Publications

Publications IFRS

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) published IFRS 8 "Operating Segments" to replace IAS 14 "Segment Reporting" for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009 with earlier application permitted.

IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures (IFRS 7) is not new - it came into effect for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2007. Nonetheless we think this guide is very topical. Experience has shown that IFRS 7 presents challenges, and two years of practical experience enables us to share our insights into the most problematic areas. Moreover, the global financial crisis has put the spotlight on the adequacy of risk and other disclosures concerning financial instruments. The crisis has also led the IASB to add some significant new requirements to IFRS 7 in recent months. The latest edition of the publication has been updated to reflect these requirements which come into effect from 1 January 2009.

When an entity issues a financial instrument, it must determine its classification either as a liability (debt) or as equity. That determination has an immediate and significant effect on the entity's reported results and financial position. Liability classification affects an entity's gearing ratios and typically results in any payments being treated as interest and charged to earnings. Equity classification avoids these impacts but may be perceived negatively by investors if it is seen as diluting their existing equity interests. Understanding the classification process and its effects is therefore a critical issue for management and must be kept in mind when evaluating alternative financing options.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued a revised version of IAS 23 Borrowing Costs in March 2007. The new standard will result in a change in accounting policy for entities that applied the benchmark treatment of expensing borrowing costs under the previous standard. These entities will now need to develop procedures to calculate the amount of borrowing costs to be capitalised.

Preparation of financial statements under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) requires the application of IAS 12 Income Taxes (IAS 12). IAS 12 is not new. However, for many finance executives, the concepts underlying the computation of deferred tax are not intuitive. IAS 12 takes a mechanistic approach to the computation but also requires significant judgement in some areas. Also, applying the concepts of IAS 12 requires a thorough knowledge of the relevant tax laws. For all these reasons, many Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) find the calculation of a deferred tax provision causes significant practical difficulties.