Iasb e Fasb juntos

El IASB, el organismo internacional encargado de elaborar las normas contables internacionales aprobó ayer la nueva norma sobre combinaciones de negocios que las empresas que utilicen este tipo de contabilidad deberán aplicar a partir de julio de 2009. Pero la gran novedad es que por primera vez la emisión de esta norma se ha realizado en coordinación con el organismo estadounidense de contabilidad, el FASB, con el objetivo de alcanzar la convergencia entre las normas contables internacionales, las NIC o NIIF y los US Gaap.

Para el socio director responsable de práctica profesional de KPMG, Enrique Asla, el grado de convergencia que se consigue con la publicación de las normas reguladoras de las combinaciones de negocios "es una muestra clara de la voluntad de lograr un lenguaje contable común y de reducir las diferencias que actualmente existen entre las NIIF y los US Gaap". Asla señala que a pesar de que las normas aprobadas no sean completamente idénticas ambos organismos han compartido esfuerzos para lograr un acuerdo no sólo en los conceptos y principios, sino también en la terminología adoptada. El avance hacia la convergencia es uno de los factores que respaldan los cambios propuestos recientemente a las normas de la SEC, que permitirán utilizar las NIIF en los informes financieros presentados por emisores privados extranjeros sin tener que realizar la conciliación a los US Gaap. Pese al avance hacia la convergencia, el presidente de la SEC, Christopher Cox afirmó ayer que la desaparición de la FASB no es "inminente" ya que las normas emitidas por este organismo están "profundamente entroncadas en EE UU". Señaló además que la IASB debe mejorar su buen gobierno antes de que la SEC le otorgue la misma consideración que a la FASB.

La contabilidad de EE UU y la internacional pactan su primera norma
A. Corella Madrid - Cinco Días -11/1/2008

Aqui, uma melhor explicação da nova regra:

(...) One of the most controversial changes has been accounting for acquisition-related costs. Fees paid to investment banks, attorneys and valuation experts will no longer be included in goodwill and have the potential to affect earnings.

Until now, acquisition-related costs paid to third parties have been capitalized as part of the purchase price.

Under the new accounting rules, these fees will be considered an expense as incurred and have to be written off against profits. The move could seriously cut into the profits of companies engaged in major transactions, with bills for advisers sometimes running to hundreds of millions of dollars. Moreover, as deal costs are expensed when they are incurred, the appearance of significant spikes in such expenses could raise questions about potential acquisitions that are still confidential.

Under both regimes, the changes begin taking effect for financials in fiscal 2009.

However, the change is designed to make company financial statement more transparent so investors have a better idea of how funds are parceled out.

Additionally, both sets of standards require that acquirers recognize contingent liabilities (a current obligation that results from a future event, such as a lawsuit settlement) at the acquisition date, and that changes in the value of the liabilities after the acquisition date are recognized in accordance with existing rules governing contingent considerations.

Another change will be in so-called step, or partial, acquisitions. These occur when a company that holds stock in a target company acquires additional shares to take control of the target. Similar to FASB's new merger rules, (FAS 141R) IFRS 3 does not require companies to fair-value every asset and liability at each stage of a step acquisition to calculate goodwill. Instead, goodwill is now measured as the difference (at the acquisition date) between the combined value of the existing holding in the target and the value of shares transferred, and net assets acquired.

But differences between the two sets of rules still remain. While the international standard allows an acquiring company to measure minority interest in a target company either at fair value or at its proportionate share of the target's identifiable net assets, the domestic standard requires minority interests to be measured at fair value.

The two boards also have different definitions of control as it pertains to business combinations. A transaction defined under IFRS as a business combination may not be considered one under FAS. The IASB board expects to address the discrepancy sometime this year.

Another difference the IASB will take on this year is the definition of fair value. IFRS 3 bases fair value on the exchange value of an asset or liability, while U.S. GAAP defines fair value as an exit value. In addition, there is a split between the two boards regarding the threshold for recognizing contingent liabilities. IFRS 3 requires recognition of a liability if it can be reliably measured, while FAS 141R requires management to be more than 51% sure that the contingency is likely. (...)
Merger accounting standards converge - Donna Block - The Deal