The growing globalization within the business world and of capital market are contributing to a need of further harmonize accounting practices. This is because the differences in the accounting rules created differences in the financial outcomes. In 2005, all members within EU decided to move from a rule-based framework to a principle-based framework. A transition to the international regulations, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), created better conditions for companies and stakeholders. With the aim to minimize the discrepancies in accounting practices, the European standard setting body, IASB aligned with the American standard setting body, FASB in a harmonization project to create a common and harmonized framework. The project started in 2002, and IASB and FASB corporation towards a common goal of an improved comparability of the financial statements by a uniform set of accounting standards. The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the similarities and differences between IASB:s and FASB:s accounting for intangible assets and their attitude to the developments in the international harmonization process. We have conducted a study to what extent the different standards are harmonized in relation to each other. To fulfill this purpose the study has been performed from an abductive approach with a comparative design where we have classified different quots from each framework. The character of the analysis is qualitative and we chose to study four areas within each framework fair value, useful life, depreciation and impairments. Based on the information from the economic literature and scientific articles we used the dimensional theory to demonstrate how harmonized the standards are in relation to each other. The results show that there has been a harmonization between the IASB:s and FASB:s rules, however, disparity remain in terms of cultural and institutional differences. The analysis shows that IFRS:s are more rule-based than principle-based compared to US GAAP in terms of intangible assets. We think that a standard should include both rules and principles. / Det sker en ständig globalisering inom företagsvärlden, inte minst inom kapitalmarknadsområdet. I denna process har skillnader mellan regler kring olika redovisningssystem inte följt med i samma takt. Skillnader mellan olika redovisningssystem har påvisats skapa skillnader i finansiella utfall. Denna företeelse har i sin tur framkallat ett behov av att skapa ett harmoniserat redovisningssystem. År 2005 beslutade sig därför samtliga medlemsländer inom EU att en övergång från ett regelbaserat regelverk till ett alltmer principbaserat regelverk skulle äga rum. Övergången till det internationella regelverket, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), skulle hjälpa till att skapa de förutsättningar som krävdes för en samstämmighet inom området. Konceptet riktade sig främst mot företag och intressenter som var verksamma på den internationella marknaden. För att praktiskt kunna minimera redovisningsskillnader mellan olika redovisningssystem ingick den internationella normgivaren IASB, tillsammans med den amerikanska normgivaren FASB, i ett konvergeringsprojekt. Syftet var att skapa ett gemensamt och harmoniserat regelverk. Projektet mellan IASB och FASB inleddes år 2002 för att arbeta mot ett gemensamt mål om en förbättrad jämförbarhet mellan de finansiella rapporterna. Syftet med studien är att undersöka och analysera skillnaderna mellan IASB:s och FASB:s hantering av immateriella tillgångar, samt hur de ställer sig till utvecklingen inom den internationella harmoniseringsprocessen. Utifrån detta syfte har vi valt att genomföra en kvalitativ studie då vi anser att denna forskningsform ger oss möjligheten till att besvara våra forskningsfrågor. I vår undersökning har vi studerat i vilken grad de olika standarderna harmoniserar med varandra. För att uppfylla syftet har studien genomförts utifrån en abduktiv ansats, med en komparativ design, där vi har klassificerat utdrag från vardera regelverk. Vi har utgått från en kvalitativ undersökningsansats där fyra områden valts ut och analyserats. Områdena består i redovisning av verkligt värde, nedskrivningar, avskrivningar och nyttjandeperiod. Utifrån ekonomisk litteratur och vetenskapliga artiklar, har vi med hjälp av dimensionsteorin, kunnat visa i vilken mån regelverken är harmoniserade. Resultatet visar att det har skett en harmonisering mellan IASB:s och FASB:s regelverk, dock kvarstår det kulturella och institutionella skillnader. Analysen visar att IFRS är mer regelbaserad än principbaserad i förhållande till US GAAP vad det gäller immateriella tillgångar. Slutsatsen motsäger alltså den generella bilden av att US GAAP är regelbaserad och IFRS är principbaserad. Slutligen går utvecklingen inom harmoniseringen mot att utövaren får användning av sitt professionella omdöme och att regleringarna blir mer klara och flexibla. Enligt vår mening är det mest effektivt att en standard innehåller både regler och principer.