International Accounting Standard 7 Statement of Cash Flows (IAS 7) is set out in paragraphs 1–61. All the paragraphs have equal authority but retain the IASC format of the Standard when it was adopted by the IASB. IAS 7 should be read in the context of its objective and the Basis for Conclusions, the Preface to IFRS Standards and the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors provides a basis for selecting and applying accounting policies in the absence of explicit guidance. [Refer:IAS 8 paragraphs 10–12]
Information about the cash flows of an entity is useful in providing users [Refer:Conceptual Framework paragraphs 1.2-1.10 and 2.36] of financial statements with a basis to assess the ability of the entity to generate cash and cash equivalents and the needs of the entity to utilise those cash flows. The economic decisions that are taken by users require an evaluation of the ability of an entity to generate cash and cash equivalents and the timing and certainty of their generation.
The objective of this Standard is to require the provision of information about the historical changes in cash and cash equivalents of an entity by means of a statement of cash flows which classifies cash flows during the period from operating, investing and financing activities.
1 | An entity shall prepare a statement of cash flows in accordance with the requirements of this Standard and shall present it as an integral part of its financial statements for each period for which financial statements are presented. |
2 | This Standard supersedes IAS 7 Statement of Changes in Financial Position, approved in July 1977. |
3 | Users of an entity’s financial statements are interested in how the entity generates and uses cash and cash equivalents. This is the case regardless of the nature of the entity’s activities and irrespective of whether cash can be viewed as the product of the entity, as may be the case with a financial institution. Entities need cash for essentially the same reasons however different their principal revenue‑producing activities might be. They need cash to conduct their operations, to pay their obligations, and to provide returns to their investors. Accordingly, this Standard requires all entities to present a statement of cash flows. |
4 | A statement of cash flows, when used in conjunction with the rest of the financial statements, provides information that enables users to evaluate the changes in net assets of an entity, its financial structure (including its liquidity and solvency) and its ability to affect the amounts and timing of cash flows in order to adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities. Cash flow information is useful in assessing the ability of the entity to generate cash and cash equivalents and enables users to develop models to assess and compare the present value of the future cash flows of different entities. It also enhances the comparability [Refer:Conceptual Framework paragraphs 2.24-2.29] of the reporting of operating performance by different entities because it eliminates the effects of using different accounting treatments for the same transactions and events. |
5 | Historical cash flow information is often used as an indicator of the amount, timing and certainty of future cash flows. It is also useful in checking the accuracy of past assessments of future cash flows and in examining the relationship between profitability and net cash flow and the impact of changing prices. |
6 | The following terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified: Cash comprises cash on hand and demand deposits.E1 Cash equivalents are short‑term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. [Refer:paragraphs 7 and 8]
Cash flows are inflows and outflows of cash and cash equivalents. [Refer:paragraphs 7–9]
Operating activities are the principal revenue‑producing activities of the entity and other activities that are not investing or financing activities. [Refer:paragraphs 13–15]
Investing activities are the acquisition and disposal of long‑term assets and other investments not included in cash equivalents. [Refer:paragraph 16]
Financing activities are activities that result in changes in the size and composition of the contributed equity and borrowings of the entity. [Refer:paragraph 17]
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| E1 | [IFRIC® Update, March 2022, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows—Demand Deposits with Restrictions on Use arising from a Contract with a Third Party’ The Committee received a request about whether an entity includes a demand deposit as a component of cash and cash equivalents in its statements of cash flows and financial position when the demand deposit is subject to contractual restrictions on use agreed with a third party. In the fact pattern described in the request, the entity:
Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows The Committee noted that the question in the request is about whether the demand deposit meets the definition of ‘cash’ in IAS 7. Paragraph 6 of IAS 7 defines ‘cash’ by stating that it ‘comprises cash on hand and demand deposits.’ IAS 7 includes no requirements on whether an item qualifies as cash beyond the definition itself. IAS 7 and IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements indicate that amounts included in cash and cash equivalents may be subject to restrictions, namely:
