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11
International Accounting and the
Global Economy
Advanced Accounting, Fourth Edition
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Learning Objectives
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1.
Describe how the changing world environment is leading to an increased
focus on international financial reporting standards (IFRS).
2.
Explain some of the major differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
3.
List the seven milestones that must be achieved before the SEC will
require adoption of IFRS.
4.
Describe three major joint convergence topics of the IFRS and FASB.
5.
List the steps that a non-U.S. company must follow to list its shares on a
U.S. stock market.
6.
Explain the role of form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
7.
Indicate the role of American Depository Receipts in the issuing of
securities of non-U.S. companies in the United States.
The Increasing Importance of International
Accounting Standards
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
June 2007 eliminated the need for foreign private
investors to reconcile their financial statements to U.S.
generally accepted principles (GAAP) if the issuers use
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
July 2007 voted unanimously to publish a concept release
for comment on allowing U.S. issuers to prepare their
financial statements using IFRS as issued by the IASB.
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The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
September 2002, FASB and the IASB issued their Norwalk
Agreement including a “memorandum of understanding.”
April and October 2005, FASB and the IASB reaffirmed
their commitment to the convergence of U.S. GAAP and
IFRSs.
September 2008, IASB and FASB issued a progress report
and timetable for completion.
November 14, 2008, SEC released a roadmap for the
adoption of IFRS by U.S. issuers.
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LO 1 Increased focus on International Accounting Standards.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Proposed Roadmap sets forth seven milestones for
completion.
1.
Improvements in accounting standards;
2.
Accountability and funding of the IASC Foundation;
3.
Improvement in the ability to use interactive data for IFRS
reporting;
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4.
Education and training relating to IFRS;
5.
Limited early use of IFRS where this would enhance
comparability for U.S. investors;
6.
Anticipated timing of future rulemaking by the Commission;
7.
Implementation of the mandatory use of IFRS by U.S. issuers.
LO 1 Increased focus on International Accounting Standards.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Improvement in Accounting Standards
It is important that the accounting standards
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
be established under a robust, independent process that includes
careful consideration of possible alternative approaches.

be established with due process, which allows for input from and
consideration of views expressed by affected parties, including
investors.

are timely to keep standards current and reflect emerging
accounting issues.

produced are capable of improving the accuracy and effectiveness of
financial reporting and the protection of investors.
LO 1 Increased focus on International Accounting Standards.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Accountability and Funding of the IASC Foundation
The IASB is established to develop global standards for financial reporting.

Board is overseen by the IASC Foundation, a stand-alone, not-for
profit organization.

Foundation is responsible for the activities of the IASB.

IASC Foundation is governed by 22 trustees whose backgrounds
are geographically diverse.

IASC Foundation has financed IASB operations principally through
voluntary contributions from market participants, ranging from firms
in the accounting profession to companies, international
organizations, central banks and governments.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Ability to Use Interactive Data For IFRS Reporting
In May 2008 the SEC proposed rules to require companies to provide
their financial statements to the Commission as well as on their
corporate Web sites in interactive data format using the eXtensible
Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”).
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Education and Training
A requirement for U.S. issuers to report in accordance with IFRS would
increase the need for effective training and education about IFRS for a
number of groups, including investors, accountants, auditors and others
involved in the preparation and use of financial statements, due to
differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS.
The SEC has estimated that the
cost to adopt IFRS for the 110 firms
that would qualify for early
adoption of IFRS would be around
$32 million over the first three
years of adoption.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Limited Early Use of IFRS
As part of the SEC Roadmap, proposed amendments allow a limited
number of U.S. issuers to file IFRS financial statements prior to any
mandated use of IFRS in Commission filings.
It is probably unlikely that firms will make this election so long as there
remains any concern that the SEC might not ultimately require
mandatory adoption of IFRS.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Timing of Future Rulemaking by the Commission
In 2011, the SEC should decide whether or not to proceed with rules
requiring some U.S. public companies to file IFRS-based financial
statements by 2014.
Currently, U.S. issuers are required to include in their SEC filings three
years of audited U.S. GAAP financial statements, and the SEC
indicated that it expects that it would most likely require three years of
audited financial statements in the first year of IFRS reporting.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
The Road To Convergence-U.S. GAAP and IFRS
Implementation of Mandatory Use of IFRS
Provisionally, under the transition, IFRS filings would begin for

Large accelerated filers for fiscal years ending on or after
December 15, 2014.

Other accelerated filers would begin IFRS filings for years ending
on or after December 15, 2015.

Nonaccelerated filers, including smaller reporting companies,
would begin IFRS filings for years ending on or after December
15, 2016.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
Significant Similarities and Differences
In general,

