公允價值及其計量

《國際會計準則16》對某項資產的公允價值和市場價值的表述非常相似，但事實并不是這么簡單。公允價值這個概念貫穿整個會計準則。表面上看，它和市場價值這個概念十分相似，都指在交易中的可取得的價格，但市場價值實際上是公允價值在固定資產上的一個具體應用。市場價值，在它相對簡單的定義背后，有著詳盡的概念體系作為支持。國際評估準則、美國評估執業統一準則和英國評估師手冊等評估準則對市場價值在各種情形下的具體含義作了清晰的歸納，而公允價值作為一個類屬詞在應用中缺乏像市場價值概念體系的指導。

對于這一點，國際會計準則委員會自己也承認，準則中對公允價值概念的使用并不完全一致。也就是說，在不同情形下相同的表述可能產生不同的含義。該委員會已在2003年宣布，要對所有會計賬戶的計量原則進行研究，目前這項課題由加拿大會計準則委員會牽頭負責。

與此同時，美國會計準則制定機構——美國財務會計準則委員會也在密切關注這個被越來越多地用于會計計量的概念——公允價值。他們已專設“公允價值課題組”展開研究。美國財務會計準則委員會在早先發布的有關文章中也談到，某項資產的公允價值可能因為使用了不同的評估假設而有所不同，即，是采用了持續經營或“正在使用”的假設，還是以“作為交易物”為假設。

為使爭論向前推進，國際評估準則委員會率先在2004年初發表文章，闡明了自己的立場。他們認為解決問題的出路在于使用“持續使用價值”。這個概念是市場價值在資產消耗方面的一個具體應用，其中的資產是企業持續經營的組成部分，并且在企業整體出賣時的作為組成部分之一參與交易。這種觀點得到了一些建設性反饋，但顯然，沿此思路立即深入下去為時尚早。國際會計準則委員會的課題組認為應當關注“記賬單位”的確定，而美國財務會計準則委員會似乎也傾向于這種觀點，這在他們2004年6月發布的征求意見稿中有所體現。該觀點進一步指出，在對任何資產估值前，應先確定資產計量的界限，明確被估資產在何種程度上與其他資產聚合或分離。

爭論仍在繼續，英國皇家特許測量師協會以及其他國家的評估師組織積極尋求與國際會計準則委員會、美國財務會計準則委員會進行合作。他們表示能夠理解由于會計準則中對有關概念的含糊表述而造成了一些實際操作困難，但也強調存在評估理論和實務這樣一項現成的重要資源，利用它會找到可行的解決辦法，從而還會計準則應有的一致性和明確性。

Fair Value and Measurement

Chris Thorne

Although in 1 IAS16 there is clearly a similarity between the fair value of its asset and the Market Value of an asset， this is not always the case. Fair value is a concept that is used throughout the Accounting Standards. Although both are superficially similar， as they refer to the price obtainable in an exchange， Market Value is a specific application of this concept to fixed assets. The relatively brief definition of Market Value is supported by a detailed conceptual framework and its application in specific circumstance is codified in established professional valuation standards such as 2 IVS， 3 USPAP and the 4 Red Book. Fair value is a generic term that lacks a similar guidance framework for its application.

⁵IASB acknowledges that fair value is not applied consistently throughout its own standards and could mean different things in different contexts. It announced a project in 2003 to look at the whole principle of measurement in accounts， which is being led by the Accounting Standards Board of Canada.

Concurrently， the Unite States standards setter， 6 FASB， is also looking closely at greater use of fair value measurement in accounts and has its own “Fair Value Project”. One of the early FASB papers recognized that the fair value of an asset could differ depending upon whether one adopted a going concern or “in use”valuation premise or an “in exchange”valuation premise.

In order to try and move this debate forward， 7 IVSC published its own position paper early this year that suggested that the way forward would be to look at the concept of “continuing use value” a specific adaptation of Market Value on the consumption that the asset was exchanged as part of a sale of the enterprise of which it formed part as a going concern. Although some constructive responses were received， it was clear that it was premature to go down this route. The IASB project team has suggested that the way forward is to perhaps focus on the “unit of account” Indeed， this also seems to be a concept also being followed by FASB in its latest draft issued in June 2004. This recognizes that before assessing the value of any asset， there is a need to define the boundary of what is being measured and the degree to which it is to be aggregated or disaggregated from other assets.

The debate is continuing and RICS and other valuation bodies around the world are actively engaging with IASB and FASB to try and ensure that not only do they appreciate some of the practical difficulties created by the current uncertainty in the standards， but also that there is a significant resource of valuation expertise that can assist in finding workable solutions that can then be delivered with a consistency and certainty that may be missing at present.

作者簡介：

克雷思·斯隆先生是歐洲最大評估公司ATIS評估公司英國部總裁，也是英國皇家特許測量師協會評估事務專家，長期擔任國際評估準則委員會委員。

1. International Accounting Standards：國際會計準則

2 .International Valuation Standards：國際評估準則

3. Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice：專業評估執業統一準則

4. Red Book：英國評估師手冊，因其封面呈紅色，簡稱紅皮書

5. International Accounting Standards Board：國際會計準則委員會

6. Financial Accounting Standards Board：美國財務會計準則委員會

7. International Valuation Standards Committee：國際評估準則委員會