The Committee concluded that restrictions on the use of a demand deposit arising from a contract with a third party do not result in the deposit no longer being cash, unless those restrictions change the nature of the deposit in a way that it would no longer meet the definition of cash in IAS 7. In the fact pattern described in the request, the contractual restrictions on the use of the amounts held in the demand deposit do not change the nature of the deposit—the entity can access those amounts on demand. Therefore, the Committee concluded that the entity includes the demand deposit as a component of ‘cash and cash equivalents’ in its statement of cash flows. Presentation in the statement of financial position Paragraph 54(i) of IAS 1 requires an entity to include a line item in its statement of financial position that presents the amount of ‘cash and cash equivalents’. Paragraph 55 of IAS 1 states ‘an entity shall present additional line items (including by disaggregating the line items listed in paragraph 54) … in the statement of financial position when such presentation is relevant to an understanding of the entity’s financial position’. Therefore, the Committee concluded that, in the fact pattern described in the request, the entity presents the demand deposit as cash and cash equivalents in its statement of financial position. When relevant to an understanding of its financial position, the entity would disaggregate the ‘cash and cash equivalents’ line item and present the demand deposit separately in an additional line item. An entity that presents assets as current or non-current would classify the demand deposit as current applying paragraph 66(d) of IAS 1, unless the demand deposit is ‘restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least twelve months after the reporting period’. Disclosures Paragraph 45 of IAS 7 states that ‘an entity shall disclose the components of cash and cash equivalents…’. Applying this requirement, in the fact pattern described in the request, the entity discloses the demand deposit as a component of cash and cash equivalents. The entity also considers whether to disclose additional information:
The Committee concluded that the principles and requirements in IFRS Accounting Standards provide an adequate basis for an entity to determine whether to include demand deposits subject to contractual restrictions on use agreed with a third party as a component of cash and cash equivalents in its statements of cash flows and financial position. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add a standard-setting project to the work plan.] |
7 | Cash equivalents are held for the purpose of meeting short‑term cash commitments rather than for investment or other purposes. For an investment to qualify as a cash equivalent it must be readily convertible to a known amount of cash and be subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Therefore, an investment normally qualifies as a cash equivalent only when it has a short maturity of, say, three months or less from the date of acquisition.E2 Equity investments are excluded from cash equivalents unless they are, in substance, cash equivalents, for example in the case of preferred shares acquired within a short period of their maturity and with a specified redemption date.E3 |
| E2 | [IFRIC® Update, May 2013, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows—identification of cash equivalents’ The Interpretations Committee received a request about the basis of classification of financial assets as cash equivalents in accordance with IAS 7. More specifically, the submitter thinks that the classification of investments as cash equivalents on the basis of the remaining period to maturity as at the balance sheet date would lead to a more consistent classification rather than the current focus on the investment’s maturity from its acquisition date. The Interpretations Committee noted that, on the basis of paragraph 7 of IAS 7, financial assets held as cash equivalents are held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments rather than for investment or other purposes. This paragraph further states that an investment is classified as a cash equivalent, only when it has a short maturity from the date of acquisition. The Interpretations Committee observed that paragraph 7 of IAS 7 promotes consistency between entities in the classification of cash equivalents and did not think that the requirements of paragraph 7 of IAS 7 were unclear. On the basis of the above, the Interpretations Committee determined that in the light of the existing IFRS guidance, an interpretation or an amendment to Standards was not necessary and it did not expect significant diversity in practice to develop regarding their application. Consequently, the Interpretations Committee decided not to add this issue to its agenda.] |
