SUMMARY OF BOARD DECISIONS

Summary of Board decisions are provided for the information and convenience of constituents who want to follow the Board’s deliberations. All of the conclusions reported are tentative and may be changed at future Board meetings. Decisions are included in an Exposure Draft for formal comment only after a formal written ballot. Decisions in an Exposure Draft may be (and often are) changed in redeliberations based on information provided to the Board in comment letters, at public roundtable discussions, and through other communication channels. Decisions become final only after a formal written ballot to issue a final standard.

July 15, 2009 Board Meeting

Financial instruments: improvements to recognition and measurement. The Board decided on a model to improve financial reporting for financial instruments.   The Board reached the following decisions:
  1. The Board decided that all financial instruments will be presented on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in value recognized in net income or other comprehensive income with an optional exception for own debt in certain circumstances, which will be measured at amortized cost.   For those financial instruments whose change in value is recognized in other comprehensive income, amortized cost will be displayed on the balance sheet in addition to a fair value adjustment to arrive at fair value.

  2. The Board decided that changes in an instrument’s value may be recognized in other comprehensive income on the basis of qualifying criteria related to an entity’s management intent/business model and the cash flow variability of the instrument. The Board will provide additional guidance on how to apply those qualifying criteria.   The Board decided that changes in value for derivatives, equity securities, and hybrid instruments containing embedded derivatives requiring bifurcation under FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, will be recognized in net income.   The Board decided that for all financial instruments, interest and dividends will continue to be recognized in net income.   Credit impairments, as well as realized gains and losses from sale and settlement, also will be recognized in net income.   The classification of instruments will be determined at initial recognition of the instrument and will not be subsequently changed.   

  3. The Board decided to require one statement of financial performance with subtotals for net income and other comprehensive income.   It also decided to continue to only require earnings per share for net income.