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Accounting Research Manager(TM)
Weekly Summary of Developments
June 15-19, 2009
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Accounting Research Manager subscriber,

The Accounting Research Manager database now contains this week's weekly summary of developments. Click the link below to access and print the fully-formatted Weekly Summary:

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If you do not have immediate Internet access to the Accounting Research Manager database, below is the text of this week's Weekly Summary.

Accounting and SEC Headlines

Securitizations -- FASB Issues Guidance on Asset Securitizations and Special-Purpose Entities
EITF Meeting Results -- EITF Decisions Reached
Leases -- FASB Discusses Lease Accounting Issues
PCAOB Rules -- SEC Seeks Comments on Proposed PCAOB Rules on Successor Auditors and Audit Firm Reporting
Share-Based Payments -- IASB Issues Guidance on Accounting for Group Cash Settled Share-Based Payment Transactions
Liabilities -- IASB Issues Discussion Paper on Credit Risk in Liability Measurement
International Financial Reporting -- IASB Issues Agenda for June 22-23, 2009 Standards Advisory Council Meeting

Auditing and Internal Controls Headlines

PCAOB Rules -- SEC Seeks Comments on Proposed PCAOB Rules on Successor Auditors and Audit Firm Reporting
TARP -- GAO Publishes Status Report

Government Headlines

GASB Report Issued -- GASB Agendas and Other Matters Discussed
TARP -- GAO Publishes Status Report

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ACCOUNTING AND SEC HEADLINES:
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Securitizations -- FASB Issues Guidance on Asset Securitizations and Special-Purpose Entities

The FASB has issued the following two standards which change the way entities account for securitizations and special-purpose entities:

-FASB Statement No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets;
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-FASB Statement No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R).
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Statement 166 is a revision to FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, and will require more information about transfers of financial assets, including securitization transactions, and where entities have continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. It eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets, and requires additional disclosures.

Statement 167 is a revision to FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, and changes how a reporting entity determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The determination of whether a reporting entity is required to consolidate another entity is based on, among other things, the other entity’s purpose and design and the reporting entity’s ability to direct the activities of the other entity that most significantly impact the other entity’s economic performance.

The new standards will require a number of new disclosures. Statement 167 will require a reporting entity to provide additional disclosures about its involvement with variable interest entities and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. A reporting entity will be required to disclose how its involvement with a variable interest entity affects the reporting entity’s financial statements. Statement 166 enhances information reported to users of financial statements by providing greater transparency about transfers of financial assets and an entity’s continuing involvement in transferred financial assets.

Statements 166 and 167 will be effective at the start of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009, or January 1, 2010, for a calendar year-end entity. Early application is not permitted.

EITF Meeting Results -- EITF Decisions Reached
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As described in our "EITF Flash Report," the EITF discussed the following issues at its June 18, 2009 meeting:

-EITF Issue No. 08-1, "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables";
-EITF Issue No. 08-9, "Milestone Method of Revenue Recognition";
-EITF Issue No. 09-1, "Accounting for Own-Share Lending Arrangements in Contemplation of Convertible Debt Issuance";
-EITF Issue No. 09-2, "Research and Development Assets Acquired In an Asset Acquisition";
-EITF Issue No. 09-3, "Applicability of SOP 97-2 to Certain Arrangements That Include Software Elements";
-EITF Issue No. 09-4, "Seller Accounting for Contingent Consideration"; and
-Proposed SEC Staff Announcement, Topic No. D-110, Escrowed Share Arrangements and the Presumption of Compensation.

The EITF reached a consensus-for-exposure on Issues 08-1 and 09-3. It also reached a final consensus on Issue 09-1. The FASB must still ratify these decisions which is scheduled for July 1, 2009. An SEC staff member announced that the staff was issuing Topic D-110 and that the current guidance in the Financial Reporting Manual published by the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance would be deleted as a result of finalization of Topic D-110.

See our EITF Flash Report for complete details.

