FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) have narrowed their focus in anticipation of a vote next month on a lessee accounting model in their joint convergence project on leases. During deliberation Thursday, the boards ceased consideration of two of the four lessee accounting models that had been proposed.
FASB financial accounting & reporting
New private company council includes FASB, but in reduced role
The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) voted Wednesday to create a Private Company Council (PCC) to identify and vote on differences in U.S. GAAP for private companies. FASB will be responsible for “endorsement” rather than “ratification” of the newly created council’s decisions. The PCC will decide on exceptions and modifications to
FASB nearing release of invitation to comment on disclosure framework
A disclosure framework project that FASB has been developing for almost two years is scheduled to reach a milestone in June or July with the issuance of invitation for public comment, FASB Chairman Leslie Seidman said Thursday. Seidman said the three main objectives of the framework project are determining what
SEC asks FASB to review accounting for hedging derivatives when counterparties change
The SEC has asked FASB to review elements of accounting for derivatives contracts designated as hedging instruments as part of FASB’s existing project on financial instruments, according to a letter posted on the SEC’s website. SEC Chief Accountant James Kroeker sent a letter dated May 11 to Dan Palomaki, chairman
FASB clarifications include plans for qualitative disclosures for financial instruments
FASB on Wednesday clarified its plans regarding requirements for specific qualitative disclosures and the definition of “financial institution” that will be included in the liquidity disclosures section of its proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) on accounting for financial instruments. The board decided that a reporting entity should provide any additional
FASB to revisit going-concern question
FASB on Wednesday decided to revisit the question of whether management should be required to assess if there is doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The decision came as a result of FASB’s recent decision not to pursue going-concern-type disclosures in its project about liquidity
FASB makes decisions in project to define nonpublic entity
FASB made two important decisions Wednesday in its project to define a nonpublic entity. An entity that is required to file or furnish financial statements with the SEC to issue securities to be traded in a public market should not be included in the definition of a private company, FASB
FASB and IASB make progress on insurance project
FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) reached tentative decisions on reinsurance and issues related to policy loans and contract modifications, including riders, in their ongoing, joint convergence project on insurance. The progress on insurance during last week’s joint board meeting was reported on FASB’s website, where the full
Tweedie: U.S. decision is key to future of international standards
Three former standard setters – who served the accounting profession through the early days of the financial crisis – talked at length Tuesday during a two-hour panel discussion in New York about the U.S. adoption of IFRS, integrated reporting, and the political pressure that standard setters can face. “Shaping the
Final standards in convergence projects expected by mid-2013
FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) expect to issue final, joint standards in their major convergence projects by mid-2013, according to a report to the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Plenary on Accounting Convergence posted Monday on the IASB website. The boards expect to begin redeliberations on their joint
Tweedie, Herz, Cherry to discuss financial reporting
Last spring, when he was chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), Sir David Tweedie made a case for principles-based accounting standards. “I believe that this approach is superior,” he said during a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Tweedie was advocating for standards based on principles rather
FASB and IASB clarify expected credit loss estimate attributes
FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Wednesday clarified the attributes of an expected credit loss estimate as part of an ongoing joint convergence project on accounting for financial instruments. With the clarification, the boards addressed concerns about the use of the term “expected value,” according to a
FASB, IASB tentatively agree on two financial instruments items
Tentative, joint decisions reached by FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Tuesday will affect the business model assessment for classifying financial assets at amortized costs, and bifurcation of financial assets and financial liabilities. According to a summary posted on FASB’s website, the boards tentatively made decisions related
The look ahead: FASB and IASB meet in London; GASB discusses financial projections and pensions
FASB and IASB to meet in London Discussions on insurance contracts and financial instruments lead the agenda for four days of joint meetings between FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), which are taking place through Thursday in London. Webcasts of each day’s discussions and a full agenda are
FASB makes decision on qualitative going-concern disclosures
FASB decided Wednesday that it will not require qualitative disclosures about an entity’s ability to remain a going concern that would supplement the proposed quantitative disclosures about liquidity risks, according to a summary of board decisions posted on its website. Earlier in the week, FASB also issued proposals on three
FASB to issue proposals on three EITF issues
FASB decided Monday to expose for public comment three proposed Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) based on consensuses reached at the March 15 meeting of the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), according to its summary of board decisions. The proposed ASUs deal with sales of donated securities by not-for-profits; accounting for
Financial reporting
In a move that will be closely scrutinized in the United States, the IFRS Foundation Monitoring Board and trustees announced joint plans for improving the governance and financing of the International Accounting Standards Board’s parent organization and setting its strategy. The monitoring board, a group of public authorities, will
Repurchase agreements added to FASB’s agenda
In response to concerns from stakeholders, FASB on Wednesday added repurchase agreements and similar transactions to its agenda. In repurchase agreements, an entity transfers financial assets with an agreement that entitles and obligates the transferor to repurchase the financial assets at a fixed price at a later date. If the
Review of FIN 48 isn’t necessary, FASB decides
FASB has concluded that it is not necessary to review or reconsider FIN 48 as a result of a “post-implementation review” conducted by FASB’s parent organization, the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF). The FAF review found that FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), is resulting
Debate continues over auditor independence and audit firm rotation
On Wednesday and Thursday, what’s likely to be a robust discussion on audit firm rotation for public companies in the United States kicks off. Meanwhile, markets will get a glimpse of the U.S. housing situation, and FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) will meet in London to discuss
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