News

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SEC Chairman demonstrates benefits of XBRL

25 Oct 2006

In a keynote speech at the 39th Annual Securities Regulation Seminar in Los Angeles, US SEC Chairman Christopher Cox demonstrated how to use three different software packages to download and analyse financial and other data reported to the SEC in XBRL format.

Chairman Cox's speech is titled Giving Investors the Information They Need, In a Form They Can Use (PDF 69k). He demonstrated the XBRL software by using actual XBRL data filed with the SEC by voluntary XBRL reporting companies. The three products are (click for their websites): Around two dozen XBRL products are listed on XBRL International's Website. Chairman Cox said:

This isn't just a dream, it's soon to be reality. And to make sure the dream comes true, the SEC recently committed over $50 million to do what's necessary to give these very capabilities to every investor – from the professional analyst to the amateur stock picker – in the very near future. And by that I mean months, not years.
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IASB posts 'near-final' service concessions draft

25 Oct 2006

The IASB has made the Near-final Draft of IFRIC 11 Service Concession Arrangements available on its website.

It is our current understanding that the IASB will invite those constituents who commented on the draft interpretations (D12, D13, and D14) to attend a public meeting in November during the Board meeting week (week of 13 November 2006) to provide comments on the posted draft. The IASB expects to approve the final interpretation later that week. There is no public call for comments on the IASB website. Our Project Page has details of IFRIC's deliberations on service concessions over the past three years. The Deloitte Observer Notes from the Board's October 2006 meeting stated:

IFRIC X Service Concession Arrangements

At its September 2006 meeting the IFRIC decided to present the revised draft text of IFRIC X Service Concession Arrangements to the Board as a final draft and that the Board should be asked for approval to issue the Interpretation (see our Report of This Meeting elsewhere on www.iasplus.com.

The Board briefly discussed the revised draft text without making other than editorial changes to it.

The Board unanimously supported the revised draft. It was decided to post the revised draft on the IASB website and to give constituents an opportunity to comment on it within a short comment period. The Board intends to approve a final Interpretation at its November 2006 meeting.
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Reminder about three upcoming comment deadlines

25 Oct 2006

We remind you that the deadlines are approaching for responding to the following comment documents:

Comment document

Deadline

IFRIC Draft Interpretation D19: IAS 19–The Asset Ceiling: Availability of Economic Benefits and Minimum Funding Requirements

31 October 2006

Discussion Paper: Preliminary Views on an improved Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting: The Objective of Financial Reporting and Qualitative Characteristics of Decision-useful Financial Reporting Information

3 November 2006

IFRIC Draft Interpretation D20: Customer Loyalty Programmes

6 November 2006
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Japanese plan for convergence toward IFRSs

24 Oct 2006

The Accounting Standards Board of Japan (ASBJ) has released its Project Plan Concerning the Development of Japanese Accounting Standards to explain the status of its initiatives toward convergence with IFRSs.

The plan has been developed, in part, in response to the June 2005 Report to the European Commission from the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) (PDF 1,063k), which identified 26 matters for which 'remedies' should be required if the European Commission decides to continue to allow Japanese companies to trade on European securities markets using financial statements prepared in conformity with Japanese accounting standards. The ASBJ's plan outlines the work planned to be achieved through the end of 2007 and the anticipated convergence status as of the beginning of 2008 for each of the 26 issues identified by CESR. The ASBJ has also released a Table Summarising the Project Plan (PDF 62k) as an attachment to its overall project plan.
Click for full Project Plan (PDF 107k).
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Heads Up on PCAOB Q&A and IRS initiative

24 Oct 2006

Deloitte & Touche LLP (United States) has published a Heads Up newsletter summarising the following items:

  •  the PCAOB's recently issued staff questions and answers on auditing the fair value of share options (there's a link to download the Q&A in our news story of 17 October 2006), and
  • the new IRS initiative to resolve uncertain tax positions before entities adopt FASB Interpretation 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes–an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. Click to Download the Heads Up Newsletter (PDF 120k).
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Deloitte comments on IFRIC tentative agenda decisions

23 Oct 2006

At each of its meetings, the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee considers recommendations of its Agenda Committee about potential IFRIC agenda topics.

When the IFRIC initially decides Not to Put a Topic on its Agenda, they report that tentative decision in the IFRIC Update newsletter and invite comments before making a final agenda decision. In September 2006, Deloitte adopted a policy of providing written comments to the IFRIC on all tentative agenda decisions. We will post on IAS Plus those Deloitte letters considered particularly significant, including those on which we disagree on a matter of principle. We recently submitted five letters to the IFRIC in response to their September 2006 tentative agenda decisions, and we believe that the following letter deals with a significant matter of principle: IAS 39 – Testing of hedge effectiveness on a cumulative basis (PDF 122k). An excerpt:

We support the IFRIC's decision not to take this item onto the agenda as IAS 39 is clear. We believe the rejection wording could be clearer in differentiating between assessment of hedge effectiveness (for the purposes of determining whether the hedge is 'highly effective' in accordance with IAS 39.88(e)) and measurement of effectiveness (for the purposes of determining the amount of hedge ineffectiveness to be recognised in profit or loss). Differentiating between assessment and measurement is the crux of this issue. We have proposed an amendment to the rejection wording included in the Appendix to make this clear.
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Deloitte comments on ED on puttable instruments

23 Oct 2006

Deloitte has submitted to the IASB our comments on the IASB's Exposure Draft 'Financial Instruments Puttable at Fair Value and Obligations Arising on Liquidation'.