Prior to its meeting, the EITF issued additional meeting materials which are available on Accounting Research Manager:
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Leases -- FASB Discusses Lease Accounting Issues
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As reported in its "Summary of Board Decisions" publication, the FASB met on June 17, 2009, and discussed several lessee accounting issues that were not addressed in the FASB's Discussion Paper, Leases: Preliminary Views. The FASB reached the following tentative decisions:

-In a sale and leaseback transaction, a seller/lessee would consider whether the entire leased asset qualifies for derecognition. If the entity determines, after applying the applicable guidance for the underlying asset, that the transaction qualifies as a sale, it would derecognize the leased item and recognize a right-of-use asset and an obligation to make rental payments for the leaseback. The FASB is expected to consider whether additional criteria are needed to help entities determine whether a sale and leaseback transaction represents a sale and how to account for a sale and leaseback transaction when the sales prices or rental payments are not at market rates.
-A lessee preparing financial statements in accordance with international financial reporting standards would follow the guidance in IAS 36, Impairment of Assets, to determine whether its right-of-use asset is impaired and a loss should be recognized. A lessee applying U.S. generally accepted accounting principles would follow FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, to determine whether its right-of-use asset is impaired and a loss should be recognized.
-A lessee would subsequently report a right-of-use asset at cost adjusted for any amortization and impairment losses and would not be permitted to subsequently remeasure its right-of-use asset to fair value unless required to do so to recognize an impairment loss.
-A lessee would expense any initial direct costs as incurred.
-A lessee would apply the new lease standard by recognizing an obligation to pay rentals and a right-of-use asset for all outstanding leases at the transition date. The obligation and the asset would be measured at the present value of the lease payments, discounted using the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate on the transition date.

PCAOB Rules -- SEC Seeks Comments on Proposed PCAOB Rules on Successor Auditors and Audit Firm Reporting

The SEC has issued the following two documents seeking comments on proposed rules from the PCAOB:

-Notice of Filing of Proposed Rules on Succeeding to the Registration Status of a Predecessor Firm (Proposal 1); and
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-Notice of Filing of Proposed Rules on Annual and Special Reporting by Registered Public Accounting Firms (Proposal 2).
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Proposal 1 relates to the PCAOB’s adoption of new rules and a form relating to succeeding to the registration status of a predecessor firm. Specifically, PCAOB Rules 2108, Succeeding to the Registration Status of a Predecessor, and 2109, Procedure for Succeeding to the Registration Status of a Predecessor, will now require reporting (Form 4) when a firm succeeds to the registration status of a predecessor.

Proposal 2 relates to the PCAOB’s adoption of eight new rules (PCAOB Rules 2200-2207) concerning annual and special reporting by registered public accounting firms, instructions to two forms to be used for such reporting (Form 2 and Form 3), and related amendments to existing rules.

Comments on these two proposals are due 30 days from publication in the Federal Register.

Share-Based Payments -- IASB Issues Guidance on Accounting for Group Cash Settled Share-Based Payment Transactions
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The IASB has issued Amendments to IFRS 2,"Share-based Payment" - Group Cash-Settled Share-Based Payment Transactions. This guidance amends IFRS 2, Share-based Payment, to clarify the accounting for group cash-settled share-based payment transactions. Specifically, these amendments:

-Clarify the scope of IFRS 2 to provide that an entity that receives goods or services in a share-based payment arrangement must account for those goods or services no matter which entity in the group settles the transaction, and no matter whether the transaction is settled in shares or cash;
-Clarify that in IFRS 2 a ‘group’ has the same meaning as in IAS 27, Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements, that is, it includes only a parent and its subsidiaries; and
-Incorporate guidance previously included in IFRIC 8, Scope of IFRS 2 and IFRIC 11 IFRS 2—Group and Treasury Share Transactions.

Entities shall apply these amendments to all share-based payments within the scope of IFRS 2 for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2010. Earlier application is permitted.

Liabilities -- IASB Issues Discussion Paper on Credit Risk in Liability Measurement
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The IASB and its staff have issued for public comment the following two documents:

-IASB Discussion Paper (DP), Credit Risk in Liability Measurement; and
-IASB Staff Paper, Credit Risk in Liability Measurement.

