Joint IASB–FASB Education Meeting

The topics being discussed are mainly those related to Standards that the IASB and FASB developed together, or are largely converged, as well as new topics that both boards have on their work programmes.

Segment Reporting

The IASB’s and FASB’s Standards on segment reporting (IFRS 8 Segment Reporting and Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280, Segment Reporting) are largely converged. The IASB will provide a summary of its post-implementation review of IFRS 8 and explain why it decided not to finalise the amendments to IFRS 8 it had exposed. The FASB will outline the targeted changes related to the segment aggregation process that it is considering making to Topic 280.

Primary Financial Statements and Financial Performance Reporting

Both boards are working on projects related to the primary financial statements. The IASB will give an overview of its Primary Financial Statements project and the FASB will update IASB members on the background and scope of its Financial Performance Reporting. The FASB is focusing on two types of improvements: disaggregation of performance information; and the structure of the performance statement (subtotals).

Disclosure Initiative and the Disclosure Framework

Both boards are working on projects related to improving disclosures in the financial statements. The IASB will provide an update on its Disclosure Initiative—in particular the Principles of Disclosure and Targeted Standards-level Review of Disclosures projects. The FASB will give an update on its Disclosure Framework project.

Fair Value

The IASB’s and FASB’s Standards on measuring fair value (IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement and Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement) are largely converged.

The FASB has developed amendments to the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements which it plans to finalise, by updating Topic 820, in the third quarter of 2018. The FASB will provide an overview of those changes. The IASB will set out the role of post-implementation reviews and provide some background on IFRS 13, including differences between Topic 820 and IFRS 13. The staff will then summarise the main messages received and how the IASB plans to consider the usefulness of disclosures as part of its work on ‘Better Communication in Financial Reporting’.

Goodwill and Impairment

The IASB and FASB requirements for business combinations were developed jointly. The requirements for the initial recognition and measurement of goodwill are therefore largely converged. The IASB and FASB requirements for the allocation of goodwill to cash-generating units and impairment are similar, but there are differences. Both boards have projects looking at goodwill. The boards will share information about those projects.

Implementation

The boards will share information about their respective implementation support activities undertaken regarding revenue recognition and leases.

Update on all projects not otherwise covered

The boards will provide updates on their projects that will not otherwise be discussed during the Joint Education Session.

IASB Meeting

Disclosure Initiative

This session has three threads: Better Communication in Financial Reporting; Targeted Standards-level Review of Disclosures—Guidance for the Board; and Materiality.

The staff will provide the background to, and current status of, the projects in Better Communication in Financial Reporting (Primary Financial Statements, Principles of Disclosure, Targeted Standards-level Review of Disclosures, Definition of Material, Management Commentary and IFRS Taxonomy) and ask the Board whether it is satisfied with the current interaction and distinction between them.

The staff will present an analysis and recommendations to the Board about the development of ‘Guidance for the Board’ to use when developing and drafting disclosure objectives and requirements. One recommendation is that a member of the IFRS Taxonomy team should be assigned to each projects to assist with developing disclosure objectives and requirements. The staff have identified nine Standards as potential candidates for the targeted Standards-level review.

The IASB will continue to consider the feedback on its proposed amendments to the definition of material. At this session they will consider feedback on effective date, ‘immaterial’ vs. ‘not material’, the materiality practice statement, use of the term ‘material’ and the definition of material of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB).

Dynamic Risk Management (DRM)

The staff are recommending that the IASB address as part of the first phase of DRM project the derivative financial instruments that may be used as the hedging instruments for DRM and their designation and de-designation. The staff will explain what performance means in the context of DRM and the information that about DRM activities that should be provided in the statement of profit or loss. 

Research programme

The staff will give a general update on the research programme.

IBOR reform

The staff are recommending that the IASB start a research project to consider the effects on financial reporting of potential discontinuation of IBORs (interest reference rates such as LIBOR, EURIBOR and TIBOR).

Primary Financial Statements

In developing the proposals for primary financial statements the staff have been focusing on non-financial entities. At this meeting the staff will present its preliminary analysis and observations about whether the tentative decisions made so far could apply, with little or no change, to financial entities.  Among the topics to be discussed are management performance areas; the principles of disaggregation in the financial statements, disaggregation of expenses by nature and by function; other comprehensive income; EBIT; income and expenses from investments; and the Statement of cash flows. The papers do not include any staff recommendations. The staff are seeking feedback on their preliminary analysis.

Insurance Contracts

The staff are recommending that the IASB propose, as part of its annual improvements cycle, a series of amendments to IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts. This is to address problems where the drafting of IFRS 17 does not achieve what the Board intended.

Implementation

The staff are recommending that the IASB not finalise the amendments it proposed and exposed to IFRIC 14 IAS 19—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction.

Islamic Finance Consultative Group Update

The staff will provide a summary of the March 2018 meeting of the Islamic Finance Consultative Group.

Business Combinations under Common Control 

The staff are seeking feedback on which approach, or approaches, they should pursue for BCUCC that affect non-controlling shareholders. The staff propose exploring the Ceiling approach further as well as assessing the acquisition method as set out in IFRS 3.

More information

Our pre-meeting summaries are available on our June meeting note page and will be supplemented with our popular meeting notes after the meeting.