October

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UK adjustments to IFRSs for regulatory capital

31 Oct 2004

The UK Financial Services Authority has published a consultation paper proposing four adjustments to capital as measured under IFRSs for the purpose of measuring "prudential regulatory capital" in the financial services industry.

FSA Press Release (PDF 54k, contains link to consultation paper and a related newsletter):
  • In the treatment of cash-flow hedges, we propose to eliminate from the measurement of regulatory capital all fair value gains and losses arising from the fair valuation of derivatives that have been accumulated in equity;
  • In the treatment of available-for-sale assets we propose to follow the US approach and to leave equities at fair value, but write available-for-sale debt instruments back to cost or amortised cost;
  • For fair value options we propose that unrealised gains or losses arising from the fair valuation of a firm's own credit risk should be eliminated from regulatory capital; and
  • In accounting for defined benefit pension schemes we propose that the accounting measure of actuarial losses should be eliminated for regulatory purposes. It should be replaced by the company's best estimate of the level of additional funding that it will need to provide for its pension scheme over the next five years.
United Kingdom Image

UK FSA letter to CEOs on IFRSs

31 Oct 2004

The UK Financial Services Authority has written to the CEOs of all listed companies reminding them of the need for disclosure of their application of IAS 39 (particularly if they elect to follow the EC version with two 'carve-outs') and stating that FSA will allow listed companies 120 days, rather than the normal 90 days, to prepare their first half-yearly accounts under IFRSs.

Click to Download the FSA Letter (PDF 195k).
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A global 'shareholder society'

30 Oct 2004

In his recent Remarks before the International Organization of Securities Commissions, US SEC Chairman William H.

Donaldson highlighted the importance of providing credible financial information in all of the world's public capital markets:

The work we are doing on U.S. markets, and the work all of you are doing in your markets, is part and parcel of a broader issue: the movement of millions of people throughout the world into what has been called 'the shareholder society.' While share ownership has historically been limited to the wealthier nations of the world, today it can be found in all corners of the globe. More than 13 million households in India are directly invested in debt or equity shares, based on the most recent statistics. And there are believed to be approximately 36 million active equity investors in China.

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Near-final drafts of two pronouncements are posted

30 Oct 2004

The IASB has posted "near-final drafts" of the IFRIC Amendment to SIC-12 (to include equity compensation plans) and of IFRS 6 (Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources) in the subscriber area of the IASB Website.

These will be publicly available in the next several days.
European Union (old) Image

Proposed amendments to 4th and 7th Directives

29 Oct 2004

The European Commission has proposed certain corporate governance amendments to Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC (the Fourth and Seventh Directives) concerning the annual accounts of certain types of companies and consolidated accounts.

Objectives of the revisions are to establish the collective responsibility of board members for a company's financial statements and annual reports; enhance transparency about related party transactions (companies' transaction with their managers, managers' family members, and others); expand disclosures about off-balance arrangements (including commitments and special purpose entities); and introduce a corporate governance statement. Click to download: Other language versions can be found on the EC Website.
IFRIC (International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee) (blue) Image

Agenda for IFRIC's November 2004 meeting

29 Oct 2004

The International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) will meet at the IASB's offices in London for two days: 4 and 5 November 2004. Presented below is the agenda for the meeting. .

The International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) will meet at the IASB's offices in London for two days: 4 and 5 November 2004. Presented below is the agenda for the meeting.

Agenda, IFRIC Meeting, 4-5 November 2004, London

Thursday 4 November 2004

  • Scope of IFRS 2
  • IFRS 2 - Changes in Employee Contributions to ESPPs
  • IFRS 2 Treasury Share Transactions and Group Transactions
  • Report of Agenda Committee and Activities of Other Interpretation Bodies
  • Accounting for Service Concessions – The IFRIC will re-debate two matters on which it reached tentative conclusions at previous meetings:
    • the circumstances in which the operator has a financial (as opposed to intangible) asset; and
    • the circumstances in which a financial asset cannot be classified as a loan or receivable.
  • Publication of Reasons for Rejecting IFRIC Proposals
Friday 5 November 2004 (Morning Only)
Kazakhstan Image

All banks in Kazakhstan must use IFRSs

28 Oct 2004

For several years, banks in Kazakhstan that chose to participate in that country's deposit insurance fund have been required to prepare financial statements using IFRSs as well as Kazakh reporting standards.

Starting in 2004, all banks are required to participate in the deposit insurance programme. Therefore, all Kazakh banks will prepare IFRS financial statements for 2004. Click to go to our Table of Country Use of IFRSs.

 

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All Bulgarian companies must use IFRSs starting 2005

28 Oct 2004

As of 1 January 2003, all listed companies, banks, insurance companies, and pension funds in Bulgaria were required to use International Financial Reporting Standards.

Other companies had the option of applying IFRSs or continuing to use Bulgarian GAAP. Starting in 2005, the other companies will be required to switch to IFRSs. The Bulgarian Ministry of Finance is developing a Bulgarian translation of IFRSs.
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IASC Foundation reappoints three trustees

28 Oct 2004

The Trustees of the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation have reappointed three of the Trustees, effective 1 January 2005, to additional three year terms ending 31 December 2007. The three are Malcolm Knight, general manager, Bank for International Settlements; Jens Roder, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Denmark; and Roberto Teixeira da Costa, chairman, Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Trustees have also announced that John Biggs, Guido Ferrarini, and Koji Tajika will retire as Trustees when their terms expire on 31 December 2004. A search has started for candidates to fill the vacancies. Click for:
PCAOB (US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) (dark gray) Image

PCAOB proposes $153 million budget for 2005

27 Oct 2004

The US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has approved a budget of $152.8 million for 2005. The PCAOB oversees the auditors of public companies, including auditors of foreign companies registered with the SEC, to protect the interests of investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, fair, and independent audit reports.

The 2005 budget, which must be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, provides for a 50% increase in staffing, from approximately 300 expected by the end of 2004 to approximately 450 by the end of 2005. The increase will primarily add experienced auditors to conduct inspections of the registered public accounting firms that audit the financial statements of SEC registrants. At 25 October 2004, there were 1,369 registered public accounting firms, of which 850 have at least one public company audit client. Click for More Information.

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