SEC Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting will meet on July 11, 2008. It is slated to vote on the recommendations contained in the Draft Final Report. According to its charter, the committee will terminate on August 2, 2008. (View the Agenda for the meeting and the Project webpage.)

CSA update on continuous disclosure obligations

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has published an unofficial consolidation of all amendments to National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations, its forms and its companion policy current to July 4, 2008. This document is for reference purposes only and is not an official statement of the law.

PwC corporate reporting blog

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) launched the PwC Corporate Reporting Blog last year in recognition of the growing importance and rapid changes in this area. The blog is aimed at those with responsibility for communicating and analyzing corporate performance. It is updated twice a month with topics on corporate reporting and issues that companies, investors and other interested parties should be aware of. Recent topics have included: thoughts on cash reporting in the current economic climate and insights on sustainability reporting as the credit crunch continues to influence behaviour.

CFO Beyond-GAAP Briefing: Forward-Looking Information

Recent changes to Canadian securities laws emphasize the importance of exercising appropriate due diligence when disclosing forward-looking information. Many public companies have revised forward-looking information disclosure practices to take advantage of the safe-harbour provisions in civil liability legislation. Similar practices are now required for all material forward-looking disclosures. (Find out more in CFO Beyond-GAAP Briefing: Forward-Looking Information.)

FEI establishes Corporate Roundtable on International Financial Reporting

Financial Executives International (FEI) has announced the formation of a new national coalition, the Corporate Roundtable on International Financial Reporting (CRIFR). It will provide a forum for companies of all sizes to discuss business issues related to the promulgation, implementation and convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by US companies. (Read the FEI Press Release.)