Mod08 - 09 10 09
Mod08 - 09 10 09
True/
False
Multiple
Choice
Exercises
Problems
Essay
Questions
1-5
1-12
1-9
1-5
1-3
6-11
13-18
10-19
4-9
4-6
12-16
19-25
20-21
8-10
6-9
True/False
Topic: Accounts payable as a source of financing
LO: 1
1. Accounts payable are a short-term source of non-interest bearing financing.
Answer: True
Rationale: Accounts payable that arise from the purchase of goods and services usually do not
carry any interest charges and can represent a good source of short-term inexpensive financing.
Topic: Deferred revenue
LO: 1
2. Unearned revenue, a current operating liability, arises when a company receives cash before
any goods are delivered or services are rendered.
Answer: False
Rationale: Deferred revenues can also be long-term liabilities.
Topic: Accrued liabilities
LO: 1
3. Accrued liabilities are obligations for which there is no external transaction.
Answer: True
Rationale: Companies must estimate accrued liabilities such as rent payable because there has
been no bill received or no transaction.
Topic: Income shifting
LO: 1
4. If accrued liabilities are overestimated in the current period, the reported income in a following
period will be lower than it should be.
Answer: False
Rationale: If the accrued liabilities in this period are overestimated, then the current income is
lower than it should be. This error will be corrected in a following period, and will artificially inflate
income.
Topic: Contingent liabilities
LO: 1
5. Contingent liabilities that are probable are can be reasonably estimated are recorded on the
balance sheet as a liability and as an expense in the income statement.
Answer: True
Rationale: Only probable contingent liabilities are estimated and recorded on the balance sheet
or the income statement. Anything less than probable liabilities (such as reasonably possible)
are referenced in footnotes.
Multiple Choice
Topic: Contingent liabilities
LO: 1
1. Contingent Liabilities must have the following criteria select all that apply.
a. The obligation is certain to require payment at some point in the future
b. The obligation will probably require payment at some point in the future
c. The obligation is estimable
d. The obligation will possibly require payment at some point in the future
e. None of the above.
Answer: b and c
Rationale: Contingent liabilities are only included when the amount is probable and estimable. An
obligation that is guaranteed at some point in the future is a liability, and one for which the liability
is less than reasonably possible does not need to be reported.
Topic: Current liabilities
LO: 1
2. Which of the following does not affect the current liabilities section of the balance sheet?
a. Purchase of inventory on credit
b. Wages owning to employees but not yet paid
c. Insurance bill to be paid next month
d. Sale of goods on credit
e. A probable legal obligation, due within 12 months
Answer: d
Rationale: The sale of goods on credit impacts non-cash assets, specifically accounts receivable;
all the other items are liabilities that the company must pay within the next year, hence current
liabilities.
Topic: Interest accrual Numerical calculations required
LO: 1
3. Badgers Inc. issued a 120-day note in the amount of $80,000 on 12/14/08 with an annual rate
of 9%. What amount of interest has accrued as of 12/31/08?
a. $0
b. $7,200
c. $335
d. $3,600
e. $600
Answer: c
Rationale: $80,000 9% 17 / 365 days = $335.34.
Topic: Computing and interpreting accounts payable ratios Numerical calculations required
LO: 1
10. Selected recent balance sheet and income statement information for American Eagle
Outfitters follows:
(in thousands)
Year-end accounts payable
Average accounts payable
Sales
Cost of goods sold
2008
$ 152,068
154,998
2,988,866
1,814,765
Topic: Computing and interpreting accounts payable ratios Numerical calculations required
LO: 1
12. Selected recent balance sheet and income statement information for American Eagle
Outfitters and Gap, Inc. follows:
American Eagle Outfitters
(in thousands)
Year-end accounts payable
Average accounts payable
Sales
Cost of goods sold
2008
$ 152,068
154,998
2,988,866
1,814,765
Gap, Inc.
(in millions)
Year-end accounts payable
Average accounts payable
Sales
Cost of goods sold
2008
$ 975
990
14,526
9,079
Which of the two companies listed above is leaning on the trade more?
a. American Eagle because its accounts payable turnover is greater and its accounts payable
days outstanding is lower.
b. American Eagle because its accounts payable turnover is lower and its accounts payable days
outstanding is higher.
c. Gap because its accounts payable turnover is higher and its accounts payable days
outstanding is lower.
d. Gap because its accounts payable turnover is lower and its accounts payable days outstanding
is higher.
e. Gap because its accounts payable turnover is lower and its accounts payable days outstanding
is lower.
