want to consolidate an entity of which the company owns less than 50%?

Discuss ways that a company can control another with less than majority ownership.