| E3 | [IFRIC® Update, July 2009, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows—Determination of cash equivalents’ The IFRIC received a request for guidance on whether investments in shares or units of money market funds that are redeemable at any time can be classified as cash equivalents. The IFRIC noted that paragraph 7 of IAS 7 states that the purpose of holding cash equivalents is to meet short-term cash commitments. In this context, the critical criteria in the definition of cash equivalents set out in paragraph 6 of IAS 7 are the requirements that cash equivalents be ‘convertible to known amounts of cash’ and ‘subject to insignificant risk of changes in value’. The IFRIC noted that the first criterion means that the amount of cash that will be received must be known at the time of the initial investment, ie the units cannot be considered cash equivalents simply because they can be converted to cash at any time at the then market price in an active market. The IFRIC also noted that an entity would have to satisfy itself that any investment was subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value for it to be classified as a cash equivalent. Given the guidance in IAS 7, the IFRIC did not expect significant diversity in practice because the purpose of holding the instrument and the satisfaction of the criteria should both be clear from its terms and conditions. Accordingly, the IFRIC decided not to add this issue to its agenda.] |
8 | Bank borrowings are generally considered to be financing activities. However, in some countries, bank overdrafts which are repayable on demand form an integral part of an entity's cash management. In these circumstances, bank overdrafts are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents. A characteristic of such banking arrangements is that the bank balance often fluctuates from being positive to overdrawn.E4 |
| E4 | [IFRIC® Update, June 2018, Agenda Decision, ‘Classification of short-term loans and credit facilities (IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows)’ The Committee received a request asking about the types of borrowings an entity includes in its statement of cash flows as a component of cash and cash equivalents. In the fact pattern described in the request:
The Committee observed that:
In the fact pattern described in the request, the Committee concluded that the entity does not include the short-term arrangements as components of cash and cash equivalents. This is because these short-term arrangements are not repayable on demand. Additionally, the fact that the balance does not often fluctuate from being negative to positive indicates that the short-term arrangements are a form of financing rather than an integral part of the entity’s cash management. The Committee also noted that paragraphs 45 and 46 of IAS 7 require an entity to (a) disclose the components of cash and cash equivalents and present a reconciliation of the amounts in its statement of cash flows with the equivalent items reported in its statement of financial position; and (b) disclose the policy which it adopts in determining the composition of cash and cash equivalents. The Committee concluded that the principles and requirements in IFRS Standards provide an adequate basis for an entity to assess whether to include in its statement of cash flows the short-term arrangements described in the request as components of cash and cash equivalents. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add this matter to its standard-setting agenda.] |
9 | Cash flows exclude movements between items that constitute cash or cash equivalents because these components are part of the cash management of an entity rather than part of its operating, investing and financing activities. Cash management includes the investment of excess cash in cash equivalents. |
| E5 | [IFRIC® Update, August 2005, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 7 Value added tax’ The IFRIC considered whether it should add to its agenda a project to clarify whether cash flows reported in accordance with IAS 7 Cash Flow Statements should be measured as inclusive or exclusive of value added tax (VAT). There was evidence that different practices may emerge, the differences being most marked for entities that adopt the direct method of reporting cash flows. IAS 7 does not explicitly address the treatment of VAT. The IFRIC noted that it would be appropriate in complying with IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements for entities to disclose whether they present their gross cash flows as inclusive or exclusive of VAT. The IFRIC decided that it should not develop an Interpretation on this topic, because while different practices might emerge, they were not expected to be widespread. The IFRIC will recommend to the IASB that the treatment of VAT should be considered as part of the review of IAS 7 being carried out within the project on performance reporting.] |
| E6 | [IFRIC® Update, December 2020, Agenda Decision, ‘Supply Chain Financing Arrangements—Reverse Factoring’ The Committee received a request about reverse factoring arrangements. Specifically, the request asked:
In a reverse factoring arrangement, a financial institution agrees to pay amounts an entity owes to the entity’s suppliers and the entity agrees to pay the financial institution at the same date as, or a date later than, suppliers are paid. ... Presentation in the statement of cash flows Paragraph 6 of IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows defines:
