Assets held for sale – they’re basically out the door, just as they were last year!

The challenges of presenting an asset or disposal group as held for sale for longer than twelve months Here’s another of the issues arising from extracts of enforcement decisions issued in the past by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) (for more background see here); this is from their 11th edition: “The issuer reported…

Accounting for revenue – got a warrant for that?

How IFRS 15 affects the accounting treatment for a common aspect of doing business As we summarized here, the IASB has issued IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017 (NB this was subsequently amended to January 1, 2018). The standard is built around a…

Contingent consideration – I earned it already!

by John Hughes As part of its activities, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) organizes a forum of enforcers from 30 different European jurisdictions, all of whom carry out monitoring and review programs similar to those carried out here by the Canadian Securities Administrators. ESMA recently published its 15th summary of extracts from its…

Accounting for revenue – principal versus agent

How IFRS 15 affects an area where issues commonly arise in practice As we summarized here, the IASB has issued IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017 (NB this was subsequently amended to January 1, 2018). The standard is built around a five-step…

Internally-generated intangible assets – magical thinking

Another European example of issues relating to internally-generated intangible assets. Here’s another of the issues arising from extracts of enforcement decisions issued in the past by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) (for more background see here); this is from their 12th edition: “The issuer is a provider of specialist recruitment services. In its…

Accounting for revenue – new disclosure requirements

How IFRS 15 will increase disclosure requirements related to revenue As we summarized here, the IASB has issued IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017 (NB this was subsequently amended to January 1, 2018). Not so surprisingly, even although the IASB has acknowledged…