Ernst & Young Monthly News August 2009
E-News
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Responding to the financial crisis / Private equity funds – accounting for investments / Borrowing costs and the role of
foreign currency exchange gains or losses / Financial reporting developments / Resources
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In an effort to provide guidance on the accounting for cash-settled share-based payment transactions, the IASB recently amended the
definitions in IFRS 2 for transactions and arrangements, and the scope of the standard. In this supplement, we consider the effect of
these changes and include illustrations of the potential impact of different arrangements for subsidiaries and parents. Businesses need
to consider the potential tax accounting consequences of these amendments and the impact on the separate reporting of each entity involved.
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The IASB recently published a Discussion Paper on the role of an entity's own credit risk in liability
measurement, often referred to as 'own credit risk'. The scope of the DP seems to be financial and
non-financial liabilities measured on a current measurement basis (including
fair value). In this supplement, we summarize the arguments presented by the IASB for and against including own credit risk and also highlight
some of the potential implications. Constituents need to consider these arguments and whether this provides
information useful for decision-making.
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The IASB has issued a Request for Information on the feasibility of an expected cash flow approach to impairment of financial assets as
part of its project to replace IAS 39. The adoption of the expected cash flow approach should help to reduce some of the complexity of the
current approach under IAS 39, but businesses may face a significant challenge in adapting their processes and information systems
to obtain relevant cash flow information. This supplement summarizes the key aspects of the approach, information the Board has requested
and the impact for businesses.
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This supplement considers the key proposals outlined in a new Exposure Draft (ED) issued by the IASB on non-binding guidance for preparing
management commentary that should improve the consistency and comparability of management commentary across jurisdictions. This is more
important than ever in today's uncertain financial climate, because it contributes to good corporate governance
as well as high-quality financial
reporting which explains an entity's financial performance relative to management's expectations and strategies.
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The IASB has issued its standard - IFRS for SMEs - which contains a number of significant changes to some of the proposals that were made
in the Exposure Draft. This supplement contains a summary of the IFRS for SMEs, its scope, key areas where options in full IFRS have been
removed and key areas where the accounting for SMEs differs to full IFRS. For smaller entities, the standard is expected to reduce compliance
costs and simplify the financial statements. However, they will need to consider the effect of legislative requirements in their own
jurisdictions, changes that will be required to processes and systems, and apply significant judgment in applying the principles, as these
may differ considerably from their national GAAP or full IFRS. We plan to publish a more detailed publication which looks at the differences
between this standard and full IFRS later this year.
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At the July 2009 meeting, the IFRIC made some important decisions about accounting for financial instruments - namely accounting for rights
issues denominated in a foreign currency, the meaning of 'significant or prolonged' in the context of impairment equity
securities available for sale, and accounting for debt to equity swaps. This supplement summarizes the key decisions and highlights potential implications for
entities. In summary, the IFRIC will request the Board to amend IAS 32 with regard to rights issues denominated in foreign currency; it
also confirmed its tentative decision regarding what is deemed the inappropriate interpretation of the meaning of 'significant or prolonged',
and it is expected to issue a draft interpretation clarifying that equity instruments issued in a debt-to-equity swap should be measured at
the fair value of the liability settled or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably determinable. The
IFRIC is expected to issue this Draft Interpretation by September 2009. Interested parties will have the opportunity to comment on this
before it is finalized.
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The first phase of the comprehensive project to replace IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement has reached a key
milestone - the publication of the Exposure Draft (ED) on Financial Instruments: Classification and Measurement. In this supplement, we
summarize the key proposals set out in the ED and their likely impact on businesses. The proposals to have only two measurement categories
(fair value and amortized cost) are in line with the IASB's aim of reducing the complexity in accounting for financial instruments; however
the detailed proposals have other consequences that may make it unattractive to entities. We are producing a 'talking points' pack to
assist teams with discussions with clients, which will be available early next week, along with a slide presentation.
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The IASB has issued Amendments to IFRS 1 - Additional Exemptions for First-time Adoptersproviding additional relief for some entities
applying IFRS for the first time, in particular: 1) the measurement of oil and gas assets for entities using the "full cost accounting
method" under local GAAP; and 2) the assessment of leasing contracts in accordance with IFRIC 4. This supplement summarizes the proposals
and their impact on businesses.
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The IASB has published an Exposure Draft of its proposals for accounting for rate-regulated activities in response to several requests for
clear guidance. This supplement considers the scope of the proposed guidance and the impact for businesses, particularly for those countries
that are in the process of converting to IFRS where accounting for the effect of rate regulation is already in place for some sectors.
Comments are due by 20 November 2009.
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Swiss Financial Services Providers – Coping with the Current Challenges / Changing Value Chain in Swiss Banks / Insurance Center
of Excellence in Zurich / Asked: Joachim H. Straehle, CEO, Bank Sarasin
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Swiss proposals to terminate conflict with EU on holding taxation According to recent news reports, last week the EU Commission informed
the competent diplomats and subject-matter experts of the EU Member States of Swiss proposals for a revision of domestic law regarding the
taxation of Swiss holding, mixed and domiciliary companies. The Swiss federal government has elaborated upon these proposals in an
attempt to finally bring its ongoing conflict with the EU on certain Swiss tax regimes to an end. Even though not initiating formal
negotiations, Switzerland’s objective seems to be to arrive at a mutual understanding with the current EU Commission (i.e., before
the end of October). Switzerland wishes to obtain a clear signal that Brussels will be satisfied with the contemplated revision of its
domestic tax law.