IASB seeks to widen global investor engagement in IFRS
IASB seeks greater participation from international buy-side investor community
THE INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (IASB) has launched a new initiative in a bid to deepen and improve investor participation in the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
As the body responsible for IFRS – already in use in over 100 countries – the IASB has created the ‘investors in financial reporting programme’ to further extend investor participation especially from the buy-side community.
Core to the programme is a mutually agreed statement of shared beliefs in which the IASB and the investment community highlight the importance of high quality, transparent reporting to build trust in capital markets and for making investment decisions.
The IASB has also publicly reaffirmed its commitment to continue to seek and consider investor views in the development of new accounting standard, and ensure that representatives from the global investment community make visible their commitment to the development of high quality financial reporting standards. That means working with the IASB to ensure the investor perspective is articulated clearly and is considered in the standard-setting process.
Commenting on the programme, Hans Hoogervorst, chairman of the IASB, said: “The investors in financial reporting programme is designed to intensify the involvement of investors in the development of high quality financial reporting standards.
“I am grateful to the investor organisations that have helped shape this launch phase of the programme and I encourage others within the investment community to join the financial reporting debate.”
Participants in the launch phase include Allianz Global Investors, APG Asset Management, AustralianSuper, BlackRock, Fidelity Worldwide Investment, Henderson Global Investors, Hermes Investment Management, Nomura Asset Management, PGGM Investments and UniSuper.