The topics covered during the meeting were the following (numbers in brackets are references to the corresponding paragraphs of the summary):

• Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (1–14): ASAF members discussed the definition of a liability and supporting concepts as well as IASB staff recommendations for the approach to capital maintenance.
• Country-by-country reporting (15–19): Australia's AASB sought the views of ASAF members on proposals to improve the understandability of disclosures to comply with IAS 12 Income Tax.
• IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement—Post -implementation Review (20–27): ASAF members discussed feedback from Phase 1 of the PIR of IFRS 13 and gave advice on next steps.
• Rate-regulated Activities (28–39): ASAF members considered whether the staff’s preliminary proposals for a new accounting model for rate-regulated activities addressed their previously expressed concerns about: (1) scope of the model, (2) interactions with other IFRS Standards and the Conceptual Framework, and (3) segregating identifiable rate adjustments from the overall changes in value of the regulatory licence/agreement.
• Disclosure Initiative (40–48): The IASB staff provided an update on the progress of a report that will provide examples of entities that have improved the way they communicate in their financial statements.
• Digital currency (49–58): A paper was introduced asking ASAF members for their views on whether and how the Board should address digital currency issues. After a discussion, the IASB decided to continue monitoring developments in this area.
• Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity (59–61): The IASB staff updated the ASAF members and asked for input on the Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity research project and its outreach.
• Insurance Contracts project (62–70): ASAF members were updated on IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, including the IASB’s tentative decisions at its November 2016 meeting and the next steps for the publication of the new Standard, which is expected in March 2017. (Note: The expected date has by now been delayed to May 2017 as result of the January 2017 IASB meeting.)
• Update by ASAF members on activities (71): ASAF members gave an update on their activities.
• Project updates and agenda planning (72): ASAF members were updated on current IASB projects.

A full summary of the meeting is available on the IASB's website.

The first paper is informed by a survey of CFA Institute members and sheds light on investor uses, expectations, and concerns on non-GAAP financial measures. It establishes that company-reported non-GAAP financial measures are useful for investors who apply them for varied reasons but who also make further adjustments including reversing questionable adjustments. The survey also shows that investors have concerns around the communication, consistency, comparability across periods and similar companies, and transparency of non-GAAP financial measures.

The second paper builds on the first one and articulates actions required to improve communication of these measures and enhance the overall performance reporting framework. For instance, the investors surveyed believe that securities regulators have a vital role in imposing discipline around the reporting of non-GAAP financial measures. And they are of the view that concerns around non-GAAP financial measures should serve as a catalyst for the IASB and the FASB to enhance their primary financial statements’ presentation and classification requirements, including defining key subtotals.

Both papers can be downloaded from the CFA Institute's website:

• Investor Uses, Expectations and Concerns on Non-GAAP Financial Measures
• Bridging the Gap: Ensuring Effective Non-GAAP and Performance Reporting

The first meeting for 2017 had a light agenda, with the IASB meeting in public on Wednesday 18 January 2017.

Exposure drafts and Standards

The Board continued its discussions from December 2016 on a possible amendment to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments in relation to symmetric prepayment options, to allow instruments with a prepayment options to qualify for amortised cost measurement. The Board decided to proceed to issue an exposure draft, with the goal of finalising the amendment so that it can have an effective date of 1 January 2018.

The staff gave the Board an oral update on the Insurance Contracts project. They need to bring some minor issues back to the Board in February as a result of the feedback they received from an extended fatal flaw review. This will push the expected publication date for IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts to May 2017.

The Board was told that the staff had received positive feedback from testing the wording of an exposure draft to clarify the difference between an accounting policy and a change in estimate.

Framework

The Conceptual Framework session focused on factors specific to initial measurement and the use of more than one measurement basis. The Board also confirmed the proposals to update the references in Standards and Interpretations to the Conceptual Framework.

Maintenance

The first session focused on a post-implementation review of IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. The requirements in IFRS 13 are substantially the same as those in the FASB’s requirements, the two boards having worked to have converged standards. The Board decided to move ahead with a post-implementation review and to issue a request for information as part of that process. The request for views is expected to be published within the next six months.

More information

Please click to access the detailed notes taken by Deloitte observers for the entire meeting.