Answer: d
Rationale: Gaps APT ($9,079 / $990.5 = 9.17) is lower than American Eagles APT
($1,235,620 / $124,063 = 11.71).
Gaps APDO ($975 / [$9,079 / 365 days] = 39.2 days) is higher than American Eagles APDO
($152,068 / [$1,814,765 / 365 days] = 30.59 days.
A company is said to be leaning on the trade more when it has a lower accounts payable turnover
and a higher accounts payable days outstanding.
Topic: Interest payment Numerical calculations required
LO:2
13. Williams Electric Corp. sells $50,000 of bonds to private investors. The bonds have an 8%
coupon rate and interest is paid semi-annually. The bonds were sold to yield 9%. What periodic
interest payment does Williams make?
a. $2,000
b. $4,000
c. $8,000
d. $2,250
e. None of the above
Answer: a
Rationale: Coupon rates are used to compute the dollar amount in interest payments paid to the
bondholder semi-annually. Williams pays $50,000 8% year = $2,000.
Cambridge Business Publishers, 2010
8-10
Exercises
Topic: Current liabilities
LO: 1
1. For each of the following, indicate the liability that Favre Inc. would show on its December 31,
2008 balance sheet.
a. Favre Inc. has accounts payable of $30,000 for products that are included in the 2008 year-end
inventory.
b. Favre Inc. received an invoice for a one-year insurance policy beginning December 2008. The
$2,000 invoice has yet to be paid at year end.
c. Favre Inc. has an unused line of credit of $10,000 from E-Z Loan Bank.
Answer:
a. This is a current liability as products have been acquired on credit but have not yet been paid
for.
b. This is included as a current liability as the money is owed but not yet paid. This is an accrued
liability.
c. This is not included as a liability. It is a line of credit that Favre Inc. has an option to use and is
currently not using.
Topic: Accounts payable discounts Numerical calculations required
LO: 1
2. Acme Inc. receives a bill from RoadRunner Inc. for $20,000. RoadRunner has credit terms of
3/15, net 45. If Acme Inc takes advantage of the discount, how much cash does Acme pay
Roadrunner?
Answer: If Acme paid within 15 days, it would pay cash of $19,400 ($20,000 ($20,000 3%)).
Topic: Interest accrual
LO: 1
3. On July 1, 2008, Beantown Coffee took out a short-term loan of $8,000 to be repaid in one
year. The annual interest rate is 5% with no interest payments due until the loan is repaid. How
much interest should Beantown accrue by year-end December 31, 2008? How should it be
recorded in the financial statements?
Answer: Interest expense = $8,000 5% (6/12) = $200.
The $200 should be recorded as an increase in current liabilities (interest payable) and an
increase in expenses (interest expense) on the income statement.
Date of note
11/26/08
12/19/08
10/31/08
Principal
$12,000
$40,000
$24,000
Coupon Rate
7%
13%
14%
Term
60 days
30 days
90 days
Answer:
a. $12,000 0.07 35 days / 365 days = $80.55
b. $40,000 0.13 12 days / 365 days = $170.96
c. $24,000 0.14 61 days / 365 days = $561.53
Topic: Transaction analysis
LO:1
5. For each item below, identify the amount (if any) that would be reported as a liability on Coach
Incs month-end balance sheet.
a. Coach Inc. agreed to purchase next month, fabric for their new line of bags.
b. Coach borrowed $15,000 to finance its seasonal working capital needs this month.
c. Coach has accounts payable of $75,000 for fabric included in current inventory
d. Coach Inc. is obligated $40,000 rent each month. Rent for this month has not yet been paid.
Answer:
a. Not recorded as a liability, the transaction is happening next month.
b. $15,000 is recorded as a current non-operating liability.
c. $75,000 is recorded in accounts payable (current liability) on the balance sheet.
d. $40,000 is recorded as an accrued liability (current liability) on the balance sheet.
