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IFRS
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), together with International Accounting Standards (IAS), are a "principles-based" set of standards that establish broad rules rather than dictating specific accounting treatments. From 1973 to 2001, IAS was issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC). In April 2001 the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) adopted all IAS and began developing new standards called IFRS. Structure of IFRS IFRS are considered a "principles based" set of standards in that they establish broad rules as well as dictating specific treatments. International Financial Reporting Standards comprise: y y y y y y y International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) - standards issued after 2001 International Accounting Standards (IAS) - standards issued before 2001 Interpretations originated from the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) - issued after 2001 Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC) - issued before 2001 There is also a Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements which describes of the principles underlying IFRS.
Framework The Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements states basic principles for IFRS. Objective of financial statements The framework states that the objective of financial statements is to provide information about the financial position, performance and changes in the financial position of an entity that is useful to a wide range of users in making economic decisions, and to provide the current financial status of the entity to its shareholders and public in general.
Underlying assumptions The underlying assumptions used in IFRS are: y Accrual basis - the effect of transactions and other events are recognized when they occur, not as cash is received or paid y Going concern - the financial statements are prepared on the basis that an entity will continue in operation for the foreseeable future Qualitative characteristics of financial statements The Framework describes the qualitative characteristics of financial statements as being y Understandability y Relevance y Reliability and y Comparability Content of financial statements:IFRS financial statements consist of (IAS1.8) y a balance sheet y income statement y either a statement of changes in equity(SOCE) or a statement of recognized income or expense ("SORIE") y a cash flow statement y notes, including a summary of the significant accounting policies Comparative information is provided for the previous reporting period (IAS 1.36). An entity preparing IFRS accounts for the first time must apply IFRS in full for the current and comparative period although there are transitional exemptions (IFRS1.7). On 6 September 2007, the IASB issued a revised IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements. The main changes from the previous version are to require that an entity must: y Present all non-owner changes in equity (that is, 'comprehensive income) either in one statement of comprehensive income or in two statements (a separate income statement and a statement of comprehensive income). Components of comprehensive income may not be presented in the statement of changes in equity. y Present a statement of financial position (balance sheet) as at the beginning of the earliest comparative period in a complete set of financial statements
when the entity applies an accounting policy retrospectively or makes a retrospective restatement. y Disclose income tax relating to each component of other comprehensive income. y Disclose reclassification adjustments relating to components of other comprehensive income. IAS 1 changes the titles of financial statements as they will be used in IFRSs: y 'Balance sheet' will become 'statement of financial position' y 'income statement' will become 'statement of comprehensive income' y 'Cash flow statement' will become 'statement of cash flows'. The revised IAS 1 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. Early adoption is permitted. Necessity of IFRS:By adopting IFRS, a business can present its financial statements on the same basis as its foreign competitors, making comparisons easier. Furthermore, companies with subsidiaries in countries that require or permit IFRS may be able to use one accounting language company wide. Companies also may need to convert to IFRS if they are a subsidiary of a foreign company that must use IFRS, or if they have a foreign investor that must use IFRS. Companies may also benefit by using IFRS if they wish to raise capital abroad. Widespread is the adoption of IFRS around the world More than 12000 companies in approximately 113 nations have adopted IFRS, Including listed companies in the European Union. Other countries, including Canada and India, are expected to transition to IFRS by 2011. Mexico plans to adopt IFRS for all listed companies starting in 2012. Some estimate that the number of countries requiring or accepting IFRS could grow to 150 in the next few years. Japan has introduced a roadmap for adoption that it will decide on in 2012 (with adoption planned for 2016). Still other countries have plans to converge (eliminate significant differences) their national standards with IFRS.