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T18:40:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 EdigarBernardoDosSantos.pdf: 1215755 bytes, checksum: 0867829a5c069c9043ccc11ad6c7aaa4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-05-31 / Boosted by the acceleration in the economic globalization, the increase of the business competition, the work to synergy, the scale gains and the exponential growth in development of the technology of information, companies increased their international transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, issuance of debt securities, access to the public market of stocks abroad, etc. These transactions require exchange of accounting information in an international language. As the United States is considered one of the most important financial market in the world, the main objective of this narrative is the comparative analysis of the accounting standards and taxes applicable to the operations of business combinations in the United States and Brazil. Primary, it was presented some statistics about business combinations, followed by a conceptual and literature review. In the chapters called accounting procedures for the operations of business combinations in the United States and Brazil, the main accounting standard issued in each country is analyzed, with special focus on the definitions, accounting records, criteria of evaluation, consolidation needs and disclosure requirements. In the comparative chapter the main similarities and differences between the standards of the two countries are presented, followed by commentaries with opinions and recommendations. In the following chapters, called taxes aspects related to the operations of business combinations in Brazil and the United States, the main legal definitions related to the taxation of the capital gain and the possibilities of taxes deduction of the amortization of goodwill are evaluated. In the comparative chapter of the taxes aspects is presented where the criteria of the two countries are compared. The methodology was based in an exploratory research and in the comparative method. Finally, it was concluded there are not relevant differences between the accounting standards of the business combinations in the two countries, except for the amortization of goodwill and accounting record of negative goodwill. In relation to the taxes aspects, the tax deduction of goodwill is permitted in the two countries, however in different periods and the capital gain in the sale of the permanent investments is subject to taxation in both, but the Brazilian rules allow the tax planning. / Impulsionadas pelo acelerado fenômeno da globalização econômica, crescimento da competitividade, busca de sinergia, ganhos de escala e a exponencial evolução da tecnologia da informação, as empresas passaram a realizar cada vez mais transações internacionais, tais como: fusões, aquisições, joint ventures, emissão de título de dívida, lançamento de ações no exterior etc. Essas operações requerem troca de informações contábeis em linguagem internacional. Considerando-se os Estados Unidos um dos principais mercados financeiros mundiais, esta dissertação teve como objetivo principal a análise comparativa das normas contábeis e tributárias aplicáveis às operações de business combinations, nos Estados Unidos e no Brasil. Inicialmente, apresentam-se algumas estatísticas de operações de business combinations, seguidas de revisão conceitual e da literatura. Nos capítulos denominados procedimentos contábeis para as operações de business combinations nos Estados Unidos e no Brasil, analisam-se as principais normas contábeis vigentes em cada país sobre business combinations, com destaque para as definições, registro, critérios de avaliação, necessidades de consolidação e obrigatoriedade de divulgação. No capítulo comparativo, apresentam-se as principais similaridades e diferenças entre as normas dos dois países, seguidas de comentários, opiniões e recomendações. Nos capítulos seguintes, denominados aspectos tributários relacionados às operações de business combinations nos Estados Unidos e no Brasil, avaliam-se as principais definições legais relacionadas à tributação do ganho de capital e as possibilidades de dedução fiscal da amortização do ágio ou goodwill. No capítulo comparativo dos aspectos tributários, confrontam-se os critérios utilizados em cada um dos países. A metodologia foi fundamentada na pesquisa exploratória e no método comparativo. Finalmente, verifica-se que não há diferenças relevantes entre as normas contábeis para as operações de business combinations nos dois países, exceto quanto aos critérios para amortização do goodwill e registro do goodwill negativo. Em relação às normas tributárias, verifica-se que a dedução fiscal do goodwill é permitida nos dois países, mas em prazos diferentes, e que o ganho de capital na alienação de investimentos está sujeito à tributação em ambos, mas as normas brasileiras permitem o planejamento tributário.

