It looks like most companies are not ready for the new lease accounting standards expected to be finalized as early as mid-year.

According to a recent Deloitte survey, just 7 percent of executives believe their companies are extremely or very prepared to comply with the new lease accounting standards proposed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

This is even more worrisome given that a large number of companies believe the new rules will have a big impact [...] [email protected] Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:00:00 +0100 Risk leasing leases lease accounting Financial Accounting Standards Board FASB Deloitte compliance Cash http://www.cfozone.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Retailers-would-be-hit-hard-by-lease-accounting-proposals.html&Itemid=713

The recent joint proposals from FASB and IASB to eventually overhaul lease accounting rules would most impact retailers, according to an in-depth report from Credit Suisse Securities.

The Swiss investment bank estimates off-balance-sheet lease liability for the S&P 500 companies is at least $549 billion. It figures two industry groups--Food & Staples Retailing and Specialty Retail--account for 25 percent of the total.

This means the potential accounting changes cou [...] [email protected] Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 Risk retail leasing lease accounting FASB Cash Accounting http://www.cfozone.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=A-welcome-end-to-operating-leases.html&Itemid=713

I see that FASB is sticking to its schedule for ending most off-balance-sheet treatment for leases, and so is the IASB. It's about time, frankly, if only to spare us poor, I mean, intrepid financial journalists from having to sort through the particulars of the current accounting treatment a moment longer than necessary.

I speak from personal experience here, having wrestled with the false distinction between capital and operating leases for a sidebar to a piece I wrote fo [...] [email protected] Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 leasing IFRS IASB GAAP financing FASB cost of capital compliance Capital balance sheet Accounting http://www.cfozone.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Proposed-legislation-would-extend-15-year-depreciation.html&Itemid=713

While it hasn't received much attention, a bill introduced by Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) in June could help many companies come tax time. The bill, S.3510, would permanently extend the 15-year recovery period for qualified leasehold improvement property, as well as qualified restaurant and retail properties. The bill has seven co-sponsors, including five Republicans. It mirrors a bill introduced in the House (H.R. 4306) in late December, by Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Democrat from Florida. Mee [...] [email protected] Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 leasing depreciation Congress http://www.cfozone.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=GM-to-boost-sub-prime-growth.html&Itemid=713

Uh oh. Here we go again.

Merely hearing the word "sub-prime" is enough to make you squirm. But, put it in the same sentence as "automaker" and suddenly you want to puke, or sell all of your equity investments.

This is probably how many people are reacting to Thursday's announcement that General Motors-which the US government bailed out-is plunking down $3.5 billion in cash to acquire AmeriCredit, an auto finance company.

But, not any auto fi [...] [email protected] Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 sub-prime Risk leasing General Motors Deals compliance automakers