U.S. GAAP is considered to be more rules-based, while

IFRS is considered to be more principles-based,
although this dichotomy is an over-simplification as most U.S.
rules are rooted in principles, and the IASB is embracing more
interpretative details of its principles over time.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
U.S. GAAP Hierarchy (SFAS No. 168)—Effective September
2009
Authoritative: Included in the FASB Accounting
Standards Codification
Non-Authoritative: Not-included in the FASB Accounting
Standards Codification
Exceptions: SEC registrants must also follow SEC rules and
regulations issued under the authority of federal securities
laws.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
IFRS Hierarchy (issued by the IASB)
1. IFRS/IAS statements (8 IFRS and 41 IAS standards) and
IFRIC/SIC Interpretations (32 SIC and 14 IFRIC). SIC stands for
the Standards Interpretations Committee.
2. Apply a method that is relevant, reliable, represents faithfully the
financial position, the performance, and cash flows of the firm;
reflect the economic substance of the firm.
3. Look to recent pronouncements of other standard setters which
use a similar conceptual framework (i.e., U.S. GAAP).
4. The conceptual framework.
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LO 3 SEC milestones to be achieved for adoption of IFRS.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
Similarities and Differences between FASB and IASB
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
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LO 2 Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
GAAP Hierarchy-U.S. Versus IFRS
IFRS Financial Statements Illustrated
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Lease Accounting Convergence
Currently, the guidance for leases is provided in FASB Statement
No. 13 [Topic 840] under U.S. GAPP and in IAS 17 under IFRS.
For lessees in the United States, there are two types of leases:
operating and capital.
Under IAS 17, capital leases are referred to as financing leases.
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Lease Accounting Convergence
While the major change will be the requirement that all leases extending beyond a year are
capitalized, the financial statement presentation and the potential changes in lease assumptions
have yet to be determined.
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Revenue Recognition Convergence
The IASB and the FASB are working on a project to develop a
single statement on revenue recognition for both U.S. GAAP and
IFRS. The project is intended to improve financial reporting by:
a. converging U.S. and international revenue recognition
standards,
b. eliminating inconsistencies in existing revenue recognition
standards and practices,
c. providing clearer principles for addressing future revenue
recognition issues, and
d. filling voids in existing revenue recognition guidance.
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Revenue Recognition Convergence
Customer Consideration (Allocation) Model
Revenue is recognized from “increases” in the net contract position.
Revenue is only recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied
by transferring goods or services.
To measure the contract asset or liability,
(1) The underlying rights are measured at inception based on the
customer consideration (the amount the customer is willing to pay);
and
(2) The rights are allocated to the separate performance obligations
based on the sales price of the goods or services.
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LO 4 Three major convergence topics for IFRS and FASB.
Financial Statement Presentation
In October 2008, the FASB and the IASB released a joint discussion
paper outlining three objectives for financial statement
presentation. Those proposed objectives state that information should
be presented in the financial statements in a manner that:

Portrays a cohesive financial picture of an entity’s activities.

Disaggregates information so that it is useful in predicting an
entity’s future cash flows.

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Helps users assess an entity’s liquidity and financial flexibility.
LO 4 Three major convergence topics for IFRS and FASB.
How the Financial Statement Might Change
Statement of Comprehensive Income
The proposed presentation model eliminates the existing choice of
presenting components of income and expense in an income statement
and a statement of comprehensive income.
All entities would present a single statement of comprehensive
income, with items of other comprehensive income presented in a
separate section.
This statement would include a subtotal of profit or loss or net income
and a total for comprehensive income for the period.
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How the Financial Statement Might Change
Statement of Financial Position
The statement of financial position would be grouped by major activities
(operating, investing, and financing), not by assets, liabilities, and
equity. See Illustration 11-8 for an example.
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Proposed
Statement of
Financial
Position
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How the Financial Statement Might Change
Statement of Cash Flows
There would be fewer changes to the statement of cash flows
since the major categories already include operating, investing,
and financing.
The boards are debating whether to require the
 direct format only or the
 choice of the direct versus indirect approach.
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International Convergence Issues
LIFO Inventories
LIFO is not acceptable under IAS.
IASB recommends specific cost. If specific cost is not
determinable, the benchmark is FIFO or weighted average.
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International Convergence Issues
SEC Registration and
U.S. Listing for Non-U.S. Companies
Registration with the SEC under the 1934 Securities Act is
mandatory for non-U.S. companies that intend to list on a
U.S. stock market.
Foreign companies are required to comply with the SEC
continuous reporting requirements.
 U.S. companies file forms 10-K and 10-Q.
 Foreign companies file forms 20-F and 6-K.
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International Convergence Issues
20-F Statement
The 20-F filing is similar to the 10-K filing.
The 20-F allows the non-U.S. company to retain its local
GAAP reporting, so long as it meets one of two alternative
conditions. The firm may either
1. reconcile net income and the shareholders’ equity, thus
showing earnings based on U.S. GAAP; or
2. fully disclose all financial information required of U.S.
firms.
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LO 6 The role of form 20-F.
International Convergence Issues
Statement F-1
First-time offer of securities by any non-U.S. company
requires filing an F-1 statement as the principal registration
statement.
Prospectus contains:
 Financial statements (reconciled to U.S. GAAP).
 Nonfinancial information about the company.
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American Depository Receipts (ADRs)
A Depository Receipt (DR) is a derivative instrument that
usually represents a certain fixed number of publicly traded
shares of a non-U.S. corporation.
American Depository Receipt (ADR) – traded in the
United States.
Global Depository Receipt (GDR) - traded outside the
United States.
ADRs may trade freely like any U.S. security on one of the
major exchanges.
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American Depository Receipts (ADRs)
Types of ADR Programs
Level I:
 Depository banks create an ADR program based on the
underlying shares that already trade on home markets.
 No capital raised.
 ADRs are not listed on U.S. markets.
 Trading confined to “pink sheet” market.
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American Depository Receipts (ADRs)
Types of ADR Programs
Level II:
 Do not involve raising new capital.
 Issues are registered with the U.S. SEC and listed on a
major U.S. stock exchange.
 Companies must file F-6 and 20-F.
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American Depository Receipts (ADRs)
Types of ADR Programs
Rule 144A:
 Rule 144A ADRs are those ADRs placed privately among
large institutional buyers (known as QIB firms) with
restrictions on subsequent trading of these securities.
 Rule 144A ADRs are not publicly traded or listed on U.S.
stock exchanges and can be exchanged only among QIBs.
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Copyright
Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
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