Adoption of IFRS IFRS are used in many parts of the world, including the y European Union, y Canada, y Hong Kong, y Australia, y Malaysia, y Pakistan, y GCC countries, y Russia, y South Africa, y Singapore and y Turkey. IFRS & INDIA:The issue of convergence with IFRS has gained significant momentum in India. At present, the ASB of the ICAI formulates Accounting Standards based on IFRS, however, these standards remain sensitive to local conditions, including the legal & economic environment. Accordingly, the Accounting Standards issued by the ICAI depart from the corresponding IFRS in order to ensure consistency with the legal, regulatory and economic environments of India. At a meeting held in May 2006, the council of ICAI expressed the view that IFRS may be adopted in full at a future date, at least for listed and large entries. The ASB, at a meeting held in August 2006, considered the matter and supported the councils view that there would be several advantages of converging with IFRS. Keeping in mind the extent of differences between IFRS and Indian Accounting Standards, as well as the fact, that convergence with IFRS would be important policy decision, the ASB decided to form an IFRS Task Force. The objectives of the Task Force were to explore: y The approach for achieving convergence with IFRS, and y Laying down a road map for achieving convergence with IFRS with a view to make India IFRS compliant. Based on the recommendation of the IFRS Task Force, the council of ICAI, at its 269th meeting decided to converge with IFRS, for accounting periods commencing on or after 1 April 2011.IFRS will be adopted for listed and other public interest
entities such as banks, insurance, companies and large sized organizations. With an objective to ensure smooth transition to IFRS from 1 April 2011, ICAI is taking up the matter of convergence with IFRS with NACAS and other regulators including RBI, IRDA and SEBI. The NACAS has been established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. ICAI is taking various other steps as well as to ensure that IFRS is effectively adopted from 1 April 2011. These include: y Formulations of work plan, and y Conducting training programmes for members of ICAI and others concerned to prepare them to implement IFRS. y ICAI will also discuss, with the IASB those areas, where changes in certain IFRS may be required, to reflect conditions specific to India and areas of, conceptual differences. In May 2008, the MCA issued a press release in which it committed to IFRS convergence by 1 April 2011. Recognizing the convergence efforts of ICAI & MCA, the European Union has recently allowed entries to use Indian GAAP for listing on a European securities market without reconciliation through to 2011, and if the convergence plan is achieved, to continue to do so after 2011. BENEFITS OF ADOPTING IFRS FOR INDIAN COMPANIES:The decision to converge with IFRS is a milestone decision and is likely to provide significant benefits to Indian corporate. Some of them are listed below: y The stringent disclosure requirements improve the visibility of liabilities such as future y Pension costs and employee stock schemes. y IFRS is less detailed than U.S. GAAP y IFRS is easier to use and will result in better reporting y Investors prefer IFRS y IFRS is a global approach; comparability to financial statements from other countries that have already adopted IFRS y Improved access to international market y Lower cost of capital y Enable benchmarking with global peers & improve brand value y Escape multiple reporting y Reflects true value of acquisition
New opportunities.
Improved access to international capital markets: Many Indian entries are expanding or making significant acquisitions in the global arena, for which large amounts of capital is required. The majority of stock exchanges require financial information prepared under IFRS. Migration to IFRS will enable Indian entities to have international capital markets, removing the risk premium that is added to those reporting under Indian GAAP. Lower Cost of Capital: Migration to IFRS will lower the cost of raising funds, as it will eliminate the need for preparing a dual set of financial statements. It will also reduce accountants fees, abolish risk premiums and will enable access to all major capital markets as IFRS is globally acceptable. Enable benchmarking with global peers and improve brand value: Adoption of IFRS will enable companies to gain a broader and deeper understanding of the entitys relative standing by looking beyond country and regional milestones. Further, adoption of IFRS will facilitate companies to set targets and milestones based on global business environment, rather than merely local ones. Escape multiple reporting: Convergence to IFRS, by all groups entities, will enable company managements to view all components of the groups on one financial reporting platform. This will eliminate the need for multiple reports and significant adjustment for preparing consolidated financial statements in different stock exchanges. Reflects true value of acquisitions: In Indian GAAP, business combinations, with few exceptions, are recorded at carrying values rather than fair values of net assets acquired. Purchase consideration paid for intangible assets not recorded in the acquirers books is usually not recorded in the financial statements; instead the amount gets added to goodwill. Hence, the true value of the business combination is not reflected in the financial statements. IFRS will overcome this flaw, as it mandates accounting for net assets taken over in a business combination at fair value. It also requires
recognition of intangible assets, even if they have not been recorded in the acquirers financial statements.