An entity that has entered into a reverse factoring arrangement determines how to classify cash flows under the arrangement, typically as cash flows from operating activities or cash flows from financing activities. The Committee observed that an entity’s assessment of the nature of the liabilities that are part of the arrangement may help in determining whether the related cash flows arise from operating or financing activities. For example, if the entity considers the related liability to be a trade or other payable that is part of the working capital used in the entity’s principal revenue-producing activities, the entity presents cash outflows to settle the liability as arising from operating activities in its statement of cash flows. In contrast, if the entity considers that the related liability is not a trade or other payable because the liability represents borrowings of the entity, the entity presents cash outflows to settle the liability as arising from financing activities in its statement of cash flows. Investing and financing transactions that do not require the use of cash or cash equivalents are excluded from an entity’s statement of cash flows (paragraph 43 of IAS 7). Consequently, if a cash inflow and cash outflow occur for an entity when an invoice is factored as part of a reverse factoring arrangement, the entity presents those cash flows in its statement of cash flows. If no cash inflow or cash outflow occurs for an entity in a financing transaction, the entity discloses the transaction elsewhere in the financial statements in a way that provides all the relevant information about the financing activity (paragraph 43 of IAS 7). Notes to the financial statements ... Paragraph 44A of IAS 7 requires an entity to provide ‘disclosures that enable users of financial statements to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from financing activities, including both changes arising from cash flows and non-cash changes’. The Committee noted that such disclosure is required for liabilities that are part of a reverse factoring arrangement if the cash flows for those liabilities were, or future cash flows will be, classified as cash flows from financing activities. The Committee concluded that the principles and requirements in IFRS Standards provide an adequate basis for an entity to determine the presentation of liabilities that are part of reverse factoring arrangements, the presentation of the related cash flows, and the information to disclose in the notes about, for example, liquidity risks that arise in such arrangements. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add a standard-setting project on these matters to the work plan.] |
| E7 | [IFRIC® Update, March 2008, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows—Classification of expenditures’ The IFRIC received a request for guidance on the treatment of some types of expenditure in the statement of cash flows. In practice some entities classify expenditures that are not recognised as assets under IFRSs as cash flows from operating activities while others classify them as part of investing activities. Examples of such expenditures are those for exploration and evaluation activities (which can be recognised, according to the applicable standard, as an asset or an expense). Advertising and promotional activities, staff training and research and development could also raise the same issue. The IFRIC concluded that the issue could be best resolved by referring it to the Board with a recommendation that IAS 7 should be amended to make explicit that only an expenditure that results in a recognised asset can be classified as a cash flow from investing activity. The IFRIC therefore decided not to add the issue to its agenda.] |
| Disclosure of cash flow statement [text block] Disclosure | Text block | 800500, 851100 |
10 | The statement of cash flows shall report cash flows during the period classified by operating, investing and financing activities.
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11 | An entity presents its cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities in a manner which is most appropriate to its business. Classification by activity provides information that allows users [Refer:Conceptual Framework paragraphs 1.2-1.10 and 2.36] to assess the impact of those activities on the financial position of the entity and the amount of its cash and cash equivalents. This information may also be used to evaluate the relationships among those activities. |
12 | A single transaction may include cash flows that are classified differently. For example, when the cash repayment of a loan includes both interest and capital, the interest element may be classified as an operating activity and the capital element is classified as a financing activity. |
13 | The amount of cash flows arising from operating activities is a key indicator of the extent to which the operations of the entity have generated sufficient cash flows to repay loans, maintain the operating capability of the entity, pay dividends and make new investments without recourse to external sources of financing. Information about the specific components of historical operating cash flows is useful, in conjunction with other information, in forecasting future operating cash flows. |
14 | Cash flows from operating activities are primarily derived from the principal revenue‑producing activities of the entity. Therefore, they generally result from the transactions and other events that enter into the determination of profit or loss. Examples of cash flows from operating activities are:
Some transactions, such as the sale of an item of plant, may give rise to a gain or loss that is included in recognised profit or loss. The cash flows relating to such transactions are cash flows from investing activities. However, cash payments to manufacture or acquire assets held for rental to others and subsequently held for sale as described in paragraph 68A of IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment are cash flows from operating activities. The cash receipts from rents and subsequent sales of such assets are also cash flows from operating activities.