The DP examines questions about the role of credit risk in liability measurement, including whether current measurement of liabilities (including fair value) incorporates the chance that an entity will fail to perform as required. This DP outlines the three most often-cited arguments in favor of and against including credit risk in the measurement of liabilities. Specifically, this DP seeks input from constituents on the following questions:

-When a liability is first recognized, should its measurement: (a) always; (b) sometimes; or (c) never incorporate the price of credit risk inherent in the liability?
-Should current measurements following initial recognition: (a) always; (b) sometimes; or (c) never incorporate the price of credit risk inherent in the liability?
-How should the amount of a change in market interest rates attributable to the price of the credit risk inherent in the liability be determined?
-Among the three approaches to liability measurement and credit standing discussed in this DP, which do you prefer and are their other alternative approaches?

The IASB staff paper also discusses arguments in favor and against including credit risk in the measurement of liabilities. This paper also includes illustrative examples of using credit risk in the measurement of liabilities.

Comments on the DP and IASB staff paper are due September 1, 2009.

International Financial Reporting -- IASB Issues Agenda for June 22-23, 2009 Standards Advisory Council Meeting
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The IASB's Standards Advisory Council (SAC) is expected to discuss the following agenda items at its June 22-23, 2009 meeting:

-Consistency of application of IFRSs;
-Overview of recent IASB and SAC member activities;
-Financial instruments;
-Views on how the IASB should respond to urgent issues;
-Financial statement presentation and other comprehensive income; and
-Constitutional review.

Some of the documents listed above may not be accessible under your current subscription. For information about upgrading your subscription to include additional content, click here:
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AUDITING AND INTERNAL CONTROLS HEADLINES:
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PCAOB Rules -- SEC Seeks Comments on Proposed PCAOB Rules on Successor Auditors and Audit Firm Reporting

As discussed above in our Accounting and SEC Summaries, the SEC has issued the following two documents seeking comments on proposed rules from the PCAOB:

-Notice of Filing of Proposed Rules on Succeeding to the Registration Status of a Predecessor Firm (Proposal 1); and
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com


-Notice of Filing of Proposed Rules on Annual and Special Reporting by Registered Public Accounting Firms (Proposal 2).
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com


Proposal 1 relates to the PCAOB’s adoption of new rules and a form relating to succeeding to the registration status of a predecessor firm. Specifically, PCAOB Rules 2108, Succeeding to the Registration Status of a Predecessor, and 2109, Procedure for Succeeding to the Registration Status of a Predecessor, will now require reporting (Form 4) when a firm succeeds to the registration status of a predecessor.

Proposal 2 relates to the PCAOB’s adoption of eight new rules (PCAOB Rules 2200-2207) concerning annual and special reporting by registered public accounting firms, instructions to two forms to be used for such reporting (Form 2 and Form 3), and related amendments to existing rules.

Comments on these two proposals are due 30 days from publication in the Federal Register.

TARP -- GAO Publishes Status Report
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On October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 was signed into law. The act established the Office of Financial Stability (OFS) within the Department of the Treasury and authorized the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Every 60 days, the U.S. Comptroller General is required to report on a variety of areas associated with the oversight of TARP. On June 17, 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report, Troubled Asset Relief Program: June 2009 Status of Efforts to Address Transparency and Accountability Issue. This report follows up on GAO recommendations made in previous TARP reports and reviews:

-Activities that had been initiated or completed under TARP as of June 12, 2009;
-OFS hiring efforts and use of contractors; and
-TARP performance indicators.

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GOVERNMENT HEADLINES:
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GASB Report Issued -- GASB Agendas and Other Matters Discussed
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The May 2009 edition of the "GASB Report" has been issued and includes the following discussion items:

-GASB calendar;
-Items added to the GASB's current and research agendas; and
-A summary of GASB's meeting held on April 21-23, 2009.

TARP -- GAO Publishes Status Report
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As discussed above in our Auditing and Internal Controls Summaries, on October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 was signed into law. The act established the Office of Financial Stability (OFS) within the Department of the Treasury and authorized the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Every 60 days, the U.S. Comptroller General is required to report on a variety of areas associated with the oversight of TARP. On June 17, 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report, Troubled Asset Relief Program: June 2009 Status of Efforts to Address Transparency and Accountability Issue. This report follows up on GAO recommendations made in previous TARP reports and reviews:

-Activities that had been initiated or completed under TARP as of June 12, 2009;
-OFS hiring efforts and use of contractors; and
-TARP performance indicators.

Some of the documents listed above may not be accessible under your current subscription. For information about upgrading your subscription to include additional content, click here:
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com