New opportunities: Benefits from the adoption of IFRS will not be restricted to Indian corporate. In fact, it will open up a host of opportunities in the service sector. With a wide pool of accounting professionals, India can emerge as an accounting services hub for the global community. As IFRS is fair value focused it will provide significant opportunities to professionals including, accountants, valuers and actuaries, which in turn, will boost the growth prospects for the BPO/KPO segment in India. IFRS CHALLENGES:Some of the challenges are listed below: y y y y y y Shortage of Resources Training Information System Taxes Communication Mgmt Compensation & Debt Covenants
Shortage of resources: With the convergence to IFRS, implementation of SOX, strengthening of corporate governance norms, increasing financial regulations and global economic growth, accountants are most sought after globally. Accounting resources is a major challenge. India, with a population of more than 1 billion has only approximately 145000 Chartered Accountants, which is far below its requirement. Training: If IFRS has to be uniformly understood and consistently applied, training needs of all stakeholders, including CFOs, auditors, audit committees, teachers, students, analysts, regulators and tax authorities need to be addressed. It is imperative that IFRS is introduced as a full subject in universities and in the Chartered Accountancy syllabus.
Information systems: Financial accounting and reporting systems must be able to produce robust and consistent data for reporting financial information. The systems must also be capable of capturing new information for required disclosures, such as segment information, fair values of financial instruments and related party transactions. As financial accounting and reporting systems are modified and strengthened to deliver information in accordance with IFRS, entries need to enhance their IT security in order to minimize the risk of business interruption, in particular to address the risk of fraud, cyber terrorism and data corruption. Taxes: IFRS convergence will have significant impact on financial statements and consequently tax liabilities. Tax authorities should ensure that there is clarity on the tax treatment of items arising from convergence to IFRS. For example, will government authorities tax unrealized gains arising out of the accounting required by the standards on financial instruments? From an entity point of view, a thorough review of existing tax planning strategies is essential to test their alignment with changes created by IFRS. Tax, other regulatory issues and the risks involved will have to be considered by the entities. Communication: IFRS may significantly change reported earnings and various performance indicators. Managing market expectations and educating analysts will therefore be critical. A companys management must understand the differences in the way the entitys performance will be reviewed, both internally and in the market place and agree on key messages to be delivered to investors and other stake holders. Reported profits may be different from perceived commercial performance due to the increased use of fair values, and the restriction on existing practices such as hedge accounting. Consequently, the indicators for assessing both business and executive performance will need to be revisited.
Management compensation and debt covenants: The amount of compensation calculated and paid under performance based executive, and employee compensation plans may be materially different under IFRS, as the entitys financial results may be considered different. Significant changes to the plan may be required to reward an activity that contributes to an entitys success, within the new regime. Re negotiating contracts that referenced reported accounting amounts, such as, bank covenants or FCCB conversation trigger, may be required on convergence to IFRS.
Disadvantages to Switching to IFRS y y y y y y y As adjustments to comply with IFRS can make year-on-year performance comparisons difficult for investment analysts, potentially creating uncertainty and stock price volatility, Companies must also devote resources to the preparation of accounts using the legacy conventions. IFRS is less detailed than U.S. GAAP IFRS fails the cost/benefit analysis Transition periods will cause disconcerting results U.S. GAAP is superior to IFRS in theory
Major differences in Indian GAAP and IFRS The major focus of IFRS is on getting the balance sheet right. This can bring significant volatility in the income statement. There are quite a lot of differences between the Indian GAAP and IFRS with respect to the presentation of financial statements, disclosure requirements, and accounting policies: it is difficult to summarize all the differences here. However a few of the major differences are presented here. SU BJECT Component s of Financial St at ement s I FRS Comprises of Statement Posit ion Statement Comprehensive of Incom e of Financial IN D IA N GAAP Comprises of Balance sheet
st at ement Not es to Account s A ccording to the format prescribed in Schedule VI to the Companies Act 1956, Banking Regulat ion Act fo r Banks et c. Exe mpt ed for Level entities as prescribed ICAI. 3 by
Statement of Cash flow For mat Income St at ement Statement of M andatory for all ent it ies Cash Flows Not es to Account s of IAS 1 prescribes the format of inco me st at ement .
