SEC to propose acceptance of IFRS

20 June 2007

Speaking at the SEC Open Meeting Michael Coco, Special Counsel of the Office of International Corporate Finance, SEC, recommended to publish for public comment a proposal to accept financial statements prepared in accordance with the English language version of IFRS as published by the IASB.

“We recommend that you propose amendments to Form 20-F under the Exchange Act, with conforming amendments to certain other rules and forms”, Coco said. “We are not recommending any amendment to current requirements regarding the reconciliation to U.S. GAAP for foreign private issuers that file financial statements prepared using a basis of accounting other than, or that are not in full compliance with, the English language version of IFRS as published by the IASB.”

“It is important to demonstrate that IFRS represents, in fact, a single set of global standards. It is for this reason that we recommend that the proposed amendments apply only to financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as published by the IASB.”

The commissioners voted 5-0 to propose easing the accounting requirement for foreign companies

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