Using properties in a parent reference causes problems

[Morgovsky, Alexander \(US - Glen Mills\)]

I defined some properties in my profile in my settings.xml file.  These
properties get resolved correctly unless they are used in a parent
reference.  Is this is a bug?

<profiles>
    <profile>
      <activation>
        <activeByDefault>true</activeByDefault>
      </activation>
      <properties>
        <app_version>1.0.0</app_version>
      </properties>
    </profile>
</profiles>

Works:

<dependency>
        <artifactId>a</artifactId>
        <groupId>a</groupId>
        <version>${app_version}</version>
</dependency>

Does not work:

<parent>
        <artifactId>a</artifactId>
        <groupId>a</groupId>
        <version>${app_version}</version>
</parent>

Please help. 


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