Indian GAAP requires ex traordinary ite ms to be presented in the IFRS prohib its the presentatio n profit and loss statement o f Present at ion of extraordinary ite ms in t he the ent it y distinct fro m the of inco me and statement of comprehensive ordinary ex traordinary expenses for the period. As income or in the not es. it ems a result, extraordinary ite m s are considered to
D ividends declared after the end of the reporting period but D ividends declared after the before the financial statements proposed are authorised for issue are end of the reporting period not recorded as liab ility in the but before t he financial aft er the end financial st at ement s. statements are approved are of t he recorded as liab ility in t he report ing Dividen ds
IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards The objective of this IFRS is to ensure that an entitys first IFRS financial statements, and its interim financial reports for part of the period covered by those financial statements, contain high quality information that: (a) is transparent for users and comparable over all periods presented; (b) provides a suitable starting point for accounting under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs); and (c) can be generated at a cost that does not exceed the benefits to users. An entity shall prepare and present an opening IFRS statement of financial position at the date of transition to IFRSs. This is the starting point for its accounting under IFRSs. An entity shall prepare an opening IFRS balance sheet at the date of transition to IFRSs. This is the starting point for its accounting under IFRSs. An entity need not present its opening IFRS balance sheet in its first IFRS financial statements. In general, the IFRS requires an entity to comply with each IFRS effective at the end of its first IFRS reporting period. In particular, the IFRS requires an entity to do the following in the opening IFRS statement of financial position that it prepares as a starting point for its accounting under IFRSs: (a) recognise all assets and liabilities whose recognition is required by IFRSs; (b) not recognise items as assets or liabilities if IFRSs do not permit such recognition; (c) reclassify items that it recognised under previous GAAP as one type of asset, liability or component of equity, but are a different type of asset, liability or component of equity under IFRSs; and (d) Apply IFRSs in measuring all recognised assets and liabilities. The IFRS grants limited exemptions from these requirements in specified areas where the cost of complying with them would be likely to exceed the benefits to users of financial statements. The IFRS also prohibits retrospective application of IFRSs in some areas, particularly where retrospective application would require judgements by management about past conditions after the outcome of a particular transaction is already known. The IFRS requires disclosures that explain how the transition from previous GAAP to IFRSs affected the entitys reported financial position, financial performance and cash flows.
