Deloitte
Accounting Research Tool
...
Chapter 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents

4.6 Auction Rate Securities

4.6 Auction Rate Securities

Auction rate securities (ARSs) are distinct from other, more traditional securities. ARSs generally have long-term stated maturities; the issuer is not required to redeem the security until 20 to 30 years after issuance. However, for the investor, these securities have certain economic characteristics of short-term investments because of their rate-setting mechanism. The return on these securities is designed to track short-term interest rates through a “Dutch” auction process, which resets the coupon rate (or dividend rate).