The revisions to IAS 23 result from the Board’s Short-term Convergence project. The
project is being conducted jointly with the United States standard-setter, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The objective of the project is to reduce
differences between IFRSs and US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
that are capable of resolution in a relatively short time and can be addressed outside
major projects. The revisions to IAS 23 are principally concerned with the elimination
of one of the two treatments that exist for borrowing costs directly attributable to the
acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset. The application of only one
method will enhance comparability. For the reasons set out below, the Board decided to
eliminate the option of immediate recognition of such borrowing costs as an expense. It
believes this will result in an improvement in financial reporting as well as achieving
convergence in principle with US GAAP.