IFRS 2 Share-based Payment The objective of this IFRS is to specify the financial reporting by an entity when it undertakes a share-based payment transaction. In particular, it requires an entity to reflect in its profit or loss and financial position the effects of share-based payment transactions, including expenses associated with transactions in which share options are granted to employees. The IFRS requires an entity to recognise share-based payment transactions in its financial statements, including transactions with employees or other parties to be settled in cash, other assets, or equity instruments of the entity. There are no exceptions to the IFRS, other than for transactions to which other Standards apply. This also applies to transfers of equity instruments of the entitys parent, or equity instruments of another entity in the same group as the entity, to parties that have supplied goods or services to the entity. The IFRS sets out measurement principles and specific requirements for three types of share-based payment transactions: (a) equity-settled share-based payment transactions, in which the entity receives goods or services as consideration for equity instruments of the entity (including shares or share options); (b) cash-settled share-based payment transactions, in which the entity acquires goods or services by incurring liabilities to the supplier of those goods or services for amounts that are based on the price (or value) of the entitys shares or other equity instruments of the entity; and (c) Transactions in which the entity receives or acquires goods or services and the terms of the arrangement provide either the entity or the supplier of those goods or services with a choice of whether the entity settles the transaction in cash or by issuing equity instruments. For equity-settled share-based payment transactions, the IFRS requires an entity to measure the goods or services received, and the corresponding increase in equity, directly, at the fair value of the goods or services received, unless that fair value cannot be estimated reliably. If the entity cannot estimate reliably the fair value of the goods or services received, the entity is required to measure their value, and the corresponding increase in equity, indirectly, by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted. Furthermore: (a) For transactions with employees and others providing similar services, the entity is required to measure the fair value of the equity instruments granted,
because it is typically not possible to estimate reliably the fair value of employee services received. The fair value of the equity instruments granted is measured at grant date. (b) For transactions with parties other than employees (and those providing similar services), there is a rebuttable presumption that the fair value of the goods or services received can be estimated reliably. That fair value is measured at the date the entity obtains the goods or the counterparty renders service. In rare cases, if the presumption is rebutted, the transaction is measured by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted, measured at the date the entity obtains the goods or the counterparty renders service. (c) For goods or services measured by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted, the IFRS specifies that vesting conditions, other than market conditions, are not taken into account when estimating the fair value of the shares or options at the relevant measurement date (as specified above). Instead, vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments included in the measurement of the transaction amount so that, ultimately, the amount recognised for goods or services received as consideration for the equity instruments granted is based on the number of equity instruments that eventually vest. Hence, on a cumulative basis, no amount is recognised for goods or services received if the equity instruments granted do not vest because of failure to satisfy a vesting condition (other than a market condition). (d) the IFRS requires the fair value of equity instruments granted to be based on market prices, if available, and to take into account the terms and conditions upon which those equity instruments were granted. In the absence of market prices, fair value is estimated, using a valuation technique to estimate what the price of those equity instruments would have been on the measurement date in an arms length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties. (e) the IFRS also sets out requirements if the terms and conditions of an option or share grant are modified (eg an option is repriced) or if a grant is cancelled, repurchased or replaced with another grant of equity instruments. For example, irrespective of any modification, cancellation or settlement of a grant of equity instruments to employees, the IFRS generally requires the entity to recognise, as a minimum, the services received measured at the grant date fair value of the equity instruments granted.
For cash-settled share-based payment transactions, the IFRS requires an entity to measure the goods or services acquired and the liability incurred at the fair value of the liability. Until the liability is settled, the entity is required to remeasure the fair value of the liability at each reporting date and at the date of settlement, with any changes in value recognised in profit or loss for the period. For share-based payment transactions in which the terms of the arrangement provide either the entity or the supplier of goods or services with a choice of whether the entity settles the transaction in cash or by issuing equity instruments, the entity is required to account for that transaction, or the components of that transaction, as a cash-settled share-based payment transaction if, and to the extent that, the entity has incurred a liability to settle in cash (or other assets), or as an equity-settled share-based payment transaction if, and to the extent that, no such liability has been incurred. The IFRS prescribes various disclosure requirements to enable users of financial statements to understand: (a) the nature and extent of share-based payment arrangements that existed during the period; (b) how the fair value of the goods or services received, or the fair value of the equity instruments granted, during the period was determined; and (c) the effect of share-based payment transactions on the entitys profit or loss for the period and on its financial position.
