IAS 18 — Receipt of a dividend of equity instruments
Issue
The IFRIC received a request for guidance on the recognition as revenue of a dividend in the financial statements of an investor when the dividend is in the form of the investee’s own equity instruments.
The IFRIC noted that current IFRSs provide guidance on when revenue arising from dividends shall be recognised. The IFRIC noted that when all ordinary shareholders are issued a dividend of an investee’s own equity instruments on a pro-rata basis there is no change in the financial position or economic interest of any of the investors. In this situation, in accordance with paragraph 29(a) of IAS 18, the dividend is not recognised as revenue because it is not probable that there is an economic benefit associated with the transaction that will flow to the investor.
Decision not to add
January 2010
Reason
The IFRIC concluded that any guidance it could provide would be in the form of application guidance. Therefore, the IFRIC decided not to add this issue to its agenda.
IFRIC reference: IAS 18–10