Disclosing climate-related uncertainties, or: we could not reasonably be expected to be influenced by a lack of understanding!

The IASB has issued Climate-related and Other Uncertainties in the Financial Statements, an exposure draft of proposed illustrative examples. The exposure draft “proposes eight examples illustrating how an entity applies the requirements in IFRS Accounting Standards to report the effects of climate-related and other uncertainties in its financial statements (in the expectation) that these illustrative…

Proposed disclosures for business combinations: include us out!

As we discussed here, in March 2024 the IASB published for comment the Exposure Draft Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment. Let’s look at one last aspect of the reaction to the exposure draft. As we covered here, the exposure draft includes proposals for additional disclosure requirements addressing, for so-called “strategic” business combinations, objectives and related performance…

Voting preferences of accountants, or: we embrace the weird!

Canadian Accountant recently published some material on the voting preferences of accountants. That was on July 21, which probably still counts as recent, but the article already feels like something of a historical artifact, given Biden’s subsequent withdrawal from the race and the astounding revitalization of the Democratic campaign. Anyway, here’s what it had to…

Proposed disclosures for business combinations, or: my next trick is highly strategic!

As we discussed here, in March 2024 the IASB published for comment the Exposure Draft Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment. As we previously covered, the exposure draft rejected some of the more ambitious ideas mooted in the past, such as reintroducing amortization of goodwill, focusing instead on fine-tuning the methodology for impairment testing and introducing additional…

Accounting as seen from the sports field, or: foul ball!

Let’s return to the Inside Standard Setting newsletter of the Chair of Canada’s Accounting Standards Board, Armand Capisciolto. The author’s obvious love of baseball is becoming a rather charming recurring element. Here’s a recent example: In Capisciolto’s hands, such potentially dodgy analogies seem happily unstrained, lyrical even. My own knowledge of baseball would fit onto…

Post-implementation review of IFRS 9, or: we did it right!

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) recently concluded its Post-implementation Review of the impairment requirements in IFRS 9 Financial Instruments—Impairment and published a Project Summary and Feedback Statement. Here’s the summary of conclusions: They note along the way: “Many preparers said the principles allow them to align the approaches to assessing significant increases in credit risk…

New proposals on goodwill, or: pierce that shield!

As we discussed here, in March 2024 the IASB published for comment the Exposure Draft Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment. In the exposure draft, the IASB (among other things) addressed some reasons for concerns that impairment losses on goodwill are sometimes being recognized too late, including: The exposure draft proposes amending IAS 36 to clarify that…

The climate-related prisoner’s dilemma, or: you be good first!

The New York Times recently published a piece titled Dilemma on Wall Street: Short-Term Gain or Climate Benefit? It’s written by Lydia DePillis. Here are some extracts: The article notes that “it’s difficult to steer a portfolio to climate-friendly assets while other funds take on polluting companies and reap short-term profits for impatient clients…. without…

New disclosure proposals for business combinations – not enough incremental value?

As we discussed here, in March 2024 the IASB published for comment the Exposure Draft Business Combinations—Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment. As we previously covered, the exposure draft rejected some of the more ambitious ideas mooted in the past, such as reintroducing amortization of goodwill, focusing instead on fine-tuning the methodology for impairment testing and introducing additional…