Over overall view:

We agree that the Exposure Draft meets the objective of a limited scope exception. However, we question the technical justification for this change and why this proposed amendment is warranted when it has limited application, adds further complexity to the definition of liability/equity in IAS 32 (which already forms part of a wider modified joint project with FASB) and there are plenty of other issues with IAS 32 which are subject to that wider IASB project, on which these amendments have an impact.
Click for Links to All Deloitte Comment Letters to IASB and IASC.
Click for Exposure Draft (PDF 139k).
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Deloitte 2006 review emphasises our support for IFRSs

23 Oct 2006

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's Worldwide Member Firms 2006 Review reports worldwide revenues for the year ended 31 May 2006 of US$20 billion, an increase of 11.5 percent in local currencies.

The 84-page annual review addresses various issues currently being debated across capital markets that consider how best to meet investor demand for reliable and timely financial data. Deloitte reiterated our strong support for International Financial Reporting Standards, for national adoption of IFRSs as a whole without modifications, and for convergence of IFRSs and US GAAP:

Achieving global consistency In a global economy, investors would benefit significantly from consistent high-quality financial reporting across markets. This, however, can only be achieved if there is greater uniformity in the way accounting, governance, business practice standards, regulation, and oversight systems are developed and applied. Importantly, such consistency would support the improvements professional services firms have made in enhancing audit quality.

Deloitte member firms support the adoption and implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). As countries undertake this task, their ultimate objective should be to implement IFRS as a whole to avoid the formation of hybrid standards and therefore inconsistency. Further, preparers and issuers must be given sufficient time to adjust to the global standards, so that implementation is effective and consistent with the way the standards were intended to be applied.

Deloitte member firms also strongly support the efforts of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board to achieve convergence or mutual recognition between IFRS and U.S. GAAP. They applaud the IASB's acknowledgement that principle-based accounting is its aspiration. If markets moved toward more principle-based accounting, accountants and auditors could more easily apply their professional judgment, which is relatively more difficult to do under highly prescriptive standards.
Click for Full Report (PDF 3,445k).
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Agenda for 1-3 November 2006 IFRIC meeting

23 Oct 2006

The International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee will meet at the IASB's offices in London on Wednesday 1 November, Thursday 2 November, and Friday 3 November 2006. The tentative agenda for the meeting is shown below.

Note that the meeting begins on Wednesday afternoon 1 November, one day earlier than originally announced.

1-3 November 2006, London

Wednesday 1 November 2006 (afternoon only)

  • Draft Handbook on IFRIC Due Process – Review of responses

Thursday 2 November 2006

  • Opening remarks and administrative matters
  • IAS 18 Revenue
    • Real estate sales
    • Revenue recognition in respect of initial fees paid by a fund manager
  • Review of tentative agenda decisions published in July and September IFRIC Update
    • 1. IFRS 2 Share-based Payment – Fair value measurement of post-vesting transfer restrictions
    • 2. IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement – Valuation of electricity derivatives
    • 3. IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation – Puts and forwards held by minority interests and
    • IFRS 3 Business Combinations: Are puts or forwards received by minority interests in a business combination contingent consideration?
    • 4. SIC-12 Consolidation of Special Purpose Entities – Relinquishment of control
    • 5. IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement – Definition of a derivative: indexation on own EBITDA or own revenue
    • 6. IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation – Foreign currency instruments exchangeable into equity instruments of the parent entity of the issuer
    • 7. IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation – Changes in the contractual terms of an equity instrument resulting in it being reclassified to financial liability
    • 8. IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements – Whether the liability component of a convertible instrument should be classified as current or non-current
    • 9. IFRS 2 Share-based Payment – Incremental fair value to employees as a result of unexpected capital
    • restructurings
    • 10. IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment – Revaluation of investment properties under construction
    • 11. IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation – Classification of a financial instrument as liability or equity
    • 12. IFRS 2 Share-based Payment – Employee benefit trusts in the separate financial statements of the sponsor
    • 13. IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures – Presentation of 'net finance costs' on the face of the income statement
    • 14. IAS 11 Construction Contracts – Allocation of profit in a single contract
    • 15. IAS 38 Intangible Assets – Classification and accounting for SIM cards
    • 16. IAS 38 Intangible Assets – Adoption of IAS 38 (revised 2004)
    • 17. IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement – Testing of hedge effectiveness on a cumulative basis

Friday 3 November 2006

  • Proposals for new IFRIC agenda items
    • IAS 41 Agriculture – Recognition and measurement of biological produce in accordance with IAS 41
    • IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates – Hedging a net investment
    • IAS 38 Intangible – Treatment of catalogues and other advertising costs
  • Status reports
    • IAS 19 issues
    • Demergers and other in specie dividends
    • Derecognition
  • Recommendations not to take items onto the IFRIC agenda
    • IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement – Short trading
    • IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement/IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements – Financial instruments puttable at an amount other than fair value
    • IAS 19 Employee Benefits – 'Special wage tax'
  • Agenda Committee matters
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Restructuring the IVSC

23 Oct 2006

At the 2006 Annual General Meeting of the International Valuation Standards Committee in Beijing on 26 September 2006, IVSC members approved a plan to restructure the IVSC based on the following principles:

  • The importance of an independent and transparent standard setting process
  • The development of the International Valuation Standards to embrace the valuation of all assets and liabilities in response to market needs
  • The call for a wider advisory constituency
  • The need to protect the public interest by assisting in the development of high quality practices by the world's valuers
  • The responsibility to assist the development of the profession in developing countries
  • The requirement for adequate and sustainable funding for the IVSC.

IVSC's goal is to have the restructured IVSC operational by 1 January 2008.

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