On 14 February 2008, the International Accounting Standards Board issued Puttable Financial Instruments and Obligations Arising on Liquidation (Amendments to IAS 32 and IAS 1). The amendments have an effective date of 1 January 2009, but earlier adoption is permitted.
The amendments classify the following types of financial instruments as equity, provided they have particular features and meet specific conditions:
- puttable financial instruments (for example, some shares issued by co-operative entities)
- instruments, or components of instruments, that impose on the entity an obligation to deliver to another party a pro rata share of the net assets of the entity only on liquidation (for example, some partnership interests and some shares issued by limited life entities)