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Accounting Research Manager(TM)
Weekly Summary of Developments
February 25-29, 2008
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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:

For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

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

Governance Issues -- Changes to Governance of the FASB and GASB Approved
Fair Value Measurements -- Guidance Added to Our Publication "Accounting Standards"
Derivatives and Hedging -- Interpretations of FASB Statement No. 133 Updated
Not-for-Profit Organizations -- Proposed FASB Staff Position on Endowments Issued
Accounting Changes -- Proposed FASB Staff Position for Entities Emerging from Reorganization Issued
Financial Instruments -- IASB Issues Discussion Paper on Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity
Auditing Engagements -- PCAOB Proposes Standard on Engagement Quality Review
EITF Materials Issued -- Convertible Securities and Other Matters Discussed for the March 12, 2008 EITF Meeting
Financial Reporting -- FASB Discusses Conceptual Framework and Other Matters at February 20, 2008 Meeting
IASB Update -- IASB Discusses Annual Improvements and Other Matters at Its February 18-22, 2008 Meeting

Auditing and Internal Controls Headlines

Performing Audit Procedures in Response to Assessed Risks and Evaluating the Audit Evidence Obtained -- Unconditional and Presumptively Mandatory Requirements of SAS-110
Auditing Engagements -- PCAOB Proposes Standard on Engagement Quality Review

Government Headlines

Technical Plan -- GASB Approves Technical Plan for the Final Third of 2008

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ACCOUNTING AND SEC HEADLINES:
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Governance Issues -- Changes to Governance of the FASB and GASB Approved
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

We have prepared a hot topic that discusses the announcement by the board of trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) that it has approved major changes to the oversight, structure and operations of the FAF and its two standard-setting boards, the FASB and the GASB. The FAF is responsible for the oversight, funding, and appointment of members of both the FASB and GASB. The changes for each respective entity include the following:

FAF

-Expanding the number and breadth of investors, accounting, business, financial and government organizations and entities invited to nominate FAF Trustees with the understanding that final authority for all appointments rests solely with the discretion of the board of trustees;
-Changing the term of trustees from one three-year term with a possible second three-year term to one five-year term;
-Changing the size of the board of trustees from sixteen trustees to a flexible range of fourteen to eighteen trustees, the size to be fixed by board resolution from time to time; and
-Increasing the trustee governance activities, including its level of formal review, analysis and oversight of the information regularly provided by the FASB and the GASB together with their respective advisory councils (FASAC) and (GASAC).

FASB

-Reducing the size of the FASB from seven members to five, effective July 1, 2008;
-Retaining the FASB simple majority voting requirement;
-Affirming the need for investor participation on the FASB by broadening the current by-law requirement that FASB members possess investment experience; and
-Changing the FASB's agenda-setting process whereby the FASB chair is vested with the authority, following appropriate consultation, to set the FASB project plans, agenda and priority of projects.

GASB

-Securing a stable and permanent funding source for the GASB;
-Retaining the current size, term length, and composition of the GASB; and
-Changing the GASB's agenda-setting process whereby the GASB chair is vested with the authority, following appropriate consultation, to set the GASB project plans, agenda and priority of projects.

See our hot topic for complete details.

Fair Value Measurements -- Guidance Added to Our Publication "Accounting Standards"
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

We have updated various subsections of our Accounting Standards to incorporate the guidance in FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. Specifically, the following subsections of Accounting Standards have been updated:

-"Recognition and Measurement - Fair Value " section of the "Investments in Debt Securities and Other Equity Securities" chapter;
-"Allowance for Credit Losses and Other Valuation Allowances - Receivables Held for Sale " section of the "Accounts Receivable and Loans" chapter;
-"Various Types of Intangibles - Specific Guidance - Broadcaster License Agreements for Program Material " section of the "Intangibles" chapter;
-"Recognition and Measurement of Derivatives " section of the "Derivatives and Hedging" chapter;
-"Payables - Measurement - Payable in Noncash Assets " section of the "Accrued Liabilities and Accounts Payable" chapter;
-"Application of Recognition and Measurement Rules - Asset Retirement Obligations " section of the "Provisions, Contingencies, and Commitments" chapter;
-"Application of Recognition and Measurement Rules - Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (e.g., Restructuring Charges) " section of the "Provisions, Contingencies, and Commitments" chapter; and
-"Claim Costs and Liability for Future Policy Benefits - Short-Duration Contracts - Claim Costs " section of the "Insurance" chapter.

See our Literature Update for complete details of this update.

