Discussion 1:
"Off-Balance Sheet Financing" Please respond to the following:
- Based on your review of the current requirements of the SEC and FASB, assess the adequacy of the guidelines for ensuring the transparency of off-balance-sheet transactions to investors, indicating where improvements may still be needed. Provide support for your rationale.
- As a CFO of a publically traded company, evaluate the pros and cons of using off-balance-sheet financing, including a recommendation as to whether or not you support using these types of arrangements. Provide support for your recommendation.
Discussion 2:
E-Activity:
- Search the Internet databases for the most recent guidelines or proposals for the reporting of off-balance sheet financing transactions by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Search the Internet databases for the current GAAP and IFRS reporting requirements of long-lived assets.
"Impairment of Long-Lived Asset Investments" Please respond to the following:
- Based on the information found in the e-Activity, assess the key differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS reporting for the testing of asset impairment and the requirement to write down the asset value. Indicate whether or not you support the U.S. GAAP or IFRS approach. Provide support for your position.
- As an investor, recommend a strategy for evaluating long-lived asset values contained on the balance sheet of a publically traded company so as to minimize the risk to the investor. Provide support for your strategy.