Excerpt: The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on February 19, 2004 issued its much anticipated International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) on accounting for equity-based compensation (EBC), referred to as 'IFRS 2 Share-based Payment'.... The IASB's final standard becomes effective on a 'modified retroactive' basis beginning on January 1, 2005, and with few exceptions, will apply broadly to all types of EBC transactions with employees and nonemployees.