IASB clarifies the accounting treatment for embedded derivatives when reclassifying financial instruments

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) clarified the accounting treatment of embedded derivatives for entities that make use of the reclassification amendment issued by the IASB in October 2008.

The reclassification amendment allows entities to reclassify particular financial instruments out of the ‘at fair value through profit or loss’ category in specific circumstances. The amendments to IFRIC 9 and IAS 39 issued today clarify that on reclassification of a financial asset out of the ‘at fair value through profit or loss’ category all embedded derivatives have to be assessed and, if necessary, separately accounted for in financial statements.

The amendments form part of the IASB’s response to views received in the round-table discussions organised jointly with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board in November and December 2008. Participants asked the IASB to clarify the accounting treatment of embedded derivatives in the reclassification amendments in order to avoid divergence in practice.

The amendments set out in Embedded Derivatives apply retrospectively and are required to be applied for annual periods ending on or after 30 June 2009.