IASB publishes a discussion paper on financial instruments with characteristics of equity
28 February 2008
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The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) today published for public comment a discussion paper [463 KB] on the distinction between equity financial instruments and other financial instruments (non-equity instruments).
The discussion paper is the first stage of the IASB’s project to improve and simplify the requirements in IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation. Stakeholders around the world have raised two broad classes of criticisms of the current requirements:
- the principles in IAS 32 are difficult to apply
- the application of those principles can result in an inappropriate classification of some financial instruments
The project is a modified joint project between the IASB and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In a modified joint project, one board leads the initial stage. The FASB led the research stage of this project and published a Preliminary Views document Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity in November 2007.
The IASB has not deliberated the proposals in the FASB document and does not have a preliminary view. The goal of the discussion paper is to solicit the views of interested parties on whether the proposals in the FASB document are a suitable starting point for the IASB’s deliberations. The outcome of the consultations will be essential in determining the future direction of the project. If the project is added to the IASB’s active agenda, the IASB intends to undertake it jointly with the FASB.
The IASB invites comments on the discussion paper by 5 September 2008.
Further information on the discussion paper or the project is available on the project Web pages.
The discussion paper Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity [463 KB] is available for eIFRS subscribers from today and will be freely available on the Website from 10 March 2008.
Those wishing to subscribe to eIFRSs should visit our Subscription Services page for more information, or contact:
IASC Foundation Publications Department
30 Cannon Street
London EC4M 6XH
United Kingdom.
Tel: 44 (0)20 7332 2730
Fax: 44 (0)20 7332 2749
Email: publications@iasb.org
Web: www.iasb.org
Printed copies (ISBN 978-1-905590-61-2) will be available shortly, at £10.00 plus shipping, from the IASC Foundation Publications Department.
Press enquiries
- Mark Byatt, Director of Corporate Communications, IASB
Telephone: 44 (0)20 7246 6472
Email: mbyatt@iasb.org
- Sonja Horn, Communications Adviser, IASB
Telephone: 44 (0)20 7246 6463
Email: shorn@iasb.org
Technical enquiries
- Wayne Upton, Director of Research, IASB
Telephone: 44 (0)20 7246 6449
Email: wupton@iasb.org
- Elizabeth Figgie, Project Manager, IASB
Telephone: 44 (0)20 7246 6925
Email: efiggie@iasb.org