IASB ED on classifications of rights issues
07 Aug 2009
The IASB has invited comment on an exposure draft (ED) of an amendment to IAS 32 'Financial Instruments: Presentation' on the classification of rights issues.
The proposals seek to clarify the accounting treatment when rights issues are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the issuer. Current practice appears to require such issues to be accounted for as derivative liabilities.
The proposals state that if such rights are issued pro rata to an entity's existing shareholders for a fixed amount of currency, they should be classified as equity regardless of the currency in which the exercise price is denominated.
ED/2009/9 Classification of Rights Issues is open for comment until 7 September 2009. The IASB plans to issue the final amendment before the end of 2009 with early application permitted. If adopted the amendment will apply retrospectively.
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