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15 | An entity may hold securities and loans for dealing or trading purposes, in which case they are similar to inventory acquired specifically for resale. Therefore, cash flows arising from the purchase and sale of dealing or trading securities are classified as operating activities. Similarly, cash advances and loans made by financial institutions [Refer:Illustrative Examples, example B] are usually classified as operating activities since they relate to the main revenue‑producing activity of that entity. |
16 | The separate disclosure of cash flows arising from investing activities is important because the cash flows represent the extent to which expenditures have been made for resources intended to generate future income and cash flows. Only expenditures that result in a recognised asset in the statement of financial position are eligible for classification as investing activities. [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraphs BC3–BC8 and IFRS 6 Basis for Conclusions paragraphs BC23A and BC23B] Examples of cash flows arising from investing activities are:
When a contract is accounted for as a hedge of an identifiable position the cash flows of the contract are classified in the same manner as the cash flows of the position being hedged.
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17 | The separate disclosure of cash flows arising from financing activities is important because it is useful in predicting claims on future cash flows by providers of capital to the entity. Examples of cash flows arising from financing activities are:
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18 | An entity shall report cash flows from operating activities using either:
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19 | Entities are encouraged to report cash flows from operating activities using the direct method. The direct method provides information which may be useful in estimating future cash flows and which is not available under the indirect method. [Refer:paragraph 20] Under the direct method, information about major classes of gross cash receipts and gross cash payments may be obtained either:
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20 | Under the indirect method, the net cash flow from operating activities is determined by adjusting profit or loss for the effects of:
Alternatively, the net cash flow from operating activities may be presented under the indirect method by showing the revenues and expenses disclosed in the statement of comprehensive income [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 81–105] and the changes during the period in inventories and operating receivables and payables.
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21 | An entity shall report separately major classes of gross cash receipts and gross cash payments arising from investing and financing activities, except to the extent that cash flows described in paragraphs 22 and 24 are reported on a net basis. [Refer:Illustrative Examples, example A]
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22 | Cash flows arising from the following operating, investing or financing activities may be reported on a net basis:
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23 | Examples of cash receipts and payments referred to in paragraph 22(a) are:
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23A | Examples of cash receipts and payments referred to in paragraph 22(b) are advances made for, and the repayment of:
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24 | Cash flows arising from each of the following activities of a financial institution may be reported on a net basis: [Refer:Illustrative Examples, example B]
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25 | Cash flows arising from transactions in a foreign currency shall be recorded in an entity’s functional currency by applying to the foreign currency amount the exchange rate between the functional currency and the foreign currency at the date of the cash flow.
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26 | The cash flows of a foreign subsidiary shall be translated at the exchange rates between the functional currency and the foreign currency at the dates of the cash flows. |
27 | Cash flows denominated in a foreign currency are reported in a manner consistent with IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. This permits the use of an exchange rate that approximates the actual rate. For example, a weighted average exchange rate for a period may be used for recording foreign currency transactions or the translation of the cash flows of a foreign subsidiary. However, IAS 21 does not permit use of the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period when translating the cash flows of a foreign subsidiary. |
28 | Unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in foreign currency exchange rates are not cash flows. However, the effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents held or due in a foreign currency is reported in the statement of cash flows in order to reconcile cash and cash equivalents at the beginning and the end of the period. This amount is presented separately from cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities and includes the differences, if any, had those cash flows been reported at end of period exchange rates.
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29 | [Deleted] |
30 | [Deleted] |
31 | Cash flows from interest and dividends received and paid shall each be disclosed separately. Each shall be classified in a consistent manner from period to period as either operating, investing or financing activities.