This diploma thesis deals with revenue recognition in acconrdance to International Financial Reporting Standards IFRS and american Generally Accepted Accounting Principles US GAAP. Furthermore, it is focused on convergence project, called Revenue Recognition Project. This will result to standard Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Expected issue period is the end of 2011. The goal of this thesis is to analyze and assess the current situation in chosen accounting systems.

Trots fördelarna med minskad informationsasymmetri och ökad marknadseffektivitet har inte alla länder implementera den globala redovisningsstandarden IFRS. Syftet med studien var att analysera hur USA ur ett historiskt perspektiv reagerat mot harmoniseringen med den globala redovisningsstandarden IFRS. Det teoretiska ramverket grundar sig i institutional theory med fokus på de olika aktörernas beteende. Dessutom de olika strategiska reaktionerna som organisationer antar som ett resultat av institutionellt påtryck mot överensstämmelse. Studien baseras på arkivforskning genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Studien finner att USA är benägna att byta reaktion flera gånger från året 1970. Dessutom ökar USA gradvis hur aktiv deras reaktion mot harmoniseringen med IFRS är. Slutligen den senaste reaktionen USA visar är manipulate. / Despite the benefits of reduced information asymmetry and increased market efficiency, not all countries have adopted the global accounting standard IFRS. The purpose of this study was to investigate how US from a historical perspective reacted towards the harmonization with the global accounting standard IFRS. The theoretical framework is derived from the institutional theory with an emphasis on the behavior of actors. Furthermore, the different strategic responses that organizations enact as a result of institutional pressures toward conformity. This study is based on archival research through a qualitative content analysis. Findings shows that US is prone to change responses several times from the year 1970. In addition, US is gradually increasing how active its response to harmonization with IFRS is. Lastly, the most recent response US shows are manipulate.

Bakgrund: Det har uppmärksammats att konsumtionen och efterfrågan av el fortsätter att öka för varje år. Resultatet av det växande behovet har lett till stigande utsläppsnivåer inom energibranschen. Ett sätt för att kontrollera nivåerna av utsläpp är utsläppsrätter. Priset på utsläppsrätter har ökat och förväntas öka ännu mer. Det finns i dagsläget inget gemensamt globalt direktiv om hur utsläppsrätter ska redovisas, däremot finns rekommendationer inom både IFRS och US GAAP om hur de kan klassificeras och värderas i redovisningen. IFRS är en principbaserad redovisningsstandard som är utgiven av IASB, medan US GAAP är en regelbaserad redovisningsstandard som utfärdas av FASB. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur utsläppsrätter redovisas i energibranschen hos europeiska respektive amerikanska företag. Frågeställning: Vilka likheter och skillnader finns mellan klassificering och värdering av utsläppsrätter utifrån IFRS och US GAAP i energibranschen? Metod: I denna studie har en kvantitativ innehållsanalys genomförts där det empiriska materialet utgörs av 31 företags årsredovisningar. Vidare har en kodningsmanual skapats där kategorier kring klassificering och värdering av utsläppsrätter utformats, för att sedan kunna sammanställa datan i ett kodningsschema. Teoretisk referensram: Studiens resultat har med hjälp av legitimitetsteorin och institutionell teori förklarat vad de rådande likheterna och skillnaderna gällande redovisningen av utsläppsrätter i Europa och USA kan bero på. Slutsats: Resultaten visar att de skillnader som finns mellan IFRS och US GAAP i energibranschen är främst klassificering av utsläppsrätter, efterföljande värdering av utsläppsrätter och redovisningen av utsläppsskyldighet. De största likheterna mellan IFRS och US GAAP är värdering av tilldelade utsläppsrätter samt köpta utsläppsrätter. / Background: It has been noticed that the consumption and demand for electricity continues to increase every year. The result of the growing needs has led to rising emission levels in the energy industry. One way to control the levels of emissions is emission rights. The price of emission rights has increased and is expected to increase even more. There is currently no common global directive on how emission rights are to be reported, however, there are recommendations within both IFRS and US GAAP on how they can be classified and valued in the accounts. IFRS is a principle-based accounting standard established by the IASB, while US GAAP is a rules-based accounting standard established by the FASB.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the accounting of emission rights in the energy industry between European and American companies.  Question: What are the similarities and differences between the classification and valuation of emission rights between IFRS and US GAAP in the energy industry?  Method: In this study a quantitative content analysis has been implemented where the empirical material consists of 31 companies' annual reports. Furthermore, a coding manual has been created where categories regarding classification and valuation of emission rights have been designed, in order to compile the data in a coding scheme.  Theory: The results of the study have with the help of legitimacy theory and institutional theory explained what the similarities and differences regarding the accounting of emission rights in Europe and the USA may be due to.  Conclusion: The results show that the differences that exist between IFRS and US GAAP in the energy industry are mainly the classification of emission rights, the subsequent valuation of emission rights and the reporting of emission obligations. The biggest similarities between IFRS and US GAAP are the valuation of allocated emission rights and purchased emission rights.