The topics discussed at the meeting included:

• IASB and Interpretations Committee Update. Members were given an overview of the IASB's work plan and how it reflects the messages received during the Board’s 2015 Agenda Consultation. They discussed the relevance of IFRSs in view of the recent developments in integrated reporting and the increasing use of alternative performance measures. They also considered the process with respect to national standard-setters’ projects that contribute to IASB projects.
• Post-implementation Review of IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. As a part of phase 1 of the review, the staff sought feedback from the GPF members on their experience with implementing IFRS 13. The GPF members noted that IFRS 13 was generally working well but commented on some smaller matters.
• Education Initiative commercial publications. The purpose of the session was to discuss possible improvements to A Guide through IFRS Standards (the ‘Green Book’) and A Briefing for Chief Executives, Audit Committees and Boards of Directors. As regards the Green Book, members commented on the basis of preparation, possible modifications, format of publication, and language and timing. On the second publication, members questioned whether the format of the publication was appropriate for the target audience and made several suggestions in this regard.
• Definition of a business. The purpose of this session was to understand and discuss GPF members’ views on the exposure draft. Views were mixed and comments diverse.

The next GPF meeting will be held on 8 March 2017. The full meeting summary is available on the IASB's website.

Below is an analysis of all changes made to the work plan since the last update in December 2016.

Research projects

• Disclosure initiative: Principles of Disclosure — the long awaited discussion paper is now expected in April

Standard-setting and related projects

• Disclosure initiative: Materiality (practice statement) — the expected publication of the practice statement has moved forward and is now given as "within 6 months"
• Insurance contracts — the expected issuance of the IFRS has been delayed to May since the fatal flaw review revealed some small issues that the staff wants to lay before the Board before finalising the draft

Nar­row-scope amend­ments

• Improvements to IFRS 8 resulting from the post-implementation review of IFRS 8 — the expected publication of an exposure draft is now expected in April
• Symmetric prepayment options — following yesterday's decision to take a related project onto the agenda, the IASB now announces that it expects to publish an exposure draft on the issue in April
• Annual improvements to IFRSs 2015-2017 — following the publication of an exposure draft of proposed amendments earlier this month, the project is now marked as being in consultation phase with a decision on the project direction expected "within 6 months"

IFRS Taxonomy

• In line with the delayed expected publication of the new insurance standard, the publication of a proposed related IFRS Taxonomy Update has also been pushed back to May

Post-implementation reviews

• After the IASB has decided to move forward with a post-implementation review of IFRS 13, it now announces that it expects to issue a request for information "within 6 months"

The revised IASB work plan is available on the IASB's website.

The existing membership of the group has been in place over three years, and some of the members have given up there roles or have indicated that they will need to do so in the near future. Therefore, EFRAG has decided to renew the composition of the group.

The size of the group is limited to 16 members, and the selection of members will aim to ensure a good mix of different professional backgrounds. Current members are eligible for reappointment. The application period ends on 20 February 2017.

For more information, please see the EFRAG press release.

The project will look into whether a narrow-scope exception could be made to allow instruments with symmetric prepayment options to qualify for amortised cost or fair value through other comprehensive income measurement because they would otherwise fail the SPPI condition. Please see our summary of the agenda paper and the IASB's discussion for more details.

IVS 2017 consist of five general standards and six asset standards. The general standards offer guidance for all valuation assignments including terms of a valuation engagement, bases of value, valuation approaches and methods, and reporting. The asset standards include requirements related to specific types of assets.

More information and ordering details are available through the press release on the IVSC website.

The project “aims to tackle concerns that the voices of key groups such as employees, customers and suppliers are not being heard at the highest levels of British business”.  

The ICSA and IA will produce practical guidance as to how Boards can enhance their understanding of the interests of employees and other stakeholders in accordance with their duties under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006.  The guidance will cover: 

• the ways in which companies can identify non-executive directors with relevant stakeholder experience
• the processes by which boards can receive the views of their key stakeholders; and
• how training and induction can be used to enhance directors’ understanding of their duties and the interests of, and impact on, different stakeholders. 

The voluntary guidance, which will be published in the second quarter of 2017, will also offer options as to how companies might demonstrate how they have fulfilled their duties in this area. 

The press release is available on the ICSA website.

The panel will provide expert advice on EFRAG’s research project looking at possible improvements to the current requirements for accounting for pension plans under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).  

The advisory panel will support EFRAG’s Technical Expert Group (EFRAG TEG) on this project and ensure that the wider European perspective is reflected in the work. 

The panel is expected to have between 10 to 12 members and is expected to meet in person quarterly.  Members should have good knowledge of the broader economics related to pensions with strong technical expertise on pension accounting matters as well as more general IFRS issues and practice. 

Full details and terms of reference are available on the EFRAG website.