Motifs and Impediments for the Harmonization of Accounting Regulations for Small and Medium-Sized Companies in the EU

Small and medium-sized companies in most EU countries form a considerable share in the total number of companies and are also an important development impeller of the entire economy. Therefore, one of the most essential goals of accounting authorities in the EU is accomplishing the harmonization of accounting regulations for these companies. In this paper, the author have discussed and explained the main motifs and impediments for this harmonization. One of the main motifs is a big span and complexity of international standards of financial reports which is allowed and even prescribed in many countries. Some of the main impediments are a lack of uniformity as far as criteria for classification of small and medium-sized companies according to size are concerned as well as the determining of limitations up to which the requirements in accounting standards for small and medium-sized companies should be set.

International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） and Financial Accounting Standards Board （FASB） Convergence Project： Where Are They Now？

The convergence project between the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） and the Financial Accounting Standards Board （FASB） in the United States （US） was signed on September 18, 2002 in Norwalk, Connecticut in the US. The first is responsible for issuing International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS） nowadays, which were created 40 years ago. More than one century ago, local regulations are used in the US. The boards differ in years of experience. With the signing of the agreement, both institutions are working to reduce the divergence of accounting. Although they have made a significant progress, it is appropriate to examine whether the difference in approaches to accounting will affect the achieved agreements. It is relevant to investigate whether the years leading the standards adopted in different countries will impact the final result. The date of completion of the project has been postponed and still has not indicated the date of termination. This research is an analysis of the importance of the convergence of accounting standards at a global level. The study presents statistics on the status of the adoption of international standards by country. The study shows a summary of the expressions made by the directors of both boards about the future of the project.

The Relevance of International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-Sized Entities （IFRS for SMEs） in Swaziland

The purpose of this study is to explore the relevance of adopting International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS） for small and medium-sized entities （SMEs） in Swaziland. The study further seeks to determine if IFRS for SMEs can be the solution to better reporting by local SMEs. There has been a growing need for different reporting standards for small firms and big firms over the years due to the unique challenges and attributes they face especially in the area of financial reporting. This research is based on a statistical analysis of questionnaires completed by accountants from SMEs in Swaziland as well as other stakeholders who have a direct or an indirect interest in the financial statements of SMEs. These stakeholders included audit firms and the financial institutions. The sampling rate of 10% was applied across each industry to come up with a sample of 60 SMEs. Furthermore, a 100% sampling rate on the other stakeholders was applied. These were nine financial institutions and eight audit finns. The findings from the study revealed that SMEs in Swaziland are having challenges with the current reporting framework but to some extent, the framework is suitable. Most SMEs are not aware of IFRS for SMEs, therefore the accounting profession in Swaziland （SIA） has a huge role to play in training auditors and accountants in the country. Overall, IFRS for SMEs is applicable in Swaziland.

Valuation Standards Under the Implementation Process of IFRS

In this paper, the authors focus on valuation standards as a result of the mandatory effect of the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS）, and more precisely on the context of fair value. The paper assesses the impact concentrate on the IFRS adopter countries and at the same time on the Business Valuation Standards （BVS）, because they provide consistence and comparability, in time and in space, to the valuation even different implementation levels of the accounting information system （AIS）. The results corroborate that rules and practices are not sufficient conditions to create a widespread accounting language, and international institutional standards play an essential role in framing financial reporting characteristics, in order to assist financial analysts and accountants to implement the accounting system and strategies, as well as, on firms to adopt the best valuation practices on their disclosures. Also, the authors recommend that the International Accounting Standards Board [IASB], the Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC], the European Commission [EC] and valuation agencies should now devote their efforts to harmonizing valuation standards rather than harmonizing accounting standards.

IAS-IFRS Adoption Impact on Accounting Information： The Case of France

The International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） has established international standards （International Accounting Standards （lASs） and International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRSs）） to ensure more comparability and transparency and also higher-quality financial statements. The creation of such standards by the IASB aims at achieving harmonization of accounting practices among countries. The objective of this research is to show that in accordance with the expectations of international organizations, the adoption of IAS-IFRS increases the information content of financial statements and also to identify the key accounting variables that have been affected by this adoption. This article used a sample of year observations of 150 French firms which have adopted IAS-IFRS since 2005 as data to study the association relationship between accounting variables and stock returns before and after the adoption of IASs. The findings of this paper show that the application of IAS-IFRS as accounting standards increases the information content of accounting numbers. Dividends, long-term debts, equity, and revenue variables are most correlated with stock returns. Their information content has reached 80% after the adoption, while it was 30% before.

欧盟法律框架下的股本证券国际发行

肇始于20世纪80年代的股本证券国际发行,曾几何时美国市场风光无限,然萨班斯法案对公司治理义务的强化,加之技术、投资者信心、流动性等各方面因素的影响,美国市场不再风光旖旎,但股本证券国际发行市场的监管竞争却不断推动着监管制度的趋同化:国际财务报告标准在欧洲的适用、2007年美国SEC允许外国私人发行人适用国际财务报告标准、部分国家的相互认可协议等一系列监管制度的趋同做法都为股本证券的国际发行监管框架的建立奠定基础。本文全面分析了欧盟法律框架下的股本证券国际发行制度:《招股说明书指令》的适用与豁免、《透明度义务指令》的民事责任、欧洲证券监管机构委员会的同行评估与同行压力及对证券监管全球发展的观察等,并对有关国外发行人在美国公开发行与获取上市的法律加以概述,为两大经济体在股本证券国际发行制度方面的趋同提供了规范的分析路径。

欧盟法律框架下的股本证券国际发行

股本证券国际发行肇始于20世纪80年代,曾几何时美国市场风光无限,然而随着萨班斯法案对公司治理义务的强化,加上受到技术、投资者信心、流动性等各方面因素的影响,美国市场不再风光旖旎,但股本证券国际发行市场的监管竞争却不断推动着监管制度的趋同化:国际财务报告标准在欧洲的适用、2007年美国SEC允许外国私人发行人适用国际财务报告标准、部分国家的相互认可协议等一系列监管制度的趋同做法都为股本证券的国际发行监管框架的建立奠定了基础。本文全面分析了欧盟法律框架下的股本证券国际发行制度:《招股说明书指令》的适用与豁免、《透明度义务指令》的民事责任、欧洲证券监管机构委员会的同行评估与同行压力及对证券监管全球发展的观察等,并对有关国外发行人在美国公开发行与获取上市的法律加以概述,为两大经济体在股本证券国际发行制度方面的趋同提供了规范的分析路径。