Despite the prevalence of convertible debt and equity instruments, entities often struggle with the accounting implications of these forms of financing. This bulletin explores, step by step, the process for evaluating a conversion feature embedded in a debt or equity instrument to determine the appropriate accounting, and answers the central question: When should the holder’s option to convert be accounted for like a derivative, separately from the debt or equity instrument itself?
FASB Accounting Standards Codification(R) 740, Income Taxes, provides an exception to the requirement to recognize deferred taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries and foreign joint ventures if the related undistributed earnings are, or will be, indefinitely invested in the foreign entity. This bulletin discusses numerous practice issues that can arise in applying this guidance.
This publication summarizes the FASB’s proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU), Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. The proposed ASU would establish a single credit impairment model for all financial instruments (not just loans) and would mark a significant change from current accounting guidance by requiring an entity to recognize an impairment loss on a financial asset when the loss is expected rather than incurred.
The Boards have completed substantive redeliberations on their joint revenue recognition project. This bulletin summarizes the current status of the new model.
The 2012 AICPA National Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments, held in Washington, D.C., December 3–5, featured representatives from the SEC, PCAOB, FASB, IASB, and AICPA, who shared the following principal themes: (1) improving capital formation and investor confidence in the U.S. market; (2) enhancing the transparency and integrity of financial reporting; (3) advancing global accounting and auditing standards initiatives; (4) continuing SEC rulemaking to implement provisions of the JOBS Act and remaining provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act; and (5) strengthening audit quality, maintaining auditor professional skepticism, and considering the role of auditors. Financial statement users, preparers, industry experts, auditors, and other attendants gained insight on the views of regulators, standard setters, and others about the most pressing financial reporting issues facing public companies. This publication provides an overview of key items discussed during the conference.
This bulletin summarizes the current status of the proposed revenue recognition model reflecting tentative decisions made by the Boards through the November 2012 joint meeting.
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) recently issued highlights of the joint meeting on September 25 between its SEC Regulations Committee (the Committee) and the SEC staff. This bulletin summarizes a variety of topics addressed at that meeting, including disclosures related to fair value measurements and the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, draft registration statements confidentially submitted for review by emerging growth companies, and comments related to certain practice issues with the contractual obligations table presentation. This bulletin also includes interpretation and implementation issues related to certain recent SEC releases.
On April 5, President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act into law. Title I of the JOBS Act provides certain reduced regulatory and disclosure alternatives to a new class of issuers known as "emerging growth companies." This bulletin summarizes the guidance provided by the SEC staff in its frequently asked questions document (updated through September 28, 2012) on implementation and application of certain Title I provisions.
This bulletin summarizes the provisions of the Final Rule issued by the SEC on August 22, Conflict Minerals, guidance for implementing those provisions, and new disclosure requirements. The disclosures are based on a calendar year for all issuers regardless of the issuer’s fiscal year end. Issuers must comply with the Final Rule for calendar years beginning January 1, 2013, with their first reports due May 31, 2014.
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) recently issued highlights of the joint meeting on June 27 between its SEC Regulations Committee (the Committee) and the SEC staff. This bulletin summarizes a variety of topics addressed at that meeting, including pro forma adjustments and revisions to previously filed financial statements in connection with new or amended registration statements. This bulletin also includes interpretation and implementation issues related to certain recent SEC releases, which the Committee and SEC staff discussed.
While no Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) were issued by the FASB during the first quarter of 2012, several previously issued ASUs are effective beginning in the first quarter of 2012. Brief summaries of these ASUs are included in this bulletin.
On April 5, President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act into law. It is intended that the JOBS Act, which passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, will increase private companies' access to capital through an initial public offering of their common equity. This bulletin discusses a new category of issuers introduced by the JOBS Act, called "emerging growth companies," and summarizes certain other provisions intended to ease the capital formation process for smaller companies.
Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) were issued by the FASB during the fourth quarter of 2011 to amend several topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification(R) (Codification). None of the amendments were effective at quarter-end; however, some allow for early adoption. Brief summaries of these ASUs are included in this bulletin.
The 2011 AICPA National Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments, held in Washington, D.C., December 5-7, featured senior officials from the SEC staff, PCAOB, FASB, IASB, and AICPA, who spoke on (1) providing effective financial reporting in today’s challenging geopolitical and economic climate, (2) investigating the merits of moving the U.S. financial reporting system to IFRS as issued by the IASB, and (3) improving audit quality. Financial statement users, preparers, industry experts, auditors, and other attendants gained insight on the views of regulators, standard setters, and others about the most pressing financial reporting issues facing public companies. This bulletin summarizes the major issues discussed during the three-day conference and provides details on the related accounting, financial reporting, and auditing topics.
This bulletin summarizes the FASB’s recently issued proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The proposed guidance represents a converged revenue recognition model, and reflects changes to the Exposure Draft that the FASB and IASB released in June 2010. The comment period for the proposed ASU ends on March 13, 2012.
Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) were issued by the FASB during the third quarter of 2011 to amend several topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification(R) (Codification). None of the amendments were effective at quarter-end; however, some allow for early adoption. Brief summaries of these ASUs are included in this bulletin.
The purpose of the NDS quarterly bulletin is to provide a reference guide of current developments that occurred during the past quarter, including activities by the standard setters and other governing bodies. It summarizes the significant provisions of those current developments and is not a substitute for reading and applying the specific guidance in the related pronouncements, when applicable.
This bulletin summarizes the FASB’s recently issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-09, Disclosures about an Employer’s Participation in a Multiemployer Plan, which requires expanded disclosures for entities participating in multiemployer plans. The amended guidance is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2011 (that is, as of December 31, 2011 for calendar-year entities) for public entities and for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2012 (that is, as of December 31, 2012 for calendar-year entities) for nonpublic entities. The amended guidance must be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted.
This bulletin summarizes the FASB’s recently issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment, which gives all entities the option to qualitatively assess goodwill for impairment. If an entity chooses to perform the qualitative assessment and determines that a reporting unit’s fair value is more likely than not in excess of its carrying amount, then no further evaluation is necessary. Otherwise, an entity would perform Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test in ASC 350-20, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Goodwill. The amended guidance is effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, although early adoption is permitted.
This bulletin updates and supersedes NDS 2009-12, “Share-based payment: FASB Statement 123R,” and provides implementation guidance relating to accounting for equity awards granted to both employees and nonemployees as provided for in FASB and related SEC guidance.
This bulletin provides information on recently issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The guidance specifies new requirements for presenting comprehensive income in either (1) a single continuous financial statement or (2) two separate consecutive financial statements.