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32 | The total amount of interest paid during a period is disclosed in the statement of cash flows whether it has been recognised as an expense in profit or loss or capitalised in accordance with IAS 23 Borrowing Costs. |
33 | Interest paid and interest and dividends received are usually classified as operating cash flows for a financial institution. However, there is no consensus on the classification of these cash flows for other entities. Interest paid and interest and dividends received may be classified as operating cash flows because they enter into the determination of profit or loss. Alternatively, interest paid and interest and dividends received may be classified as financing cash flows and investing cash flows respectively, because they are costs of obtaining financial resources or returns on investments. |
34 | Dividends paid may be classified as a financing cash flow because they are a cost of obtaining financial resources. Alternatively, dividends paid may be classified as a component of cash flows from operating activities in order to assist users to determine the ability of an entity to pay dividends out of operating cash flows. |
35 | Cash flows arising from taxes on income shall be separately disclosed and shall be classified as cash flows from operating activities unless they can be specifically identified with financing and investing activities.
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36 | Taxes on income arise on transactions that give rise to cash flows that are classified as operating, investing or financing activities in a statement of cash flows. While tax expense may be readily identifiable with investing or financing activities, the related tax cash flows are often impracticable to identify and may arise in a different period from the cash flows of the underlying transaction. Therefore, taxes paid are usually classified as cash flows from operating activities. However, when it is practicable to identify the tax cash flow with an individual transaction that gives rise to cash flows that are classified as investing or financing activities the tax cash flow is classified as an investing or financing activity as appropriate. When tax cash flows are allocated over more than one class of activity, the total amount of taxes paid is disclosed. |
37 | When accounting for an investment in an associate, a joint venture or a subsidiary accounted for by use of the equity or cost method, an investor restricts its reporting in the statement of cash flows to the cash flows between itself and the investee, for example, to dividends and advances. |
38 | An entity that reports its interest in an associate or a joint venture using the equity method includes in its statement of cash flows the cash flows in respect of its investments in the associate or joint venture, and distributions and other payments or receipts between it and the associate or joint venture. |
39 | The aggregate cash flows arising from obtaining or losing control of subsidiaries or other businesses shall be presented separately and classified as investing activities.
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40 | An entity shall disclose, in aggregate, in respect of both obtaining and losing control of subsidiaries or other businesses during the period each of the following:
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40A | An investment entity, as defined in IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements, need not apply paragraphs 40(c) or 40(d) to an investment in a subsidiary that is required to be measured at fair value through profit or loss. |
41 | The separate presentation of the cash flow effects of obtaining or losing control of subsidiaries or other businesses as single line items, together with the separate disclosure of the amounts of assets and liabilities acquired or disposed of, helps to distinguish those cash flows from the cash flows arising from the other operating, investing and financing activities. The cash flow effects of losing control are not deducted from those of obtaining control. |
42 | The aggregate amount of the cash paid or received as consideration for obtaining or losing control of subsidiaries or other businesses is reported in the statement of cash flows net of cash and cash equivalents acquired or disposed of as part of such transactions, events or changes in circumstances. |
42A | Cash flows arising from changes in ownership interests in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control shall be classified as cash flows from financing activities, unless the subsidiary is held by an investment entity, as defined in IFRS 10, and is required to be measured at fair value through profit or loss.
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42B | Changes in ownership interests in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control, such as the subsequent purchase or sale by a parent of a subsidiary’s equity instruments, are accounted for as equity transactions (see IFRS 10), unless the subsidiary is held by an investment entity and is required to be measured at fair value through profit or loss. [Refer:IFRS 10 paragraph 23] Accordingly, the resulting cash flows are classified in the same way as other transactions with owners described in paragraph 17.
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43 | Investing and financing transactions that do not require the use of cash or cash equivalents shall be excluded from a statement of cash flows. Such transactions shall be disclosed elsewhere in the financial statements in a way that provides all the relevant information about these investing and financing activities.