IFRS 3 Business Combinations The objective of the IFRS is to enhance the relevance, reliability and comparability of the information that an entity provides in its financial statements about a business combination and its effects. It does that by establishing principles and requirements for how an acquirer: (a) Recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree; (b) Recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and (c) Determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Core principle An acquirer of a business recognizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition-date fair values and discloses information that enables users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the acquisition. Applying the acquisition method A business combination must be accounted for by applying the acquisition method, unless it is a combination involving entities or businesses under common control. One of the parties to a business combination can always be identified as the acquirer, being the entity that obtains control of the other business (the acquiree). Formations of a joint venture or the acquisition of an asset or a group of assets that does not constitute a business are not business combinations. The IFRS establishes principles for recognising and measuring the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. Any classifications or designations made in recognising these items must be made in accordance with the contractual terms, economic conditions, acquirers operating or accounting policies and other factors that exist at the acquisition date. Each identifiable asset and liability is measured at its acquisition-date fair value. Any non-controlling interest in an acquiree is measured at fair value or as the noncontrolling interests proportionate share of the acquirees net identifiable assets. The IFRS provides limited exceptions to these recognition and measurement principles: (a) Leases and insurance contracts are required to be classified on the basis of the contractual terms and other factors at the inception of the contract (or when the terms have changed) rather than on the basis of the factors that exist at the acquisition date. (b) Only those contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination that are a present obligation and can be measured reliably are recognised.
(c) Some assets and liabilities are required to be recognised or measured in accordance with other IFRSs, rather than at fair value. The assets and liabilities affected are those falling within the scope of IAS 12 Income Taxes, IAS 19 Employee Benefits, IFRS 2 Share-based Payment and IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations. (d) There are special requirements for measuring a reacquired right. (e) Indemnification assets are recognised and measured on a basis that is consistent with the item that is subject to the indemnification, even if that measure is not fair value. The IFRS requires the acquirer, having recognised the identifiable assets, the liabilities and any non-controlling interests, to identify any difference between: (a) the aggregate of the consideration transferred, any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and, in a business combination achieved in stages, the acquisition-date fair value of the acquirers previously held equity interest in the acquiree; and (b) the net identifiable assets acquired. The difference will, generally, be recognised as goodwill. If the acquirer has made a gain from a bargain purchase that gain is recognised in profit or loss. The consideration transferred in a business combination (including any contingent consideration) is measured at fair value. In general, an acquirer measures and accounts for assets acquired and liabilities assumed or incurred in a business combination after the business combination has been completed in accordance with other applicable IFRSs. However, the IFRS provides accounting requirements for reacquired rights, contingent liabilities, contingent consideration and indemnification assets. Disclosure The IFRS requires the acquirer to disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effect of business combinations that occurred during the current reporting period or after the reporting date but before the financial statements are authorised for issue. After a business combination, the acquirer must disclose any adjustments recognised in the current reporting period that relate to business combinations that occurred in the current or previous reporting periods.
IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts The objective of this IFRS is to specify the financial reporting for insurance contracts by any entity that issues such contracts (described in this IFRS as an insurer) until the Board completes the second phase of its project on insurance contracts. In particular, this IFRS requires: (a) limited improvements to accounting by insurers for insurance contracts. (b) disclosure that identifies and explains the amounts in an insurers financial statements arising from insurance contracts and helps users of those financial statements understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of future cash flows from insurance contracts. An insurance contract is a contract under which one party (the insurer) accepts significant insurance risk from another party (the policyholder) by agreeing to compensate the policyholder if a specified uncertain future event (the insured event) adversely affects the policyholder. The IFRS applies to all insurance contracts (including reinsurance contracts) that an entity issues and to reinsurance contracts that it holds, except for specified contracts covered by other IFRSs. It does not apply to other assets and liabilities of an insurer, such as financial assets and financial liabilities within the scope of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. Furthermore, it does not address accounting by policyholders. The IFRS exempts an insurer temporarily (ie during phase I of this project) from some requirements of other IFRSs, including the requirement to consider the Framework in selecting accounting policies for insurance contracts. However, the IFRS: (a) prohibits provisions for possible claims under contracts that are not in existence at the end of the reporting period (such as catastrophe and equalisation provisions). (b) requires a test for the adequacy of recognised insurance liabilities and an impairment test for reinsurance assets. (c) requires an insurer to keep insurance liabilities in its statement of financial position until they are discharged or cancelled, or expire, and to present insurance liabilities without offsetting them against related reinsurance assets. The IFRS permits an insurer to change its accounting policies for insurance contracts only if, as a result, its financial statements present information that is more relevant and no less reliable, or more reliable and no less relevant. In
particular, an insurer cannot introduce any of the following practices, although it may continue using accounting policies that involve them: (a) measuring insurance liabilities on an undiscounted basis. (b) measuring contractual rights to future investment management fees at an amount that exceeds their fair value as implied by a comparison with current fees charged by other market participants for similar services. (c) using non-uniform accounting policies for the insurance liabilities of subsidiaries. The IFRS permits the introduction of an accounting policy that involves remeasuring designated insurance liabilities consistently in each period to reflect current market interest rates (and, if the insurer so elects, other current estimates and assumptions). Without this permission, an insurer would have been required to apply the change in accounting policies consistently to all similar liabilities. The IFRS requires disclosure to help users understand: (a) The amounts in the insurers financial statements that arise from insurance contracts. (b) The amount, timing and uncertainty of future cash flows from insurance contracts.
IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations The objective of this IFRS is to specify the accounting for assets held for sale, and the presentation and disclosure of discontinued operations. In particular, the IFRS requires: (a) assets that meet the criteria to be classified as held for sale to be measured at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, and depreciation on such assets to cease; and (b) Assets that meet the criteria to be classified as held for sale to be presented separately in the statement of financial position and the results of discontinued operations to be presented separately in the statement of comprehensive income. The IFRS:
(a) Adopts the classification held for sale. (b) Introduces the concept of a disposal group, being a group of assets to be disposed of, by sale or otherwise, together as a group in a single transaction, and liabilities directly associated with those assets that will be transferred in the transaction. (c) Classifies an operation as discontinued at the date the operation meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale or when the entity has disposed of the operation. An entity shall classify a non-current asset (or disposal group) as held for sale if its carrying amount will be recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use. For this to be the case, the asset (or disposal group) must be available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets (or disposal groups) and its sale must be highly probable. For the sale to be highly probable, the appropriate level of management must be committed to a plan to sell the asset (or disposal group), and an active programme to locate a buyer and complete the plan must have been initiated. Further, the asset (or disposal group) must be actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value. In addition, the sale should be expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year from the date of classification, except as permitted by paragraph 9, and actions required to complete
the plan should indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. A discontinued operation is a component of an entity that either has been disposed of, or is classified as held for sale, and (a) Represents a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations, (b) Is part of a single co-ordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations or (c) Is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale. A component of an entity comprises operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished, operationally and for financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the entity. In other words, a component of an entity will have been a cashgenerating unit or a group of cash-generating units while being held for use. An entity shall not classify as held for sale a non-current asset (or disposal group) that is to be abandoned. This is because its carrying amount will be recovered principally through continuing use.
IFRS 6 Explorations for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources The objective of this IFRS is to specify the financial reporting for the exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources. Exploration and evaluation expenditures are expenditures incurred by an entity in connection with the exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources before the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource are demonstrable. Exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources is the search for mineral resources, including minerals, oil, natural gas and similar non-regenerative resources after the entity has obtained legal rights to explore in a specific area, as well as the determination of the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the mineral resource. Exploration and evaluation assets are exploration and evaluation expenditures recognised as assets in accordance with the entitys accounting policy. The IFRS: (a) Permits an entity to develop an accounting policy for exploration and evaluation assets without specifically considering the requirements of paragraphs 11 and 12 of IAS 8. Thus, an entity adopting IFRS 6 may continue to use the accounting policies applied immediately before adopting the IFRS. This includes continuing to use recognition and measurement practices that are part of those accounting policies. (b) Requires entities recognising exploration and evaluation assets to perform an impairment test on those assets when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of the assets may exceed their recoverable amount. (c) Varies the recognition of impairment from that in IAS 36 but measures the impairment in accordance with that Standard once the impairment is identified. An entity shall determine an accounting policy for allocating exploration and evaluation assets to cash-generating units or groups of cash-generating units for the purpose of assessing such assets for impairment. Each cash-generating unit or group of units to which an exploration and evaluation asset is allocated shall not be larger than an operating segment determined in accordance with IFRS 8 Operating Segments. Exploration and evaluation assets shall be assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an exploration and evaluation asset may exceed its recoverable amount. When facts and circumstances suggest
that the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount, an entity shall measure, present and disclose any resulting impairment loss in accordance with IAS 36. One or more of the following facts and circumstances indicate that an entity should test exploration and evaluation assets for impairment (the list is not exhaustive): (a) The period for which the entity has the right to explore in the specific area has expired during the period or will expire in the near future, and is not expected to be renewed. (b) Substantive expenditure on further exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the specific area is neither budgeted nor planned. (c) Exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the specific area have not led to the discovery of commercially viable quantities of mineral resources and the entity has decided to discontinue such activities in the specific area. (d) Sufficient data exist to indicate that, although a development in the specific area is likely to proceed, the carrying amount of the exploration and evaluation asset is unlikely to be recovered in full from successful development or by sale. An entity shall disclose information that identifies and explains the amounts recognised in its financial statements arising from the exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources.
IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures The objective of this IFRS is to require entities to provide disclosures in their financial statements that enable users to evaluate: (a) The significance of financial instruments for the entitys financial position and performance; and (b) The nature and extent of risks arising from financial instruments to which the entity is exposed during the period and at the end of the reporting period, and how the entity manages those risks. The qualitative disclosures describe managements objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks. The quantitative disclosures provide information about the extent to which the entity is exposed to risk, based on information provided internally to the entity's key management personnel. Together, these disclosures provide an overview of the entity's use of financial instruments and the exposures to risks they create. The IFRS applies to all entities, including entities that have few financial instruments (eg a manufacturer whose only financial instruments are accounts receivable and accounts payable) and those that have many financial instruments (eg a financial institution most of whose assets and liabilities are financial instruments). When this IFRS requires disclosures by class of financial instrument, an entity shall group financial instruments into classes that are appropriate to the nature of the information disclosed and that take into account the characteristics of those financial instruments. An entity shall provide sufficient information to permit reconciliation to the line items presented in the statement of financial position. The principles in this IFRS complement the principles for recognising, measuring and presenting financial assets and financial liabilities in IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation and IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Me
IFRS 8 Operating Segments Core principleAn entity shall disclose information to enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business activities in which it engages and the economic environments in which it operates. This IFRS shall apply to: (a) the separate or individual financial statements of an entity: (i) Whose debt or equity instruments are traded in a public market (a domestic or foreign stock exchange or an over-the-counter market, including local and regional markets), or (ii) That files, or is in the process of filing, its financial statements with a securities commission or other regulatory organisation for the purpose of issuing any class of instruments in a public market; and (b) The consolidated financial statements of a group with a parent: (i) Whose debt or equity instruments are traded in a public market (a domestic or foreign stock exchange or an over-the-counter market, including local and regional markets), or (ii) That files, or is in the process of filing, the consolidated financial statements with a securities commission or other regulatory organisation for the purpose of issuing any class of instruments in a public market. The IFRS specifies how an entity should report information about its operating segments in annual financial statements and, as a consequential amendment to IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting, requires an entity to report selected information about its operating segments in interim financial reports. It also sets out requirements for related disclosures about products and services, geographical areas and major customers. The IFRS requires an entity to report financial and descriptive information about its reportable segments. Reportable segments are operating segments or aggregations of operating segments that meet specified criteria. Operating segments are components of an entity about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Generally, financial information is required to be reported on the same basis as is used internally for evaluating operating segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources to operating segments. The IFRS requires an entity to report a measure of operating segment profit or loss and of segment assets. It also requires an entity to report a measure of segment
liabilities and particular income and expense items if such measures are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker. It requires reconciliations of total reportable segment revenues, total profit or loss, total assets, liabilities and other
Team members
1. Pooja T K 2. Madhu L 3. Ngaraj Javali 4. Vijay S S 5. Sadanand 6. Suchetana A