Statement of Changes in Equity

Definition

Statement of Changes in Equity, often referred to as Statement of Retained Earnings in U.S. GAAP,
details the change in owners' equity over an accounting period by presenting the movement in
reserves comprising the shareholders' equity.

Movement in shareholders' equity over an accounting period comprises the following elements:

Net profit or loss during the accounting period attributable to shareholders

Increase or decrease in share capital reserves

Dividend payments to shareholders

Gains and losses recognized directly in equity

Effect of changes in accounting policies

Effect of correction of prior period error

Following are the main elements of statement of changes in equity:

Opening Balance

This represents the balance of shareholders' equity reserves at the start of the comparative
reporting period as reflected in the prior period's statement of financial position. The opening
balance is unadjusted in respect of the correction of prior period errors rectified in the current
period and also the effect of changes in accounting policy implemented during the year as these are
presented separately in the statement of changes in equity (see below).

Effect of Changes in Accounting Policies

Since changes in accounting policies are applied retrospectively, an adjustment is required in

stockholders' reserves at the start of the comparative reporting period to restate the opening equity
to the amount that would be arrived if the new accounting policy had always been applied.

Effect of Correction of Prior Period Error

The effect of correction of prior period errors must be presented separately in the statement of
changes in equity as an adjustment to opening reserves. The effect of the corrections may not be
netted off against the opening balance of the equity reserves so that the amounts presented in
current period statement might be easily reconciled and traced from prior period financial
statements.

Restated Balance

This represents the equity attributable to stockholders at the start of the comparative period after
the adjustments in respect of changes in accounting policies and correction of prior period errors as
explained above.

Changes in Share Capital

Issue of further share capital during the period must be added in the statement of changes in equity
whereas redemption of shares must be deducted therefrom. The effects of issue and redemption of
shares must be presented separately for share capital reserve and share premium reserve.

Dividends

Dividend payments issued or announced during the period must be deducted from shareholder
equity as they represent distribution of wealth attributable to stockholders.

Income / Loss for the period

This represents the profit or loss attributable to shareholders during the period as reported in the
income statement.

Changes in Revaluation Reserve

Revaluation gains and losses recognized during the period must be presented in the statement of
changes in equity to the extent that they are recognized outside the income statement. Revaluation
gains recognized in income statement due to reversal of previous impairment losses however shall
not be presented separately in the statement of changes in equity as they would already be
incorporated in the profit or loss for the period.

Other Gains & Losses

Any other gains and losses not recognized in the income statement may be presented in the
statement of changes in equity such as actuarial gains and losses arising from the application of IAS
19 Employee Benefit.

Closing Balance

This represents the balance of shareholders' equity reserves at the end of the reporting period as
reflected in the statement of financial position.