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44 | Many investing and financing activities do not have a direct impact on current cash flows although they do affect the capital and asset structure of an entity. The exclusion of non‑cash transactions from the statement of cash flows is consistent with the objective of a statement of cash flows as these items do not involve cash flows in the current period. Examples of non‑cash transactions are:
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44A | An entity shall provide disclosures that enable users of financial statements to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from financing activities, including both changes arising from cash flows and non-cash changes.E8 [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraphs BC9–BC10 and BC15–BC16]
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| E8 | [IFRIC® Update, September 2019, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows—Disclosure of Changes in Liabilities Arising from Financing Activities’ The Committee received a request from users of financial statements (investors) about the disclosure requirements in IAS 7 that relate to changes in liabilities arising from financing activities. Specifically, investors asked whether the disclosure requirements in paragraphs 44B–44E of IAS 7 are adequate to require an entity to provide disclosures that meet the objective in paragraph 44A of IAS 7. Meeting the disclosure objective (Paragraph 44A of IAS 7) Paragraph 44A of IAS 7 requires an entity to provide ‘disclosures that enable [investors] to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from financing activities, including both changes arising from cash flows and non-cash changes’. To the extent necessary to satisfy the objective in paragraph 44A, paragraph 44B specifies that an entity discloses the following changes in liabilities arising from financing activities:
The Board explained in paragraph BC16 that it developed the disclosure objective in paragraph 44A to reflect the needs of investors, including those summarised in paragraph BC10. The Board also noted in paragraph BC18 that when considering whether it has fulfilled the objective in paragraph 44A, an entity takes into consideration the extent to which information about changes in liabilities arising from financing activities provides relevant information to investors, considering the needs of investors summarised in paragraph BC10. These investor needs are:
Reconciling between the opening and closing balances of liabilities arising from financing activities Paragraph 44D of IAS 7 states that ‘one way to fulfil the disclosure requirement in paragraph 44A is by providing a reconciliation between the opening and closing balances in the statement of financial position for liabilities arising from financing activities, including the changes identified in paragraph 44B’. When an entity discloses such a reconciliation it provides information that enables investors to link items included in the reconciliation to other areas of the financial statements. In doing this, an entity applies:
The Committee observed that an entity applies judgement in determining the extent to which it disaggregates and explains the changes in liabilities arising from financing activities included in the reconciliation to meet the objective in paragraph 44A. In this respect, the Committee noted the following:
Accordingly, the Committee concluded that the principles and requirements in IFRS Standards provide an adequate basis for an entity to disclose information about changes in liabilities arising from financing activities that enables investors to evaluate those changes. Accordingly, the Committee concluded that the disclosure requirements in paragraphs 44B–44E of IAS 7, together with requirements in IAS 1, are adequate to require an entity to provide disclosures that meet the objective in paragraph 44A of IAS 7. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add the matter to its standard-setting agenda.] |
44B | To the extent necessary to satisfy the requirement in paragraph 44A, an entity shall disclose the following changes in liabilities arising from financing activities:
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44C | Liabilities arising from financing activities are liabilities for which cash flows were, or future cash flows will be, classified in the statement of cash flows as cash flows from financing activities. In addition, the disclosure requirement in paragraph 44A also applies to changes in financial assets (for example, assets that hedge liabilities arising from financing activities) if cash flows from those financial assets were, or future cash flows will be, included in cash flows from financing activities. [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraph BC22]
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44D | One way to fulfil the disclosure requirement in paragraph 44A is by providing a reconciliation between the opening and closing balances in the statement of financial position for liabilities arising from financing activities, including the changes identified in paragraph 44B. [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraphs BC17–BC19] Where an entity discloses such a reconciliation, it shall provide sufficient information to enable users of the financial statements to link items included in the reconciliation to the statement of financial position and the statement of cash flows.
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44E | If an entity provides the disclosure required by paragraph 44A in combination with disclosures of changes in other assets and liabilities, it shall disclose the changes in liabilities arising from financing activities separately from changes in those other assets and liabilities. [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraphs BC20–BC21] |
45 | An entity shall disclose the components of cash and cash equivalents and shall present a reconciliation of the amounts in its statement of cash flows with the equivalent items reported in the statement of financial position.
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46 | In view of the variety of cash management practices and banking arrangements around the world and in order to comply with IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements, an entity discloses the policy which it adopts in determining the composition of cash and cash equivalents.