<p>Skandalen som omvärvde Enron skakade affärsvärlden då det var den största skandal som dittills inträffat. De brott Enrons ledning stod anklagade för var många och av varierande art. De undersökningar som redan har genomförts har till stor del fokuserat på organisationen och ledarskapet. För att ge en annorlunda vinkel fokuserar denna uppsats istället på redovisningen och några av de misstag som begicks av Enrons ledning. Det är även därför som händelserna granskas ur ett revisorsperspektiv. Målgruppen är revisionsintresserade samt de som är intresserade av ekonomisk historia. De data som har använts i arbetet är sekundärdata som blev åtkomlig genom databaser och relevanta sökord. Enron använde sig av enheter som de skapat för speciella ändamål (SPE-enheter) för att kringgå gällande regler samt för att dölja förluster. Detta skedde bland annat i fallet med Talon, då de kringgick reglerna gällande redovisning av förluster genom att ta upp nya inkomster och på så sätt upprätthålla det egna aktievärdet. Tillgångarna i de SPE-enheter Enron skapade bestod till största del av aktier i Enron vilket gjorde enheterna beroende av att Enrons aktievärde upprätthölls. Enligt de regler som var aktuella innan konkursen skulle SPE-enheter konsolideras med grundarens balans- och resultaträkning då vissa kriterier inte uppfylldes. Detta var en regel som Enron konsekvent bröt mot genom att fortlöpande bilda nya enheter för att bibehålla det egna aktievärdet samt för att dölja att kraven kring konsolidering inte uppnåddes. Mark-to-market var en process som Enron utnyttjade frekvent när det gällde värdering av långtidskontrakt inom energihandeln. Processen går ut på att uppskatta kommande marknadsvärden för att kunna beräkna kommande inkomster. Enron var emellertid alltför optimistiska i sina uppskattningar vilket ledde till att vinsterna som redovisats var betydligt högre än de verkliga. För att dölja detta använde sig företaget av vinstförvaltning, vilket innebär att de flyttade inkomster för att upprätthålla en jämn vinstnivå genom åren. Något som blev till ett stort problem då avtalet med videojätten Blockbuster avbröts utan att några vinster verkligen inkommit. Enrons redovisningsbrott är till största delen fria tolkningar av reglerna eller det faktum att de lyckats kringgå dem helt. Enbart i fallen med SPE-enheterna kan brott påvisas.</p> / <p>The Enron scandal was the biggest scandal that had existed (at the time it occurred) and it chocked the entire business world. The crimes that Enron’s management were charged with were many and of different species. Previous investigations concentrate on leadership and organization. To give a different visual angle, this essay focuses on the accounting issues and some of the mistakes that the management in Enron made. Furthermore, the events in the case of Enron are seen from an auditor’s perspective. Our goal is to reach audit and other economic history interested parties. The data that were used is secondary data that became available through carefully selected search words. Enron used entities created for special purposes (SPE-entities) to avoid rules and to hide losses. This happened in the case with Talon, when Enron circumvent the rules regarding the ways in which losses presents in the financial statement, by showing incomes to maintain the value of the stocks. The assets in the SPE-entities were mainly stocks in Enron, which meant that the entities depended on Enron’s stock value to maintain an acceptable level. According to the rules before the bankruptcy, the entities balance- and result sheets did not need to be consolidated with the founders if certain criteria were met. This was a rule that Enron consistently broke by continuously create new entities and Enron could in that way retain their stock value and hide from the consolidating requirements. Mark-to-market is a process that was frequently used by Enron when they were to appreciate the values from long-term contracts within the energy business. According to the process the company estimate market values to present future incomes. However, Enron were to optimistic when they calculated, which meant that the profit estimated were higher than in reality. To cover the truth Enron used profit administration, which means that they shifted the profits to present a better profit level over the years. This became a big problem in the case with Blockbuster Video, a case that was interrupted before any profits were made. The crimes that were made by Enron’s management are to a large part their own interpretation of the accounting rules or the fact that they entirely manage to avoid the rules. Crimes can be pointed out only in the case with the SPE-entities.</p>

