Transfer of an economic resource The second criterion for a liability is that the obligation is to transfer an
economic resource.
To satisfy this criterion, the obligation must have the potential to require the
entity to transfer an economic resource to another party (or parties). For that
potential to exist, it does not need to be certain, or even likely, that the entity
will be required to transfer an economic resource—the transfer may, for
example, be required only if a specified uncertain future event occurs. It is
only necessary that the obligation already exists and that, in at least one
circumstance, it would require the entity to transfer an economic resource.
An obligation can meet the definition of a liability even if the probability of a
transfer of an economic resource is low. Nevertheless, that low probability
might affect decisions about what information to provide about the liability
and how to provide that information, including decisions about whether the
liability is recognised (see paragraphs 5.15–5.17) and how it is measured.
Obligations to transfer an economic resource include, for example:
(a)
obligations to pay cash.
(b)
obligations to deliver goods or provide services.
(c)
obligations to exchange economic resources with another party on
unfavourable terms. Such obligations include, for example, a forward
contract to sell an economic resource on terms that are currently
unfavourable or an option that entitles another party to buy an
economic resource from the entity.
(d)
obligations to transfer an economic resource if a specified uncertain
future event occurs.
(e)
obligations to issue a financial instrument if that financial instrument
will oblige the entity to transfer an economic resource.
Instead of fulfilling an obligation to transfer an economic resource to the