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47 | The effect of any change in the policy for determining components of cash and cash equivalents, for example, a change in the classification of financial instruments previously considered to be part of an entity’s investment portfolio, is reported in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. |
48 | An entity shall disclose, together with a commentary by management, the amount of significant cash and cash equivalent balances held by the entity that are not available for use by the group.
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49 | There are various circumstances in which cash and cash equivalent balances held by an entity are not available for use by the group. Examples include cash and cash equivalent balances held by a subsidiary that operates in a country where exchange controls or other legal restrictions apply when the balances are not available for general use by the parent or other subsidiaries. |
50 | Additional information may be relevant to users [Refer:Conceptual Framework paragraphs 1.2-1.10 and 2.36] in understanding the financial position and liquidity of an entity. Disclosure of this information, together with a commentary by management, is encouraged and may include:
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51 | The separate disclosure of cash flows that represent increases in operating capacity and cash flows that are required to maintain operating capacity is useful in enabling the user to determine whether the entity is investing adequately in the maintenance of its operating capacity. An entity that does not invest adequately in the maintenance of its operating capacity may be prejudicing future profitability for the sake of current liquidity and distributions to owners. |
52 | The disclosure of segmental cash flows enables users [Refer:Conceptual Framework paragraphs 1.2-1.10 and 2.36] to obtain a better understanding of the relationship between the cash flows of the business as a whole and those of its component parts and the availability and variability of segmental cash flows. |
53 | This Standard becomes operative for financial statements covering periods beginning on or after 1 January 1994. |
54 | IAS 27 (as amended in 2008) amended paragraphs 39–42 and added paragraphs 42A and 42B. An entity shall apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2009. If an entity applies IAS 27 (amended 2008) for an earlier period, the amendments shall be applied for that earlier period. The amendments shall be applied retrospectively. |
55 | Paragraph 14 was amended by Improvements to IFRSs issued in May 2008. An entity shall apply that amendment for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies the amendment for an earlier period it shall disclose that fact and apply paragraph 68A of IAS 16. |
56 | Paragraph 16 was amended by Improvements to IFRSs issued in April 2009. An entity shall apply that amendment for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2010. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies the amendment for an earlier period it shall disclose that fact. |
57 | IFRS 10 and IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements, issued in May 2011, amended paragraphs 37, 38 and 42B and deleted paragraph 50(b). An entity shall apply those amendments when it applies IFRS 10 and IFRS 11. |
58 | Investment Entities (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27), issued in October 2012, amended paragraphs 42A and 42B and added paragraph 40A. An entity shall apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014. Earlier application of Investment Entities is permitted. If an entity applies those amendments earlier it shall also apply all amendments included in Investment Entities at the same time. |
59 | IFRS 16 Leases, issued in January 2016, amended paragraphs 17 and 44. An entity shall apply those amendments when it applies IFRS 16. |
60 | Disclosure Initiative (Amendments to IAS 7), issued in January 2016, added paragraphs 44A–44E. An entity shall apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017. [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraph BC26] Earlier application is permitted. When the entity first applies those amendments, it is not required to provide comparative information for preceding periods. [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraph BC27] |
61 | IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, issued in May 2017, amended paragraph 14. An entity shall apply that amendment when it applies IFRS 17. |
Disclosure Initiative (Amendments to IAS 7) was approved for issue by thirteen of the fourteen members of the International Accounting Standards Board. Mr Ochi dissented. His dissenting opinion is set out after the Basis for Conclusions.
| Hans Hoogervorst | Chairman |
| Ian Mackintosh | Vice-Chairman |
| Stephen Cooper | |
| Philippe Danjou | |
| Martin Edelmann | |
| Patrick Finnegan | |
| Amaro Gomes | |
| Gary Kabureck | |
| Suzanne Lloyd | |
| Takatsugu Ochi | |
| Darrel Scott | |
| Chungwoo Suh | |
| Mary Tokar | |
| Wei-Guo Zhang |
| 1 | In September 2007 the IASB amended the title of IAS 7 from Cash Flow Statements to Statement of Cash Flows as a consequence of the revision of IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements in 2007. (back) |