The principles versus rules debate has long since been a conversation in the accounting world, but the conversation heated up in the early part of the 21st century on the heels of a few highly publicized accounting frauds. In an increasingly globalized business environment, convergence between the more rules-oriented US GAAP and more principles-oriented IFRS is becoming more and more relevant. This study attempts to better inform that debate, exploring the accounting conceptual framework, United States legal environment, and the costs and benefits of adopting a more principles-oriented set of accounting standards. This study concludes that, though there would likely be some costs initially, principles-oriented standards give managers the ability to produce more relevant, comparable, and reliable financial statements, and can even serve to deincentivize fraudulent behavior. By adjusting the incentive structure, managers would no longer be offered protection by bright-line rules, instead required to more faithfully represent the economic reality of their firm. However, though rules-oriented standards like lease accounting are in need of improvement, due to the complex nature of some transactions, not all standards can be solely principles-oriented. As such, the FASB should develop a propensity away from rules, detailed guidance, and exceptions whenever possible.

The United States is one of the few developed countries in the world that has not adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as its primary financial reporting guidelines. Instead, most American companies prepare financial statements adhering to the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). In recent years, there has been much debate regarding the feasibility and impact of a US adoption of IFRS. One area of financial reporting that would be significantly impacted by a switch from US GAAP to IFRS is inventory accounting. Specifically, inventory measurement and costing methods. The goal of this research is to examine the impact that a US adoption of IFRS would have on inventory reporting practices and investor perception of inventory-related accounts. To achieve this goal, I propose several business scenarios that each highlights a different aspect of inventory accounting, then proceed to analyze how these scenarios would be financially represented under IFRS and US GAAP. Results indicate that while the two sets of accounting standards result in different annual account balances, these differences even out over time. As such, I argue that experienced investors will not be significantly impacted should the United States ultimately choose to adopt IFRS.

The diploma thesis compares different accounting methods in the three accounting systems in the long-lived assets area. The dominant accounting system in the thesis is the IFRS. In the first part long-lived assets are described according IFRS. The US GAAP and Czech accounting law are shown only main differences. The diploma thesis describes and explains the cause of differences between all three systems and shows the impact on the financial statements. In the second part of the thesis the outcomes of financial research on companies which presents their financial results according IFRS are presented.

Två av världens största normsättare för redovisningsstandarder, IASB och FASB, har samarbetat för att justera sina inbördes regelverk och skapa ett gemensamt internationellt regelverk. Detta gemensamma internationella regelverk skulle harmonisera internationell redovisning och bidra till ökad transparens. Ett av normsättarnas mer omfattande och komplexa samarbeten berör harmoniseringsprojektet för leasing som initierades 2006 och avbröts 2013. Syftet med denna studie var att analysera några av de krafter som formade detta harmoniseringsprojekt och öka förståelsen för varför det avbröts.