Exposure Draft, Narrow Scope Amendment – Purchased Intangibles

The Exposure Draft proposes to remove the exclusion in the conceptual framework prohibiting recognition of purchased intangibles in financial statements. The proposal is limited to intangibles purchased through an exchange transaction. Removing the recognition prohibition on purchased intangibles would address a material imbalance in the statements of financial position of many Indigenous governments. These governments may finance the purchase of commercial fishing (and other) licenses with debt but cannot currently recognize the licenses as assets. The proposal may also have implications for other public sector entities that purchase intangibles.