Objective of IAS 33

The objective of IAS 33 is to prescribe principles for the determination and presentation of earnings per share (EPS) amounts in order to improve performance comparisons between different enterprises in the same period and between different accounting periods for the same enterprise.

Scope

IAS 33 applies to entities whose securities are publicly traded or that are in the process of issuing securities to the public. [IAS 33.2] Other entities that choose to present EPS information must also comply with IAS 33. [IAS 33.3]

If both parent and consolidated statements are presented in a single report, EPS is required only for the consolidated statements. [IAS 33.4]

Key Definitions {IAS 33.5]

Ordinary share: Also known as a common share or common stock. An equity instrument that is subordinate to all other classes of equity shares.

Potential ordinary share: A financial instrument or other contract that could result it its holder getting ordinary shares.

Dilution: A reduction in earnings per share or an increase in loss per share resulting from the assumption that convertible instruments are converted, that options or warrants are exercised, or that ordinary shares are issued upon the satisfaction of specified conditions.

Antidilution: An increase in earnings per share or a reduction in loss per share resulting from the assumption that convertible instruments are converted, that options or warrants are exercised, or that ordinary shares are issued upon the satisfaction of specified conditions.

Requirement to Present EPS

An entity whose securities are publicly traded (or that is in process of public issuance) must present, on the face of the income statement, basic and diluted earnings per share for: [IAS 33.66]

• profit or loss from continuing operations attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the parent entity; and
• profit or loss attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the parent entity for the period for each class of ordinary shares that has a different right to share in profit for the period.

Basic and diluted earnings per share must be presented with equal prominence for all periods presented. [IAS 33.66]

Basic and diluted EPS must be presented even if the amounts are negative (that is, a loss per share). [IAS 33.69]

If an entity reports a discontinued operation, basic and diluted amounts per share must be disclosed for the discontinued operation either on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial statements. [IAS 33.68]

Basic EPS

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing profit or loss attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent entity (the numerator) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (the denominator) during the period. [IAS 33.10]

The earnings numerators (profit or loss from continuing operations and net profit or loss) used for the calculation should be after deducting all expenses including taxes, minority interests, and preference dividends. [IAS 33.11]

The denominator is calculated by adjusting the shares in issue at the beginning of the period by the number of shares bought back or issued during the period, multiplied by a time-weighting factor. IAS 33 includes guidance on appropriate recognition dates for shares issued in various circumstances. [IAS 33.20-21]

Contingently issuable shares are included in the basic EPS denominator if the contingency has been met. [IAS 33.52]

Diluted EPS

Diluted EPS is calculated by adjusting the earnings and number of shares for the effects of dilutive options and other dilutive potential ordinary shares. [IAS 33.31] The effects of anti-dilutive potential ordinary shares are ignored in calculating diluted EPS. [IAS 33.41]

Retrospective Adjustments

The calculation of basic and diluted EPS for all periods presented is adjusted retrospectively when the number of ordinary or potential ordinary shares outstanding increases as a result of a capitalisation, bonus issue, or share split, or decreases as a result of a reverse share split. If such changes occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are authorised for issue, the per share calculations for those and any prior period financial statements presented are based on the new number of shares. Disclosure is required. [IAS 33.64]

Basic and diluted EPS are also adjusted for the effects of errors and adjustments resulting from changes in accounting policies, accounted for retrospectively. [IAS 33.64]

Diluted EPS for prior periods should not be adjusted for changes in the assumptions used or for the conversion of potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares outstanding. [IAS 33.65]

Disclosure

If EPS is presented, the following disclosures are required: [IAS 33.70]

• The amounts used as the numerators in calculating basic and diluted EPS, and a reconciliation of those amounts to profit or loss attributable to the parent entity for the period.
• The weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating basic and diluted EPS, and a reconciliation of these denominators to each other.
• Instruments (including contingently issuable shares) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future, but were not included in the calculation of diluted EPS because they are antidilutive for the period(s) presented.
• A description of those ordinary share transactions or potential ordinary share transactions that occur after the balance sheet date and that would have changed significantly the number of ordinary shares or potential ordinary shares outstanding at the end of the period if those transactions had occurred before the end of the reporting period. Examples include issues and redemptions of ordinary shares, warrants and options, conversions, and exercises.

An entity is permitted to disclose amounts per share other than profit or loss from continuing operations, discontinued operations, and net profit or loss earnings per share. Guidance for calculating and presenting such amounts is included in IAS 33.73.