Derivatives and Hedging -- Interpretations of FASB Statement No. 133 Updated
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

We have updated our publication, Derivatives and Hedging - Interpretations of FASB Statement 133. We have amended this publication to address the issuance of FASB Statement No. 141 (Revised 2007), Business Combinations. In addition to the above updates to address Statement 141R, we have incorporated the following changes:

-Comments by the SEC staff at the 2007 AICPA National Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments, including adding Interpretation 11-3c, "SEC -Staff Views on Consideration of Rights and Obligations," to highlight the SEC staff's views on the importance of considering all of the applicable provisions in an equity transaction when determining the accounting and financial reporting treatment;
-We have added Interpretation 13-6, "Application of Paragraph 13(b) to Securitized Interests," to incorporate the text of FASB Staff Implementation Guide, Question B40, "Application of Paragraph 13(b) to Securitized Interests in Prepayable Financial Assets," which specifies the conditions under which a securitized interest in prepayable financial assets would not be subject to the conditions in paragraph 13(b) of Statement 133; and
-We have added Interpretation 68-16, "Clarifications of Shortcut Method," to incorporate the text of FASB Staff Implementation Guide, Question E23, "Issues Involving the Application of the Shortcut Method under Paragraph 68," which directly revised the criteria in paragraph 68 of Statement 133 to address the relevance of a trade-date-settlement-date difference for a hedged item and a non-zero fair value of an interest-rate swap at hedge inception related to bid-ask spreads.

See our Literature Update for complete details of this update.

Not-for-Profit Organizations -- Proposed FASB Staff Position on Endowments Issued
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

The FASB has issued proposed FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 117-a, Endowments of Not-for-Profit Organizations - Net Asset Classification of Funds Subject to an Enacted Version of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, and Enhanced Disclosures. This proposed FSP provides guidance on the net asset classification of donor-restricted endowment funds for a not-for-profit organization that is subject to an enacted version of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act of 2006 (UPMIFA). Specifically, the proposed FSP would require a not-for-profit organization that is subject to an enacted version of UPMIFA to classify all or a portion of a donor-restricted endowment fund of perpetual duration as permanently restricted net assets. The amount classified as permanently restricted would be the amount of the fund: (a) that must be retained permanently in accordance with explicit donor stipulations; or (b) that in the absence of such stipulations, the organization’s governing board determines must be retained permanently, if any, under the relevant law.

The proposed FSP would also require additional disclosures about an organization's endowment, whether or not it is subject to UPMIFA. Organizations would be required to disclose:

-A description of the governing board's interpretation of the law that underlies the organization's net asset classification of donor-restricted endowment funds.
-A description of the organization's policy(ies) for the appropriation of endowment assets for expenditure (its endowment spending policy(ies)).
-A description of the organization's endowment investment policies.
-The composition of the organization's endowment by net asset class at the end of the period, in total and by type of endowment fund, showing donor restricted endowment funds separately from board-designated endowment funds.
-A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the organization's endowment, in total and by net asset class, including, at a minimum, the following line items (as applicable): investment return, separated into investment income (for example, interest, dividends, rents) and net appreciation or depreciation of investments; contributions; amounts appropriated for expenditure; reclassifications; and other changes.
-If known, planned appropriation for expenditure for the upcoming future year.

As proposed, the FSP would be effective for fiscal years ending after June 15, 2008.

Comments on this proposed FSP are due April 18, 2008.

Accounting Changes -- Proposed FASB Staff Position for Entities Emerging from Reorganization Issued
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

The FASB has issued proposed FASB Staff Position (FSP) SOP 90-7-a, "An Amendment of AICPA Statement of Position 90-7." As proposed, the FSP would apply to entities that are required to apply fresh-start reporting under Statement of Position (SOP) 90-7, Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code. This proposed FSP would amend SOP 90-7 to eliminate the requirement that changes in accounting principles required in financial statements of an entity emerging from bankruptcy reorganization within the 12 months following the adoption of fresh-start reporting are required to be adopted at the time fresh-start reporting is adopted. As a result of this proposed FSP, an entity emerging from bankruptcy that uses fresh-start reporting would only follow the accounting standards in effect at the date of emergence.

Comments on this proposed FSP are due March 28, 2008.

Financial Instruments -- IASB Issues Discussion Paper on Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

The IASB has issued a Discussion Paper (DP), "Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity." The DP is an initial step in the IASB's project to improve and simplify the requirements of IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation, which provides guidance for distinguishing between liability and asset instruments and equity instruments. The DP discusses, and seeks constituent comments on, specific considerations regarding two broad classes of criticisms: (a) how the principles of IAS 32 should be applied; and (b) whether application of IAS 32 principles results in an appropriate distinction between equity instruments and non-equity instruments.

Comments on the Discussion Paper are due September 5, 2008.

Auditing Engagements -- PCAOB Proposes Standard on Engagement Quality Review
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

The PCAOB has issued for public comment a proposed auditing standard, Engagement Quality Review and Conforming Amendment to the Board's Interim Quality Control Standards. The proposal would modify existing concurring partner review requirements required by Section 103 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Under the proposal, an engagement quality review would be required on every engagement conducted pursuant to PCAOB standards. The proposed engagement quality review requirements are risk-based and designed to increase the likelihood that engagement deficiencies will be identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the auditor's report.

In addition to requiring certain specified procedures, the proposed standard requires the engagement quality reviewer to assess whether there are areas within the engagement that pose a higher risk that the engagement team failed to: (a) obtain sufficient competent evidence; or (b) reach an appropriate conclusion. In such areas, the engagement quality reviewer should evaluate whether the engagement team responded appropriately to the assessed risks, the judgments made were reasonable, and the results of the procedures performed support the engagement team's overall conclusions. The proposal also includes a new requirement that the engagement quality reviewer must satisfy before providing concurring approval of issuance.

