NEWS RELEASE 01/14/13

FAF Review Team Concludes FASB Statement 131 on Segment Reporting Generally Achieves Its Purpose

Some Stakeholders Suggest Improvements to Segment Reporting Information

Norwalk, CT, January 14, 2013—A 1997 accounting standard established to improve the way public companies report financial information about their business segments generally achieves that purpose, although some stakeholders suggest improvements.

That was the overall conclusion of the post-implementation review (PIR) of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (codified in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280, Segment Reporting). The PIR process was established by the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) in 2010.

The review of Statement 131 was undertaken by an independent FAF team working under the oversight of the FAF Board of Trustees. The team´s formal report was issued today and is available at www.accountingfoundation.org. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) also is conducting a post-implementation review of IFRS 8, Operating Segments, which is converged with Statement 131. The IASB expects to conclude its review in 2013.

"With the completion of our second post-implementation review, we believe that PIR has become an established and valuable part of the standard-setting process," said FAF President and Chief Executive Officer Teresa S. Polley. "We especially want to thank all of the stakeholders who contributed important feedback to the PIR team on the real-world application, usefulness and effectiveness of the business segments standard."

FASB Chairman Leslie F. Seidman said, "The post-implementation review report on Statement 131 affirms the overall effectiveness of the standard. However, the report identified aspects of Statement 131 that stakeholders think could be improved; for example, the effect of changes in technology on the determination of what information is reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. We are considering the reported findings and will provide our initial response in the coming weeks. We also will consider the IASB´s review of IFRS 8 before making a determination on how to proceed."

Statement 131 establishes standards for the way that public companies report information about operating segments in annual and interim financial statements. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas, and major customers. The Statement does not apply to private companies or to not-for-profit organizations.

The Statement 131 review team received input from investors and other financial statement users, as well as preparers, auditors, academics, and financial regulators. Based on its research, the review team concluded that:

Statement 131 provides more information about companies´ different business activities than the prior segment reporting standard did. In addition, companies´ reported segment information is better aligned with their internal structures and more consistent with financial information reported outside the financial statements. However, there are indications that some companies (particularly those reporting only one segment) are not reporting a sufficient number of segments.
Overall, Statement 131 enhanced the relevance of segment disclosures. Additional disaggregated information and improved alignment allows investors to understand the different types of activities in which a company engages and its prospect for future growth. Investors also use the improved segment information to make judgments about the company as a whole. However, reported segment information is not always sufficient for their investment decisions. Users would like more segment information (e.g., gross margin and cash flow), and some might like more consistency across companies in the amount, type, and measurement of information disclosed.
In general, Statement 131´s requirements can be understood, can be applied as intended, and result in reliable information. However, the guidance for determining and aggregating operating segments might be difficult for some companies to apply—in part because of advances in technology and the principles-based nature of the standard—and generates continuing discussions between preparers, practitioners, and regulators.
Statement 131 did not result in any significant changes in operating or financial reporting practices, nor did it have any significant economic consequences. However, some companies might be aggregating segments to reduce transparency because of competitive harm concerns or for other reasons.
Both the costs and the benefits associated with Statement 131´s required segment disclosures are consistent with the Board´s and stakeholders´ expectations.

The Statement 131 review team concluded that the standard-setting process worked well overall and contributed to a successful standard, and had no significant standard-setting process recommendations.

The PIR process, which is independent of the standard-setting process of the FASB and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), is intended to assist the FAF´s Board of Trustees with its ongoing efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of the standard-setting process for both organizations. The FAF Trustees´ oversight responsibility does not extend to recommending standard-setting action, which is the sole, independent responsibility of the FASB.

This is the second post-implementation review of a FASB standard, as the team completed its first review of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48) (codified in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Incomes Taxes), in January 2012. More information on the FAF´s PIR process can be found on the FAF website.

About the Financial Accounting Foundation

The FAF is responsible for the oversight, administration, and finances of both the Financial Accounting Standards Board and its counterpart for state and local government, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The FAF also is responsible for selecting the members of both Boards and their respective Advisory Councils.