Comments on the proposal are due May 12, 2008.

EITF Materials Issued -- Convertible Securities and Other Matters Discussed for the March 12, 2008 EITF Meeting
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

The FASB has issued the following additional materials for the EITF meeting scheduled for March 12, 2008:

-Issue No. 98-5, "Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios" (Status Update and Other Related Matters);
-Issue No. 00-27, "Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments" (Issue Summary Supplement);
-Issue No. 07-4, "Application of the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128 to Master Limited Partnerships" (Issue Summary Supplement);
-Issue No. 07-5, "Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity's Own Stock" (Issue Summary Supplement);
-Issue No. 08-3, "Accounting by Lessees for Maintenance Deposits under Lease Agreements" (Issue Summary); and
-Revised proposed Agenda.

Financial Reporting -- FASB Discusses Conceptual Framework and Other Matters at February 20, 2008 Meeting
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

As reported in its "Action Alert" publication, the FASB met on February 20, 2008, and discussed its Conceptual Framework project. The FASB affirmed its decision that general purpose financial reporting is directed at the reporting by an entity to its capital providers rather than reporting from the perspective of a particular class of capital providers. The FASB directed the staff to prepare an analysis of the implications of selecting the entity perspective for consideration in drafting of those documents.

The Action Alert also indicates that the FASB is scheduled to have a meeting on March 5, 2008, and plans to address the following projects or topics:

-Determining whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities; and
-Accounting for certain nonfinancial liabilities: contingency disclosures.

IASB Update -- IASB Discusses Annual Improvements and Other Matters at Its February 18-22, 2008 Meeting
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

As reported in its "IASB Update" publication, the IASB met on February 18-22, 2008, and discussed the following projects or topics:

-Annual improvements;
-IAS 19, Employee Benefits;
-Conceptual framework;
-Liabilities: amendments to IAS 37, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets;
-Liabilities and equity; and
-Insurance contracts.

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

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AUDITING AND INTERNAL CONTROLS HEADLINES:
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Performing Audit Procedures in Response to Assessed Risks and Evaluating the Audit Evidence Obtained -- Unconditional and Presumptively Mandatory Requirements of SAS-110
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

We have added a GAAS Update Service that discusses the unconditional and presumptively mandatory requirements of AICPA Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 110, Performing Audit Procedures in Response to Assessed Risks and Evaluating the Audit Evidence Obtained. Among other matters, the provisions of SAS 110 require the auditor to:

-Design and perform substantive procedures for all relevant assertions related to each material class of transactions, account balance, and disclosure;
-Test controls to obtain evidence about their operating effectiveness if the auditor intends to design substantive tests with the expectation that the controls are effective;
-Perform audit procedures to establish the continuing relevance of evidence obtained in prior periods when planning to use that evidence in the current audit;
-Consider, in designing tests of details, whether it is more effective to use selective means of testing (e.g., selecting large or unusual items from a population) as opposed to performing sampling.
-Make specific inquiries to understand deviations from prescribed controls and their potential consequences; and
-Document certain specific elements of the audit procedures performed in response to assessed risks and the evaluation of the audit evidence obtained through those procedures.

Auditing Engagements -- PCAOB Proposes Standard on Engagement Quality Review
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

As discussed above in our Accounting and SEC Summaries, the PCAOB has issued for public comment a proposed auditing standard, Engagement Quality Review and Conforming Amendment to the Board's Interim Quality Control Standards. The proposal would modify existing concurring partner review requirements required by Section 103 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Under the proposal, an engagement quality review would be required on every engagement conducted pursuant to PCAOB standards. The proposed engagement quality review requirements are risk-based and designed to increase the likelihood that engagement deficiencies will be identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the auditor's report.

In addition to requiring certain specified procedures, the proposed standard requires the engagement quality reviewer to assess whether there are areas within the engagement that pose a higher risk that the engagement team failed to: (a) obtain sufficient competent evidence; or (b) reach an appropriate conclusion. In such areas, the engagement quality reviewer should evaluate whether the engagement team responded appropriately to the assessed risks, the judgments made were reasonable, and the results of the procedures performed support the engagement team's overall conclusions. The proposal also includes a new requirement that the engagement quality reviewer must satisfy before providing concurring approval of issuance.

Comments on the proposal are due May 12, 2008.

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

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GOVERNMENT HEADLINES:
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Technical Plan -- GASB Approves Technical Plan for the Final Third of 2008
For detail, please contact info@zy-cpa.com

We have added a Governmental GAAP Update Service that discusses the GASB's technical plan as of December 13, 2007. We provide a brief summary of the projects and practice issues encompassed in the GASB Technical Plan. The projects and practice issues on the GASB's technical plan are as follows:

-Conceptual Framework - Recognition and Measurement Attributes;
-Derivative Instruments;
-Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Types;
-Service Efforts and Accomplishments - Concepts Statement 2 Amendments;
-Service Efforts and Accomplishments - Suggested Reporting Guidelines; and
-Comprehensive Implementation Guide - Update

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