Balance Sheet
Transaction
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
Purchase
computers
Sell
Computers
Record Cost of
Goods Sold
Pay for
computers
Income Statement
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
Expenses
Net
= Income
Answer:
Balance Sheet
Transaction
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
Purchase
computers
Sell
Computers
+45,000
(INV)
Record Cost of
Goods Sold
Pay for
-45,000
computers
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
+45,000
(AP)
+51,000
-45,000
+51,000
+51,000
(Retained
(Sales)
Earnings)
+45,000
(Retained
Earnings)
+51,000
-45,000
(INV)
Income Statement
=
=
-45,000
(AP)
Expenses
+45,000
(COGS)
Net
= Income
2008
$ 6,337
6,529
62,884
44,157
Answer:
a. APT = COGS / average accounts payable = $44,157 / $6,529 = 6.76.
b. APDO = Accounts payable / average daily COGS = $6,337 / [$44,157 / 365 days] = 52.38 days
2008
$ 3,822
3,845
76,000
58,564
Answer:
a. APT = COGS / average accounts payable = $58,564 / $3,845 = 15.23.
b. APDO = Accounts payable / average daily COGS = $3,822 / [$58,564 / 365 days] = 23.8 days
Topic: Accounting for warranties
LO: 1
9. K2 Inc, manufactures equipment for individual and team sports including skiing, snowboarding
and in-line skating. The company offers a one-year warranty on all products. During 2008, the
company recorded net sales of $1,934.7 million. Historically, about 2% of all sales are returned
under warranty and the cost of repairing and or replacing goods under warranty is about 50% of
retail value. Assume that at the start of the year K2s balance sheet included an accrued warranty
liability of $8.43 million and at the end of the year, the accrued warranty liability balance was
$6.49 million.
a. How should K2 account for warranty claims?
b. Calculate K2s warranty expense for 2008.
c. How much did K2 pay during the year to repair and or replace goods under warranty?
Answer:
a. K2 should record the estimated cost of product warranties at the time sales are recognized. To
do this, the company should estimate warranty obligation by reference to historical product
warranty return rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting the
product. Should actual product warranty return rates, material usage or service delivery costs
differ from the historical rates, K2 should revise its warranty liability.
b. Warranty expense for 2008 = $1,934.7 million 2% 50% = $19.35 million.
c. During the year, the accrued warranty liability decreased. This means that K2 paid out more to
replace or repair warrantied goods than the expense the company recorded. Total cash paid out
is $8.43 million + $19.35 million - $6.49 million = $21.29 million.
Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Transaction
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
=
=
=
Bond issue
Interest 12/31
Interest 6/30
Expenses
Net
= Income
=
=
=
Answer:
Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Transaction
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
Bond issue
+612,765
+612,765
Interest 12/31
-$28,000
+2,638
Interest 6/30
-$28,000
+2,770
(LTD)
Expenses
(LTD)
(LTD)
Net
= Income
=
-30,638
(Retained
earnings)
+30,638
-30,770
(Retained
earnings)
+30,770
(IE)
(IE)
-30,638
-30,770
$263,823
$348,942
$612,765
Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Transaction
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
=
=
=
=
=
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Expenses
Net
= Income
=
=
=
=
=
Answer:
Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Transaction
1)
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
+5 mill.
+5 mill.
(LTD)
2)
-275,000
-25,000
(LTD)
3)
-275,000
-26,250
(LTD)
4)
-275,000
-27,562
(LTD)
5)
-275,000
-28,941
(LTD)
-250,000
(Retained
earnings)
-248,750
(Retained
earnings)
-247,438
(Retained
earnings)
-246,059
(Retained
earnings)
Expenses
Net
= Income
=
+250,000
IE(1)
+248,750
IE(2)
-248,750
+247,438
IE(3)
-247,438
+246,059
IE(4)
-246,059
-250,000
(1) 0.05 $5,000,000 = $250,000 interest expense. The difference between the installment cash
payment and the interest expense is the repayment of principal.
(2) 0.05 ($5,000,000 - $25,000) = $248,750 interest expense. The difference between the
installment cash payment and the interest expense is the repayment of principal.
(3) 0.05 ($5,000,000 - $25,000 - $26,250) = $247,438 interest expense. The difference
between the installment cash payment and the interest expense is the repayment of principal.
(4) 0.05 ($5,000,000 - $25,000 - $26,250 - $27,562) = $246,059 interest expense. The
difference between the installment cash payment and the interest expense is the repayment of
principal.
Increases / Decreases
Increases / Decreases
Increases
Decreases
Decreases
Decreases
Decreases
Decreases
Increases
Decreases
Problems
Computing and interpreting accounts payable ratios
LO: 1
1. Selected recent balance sheet and income statement information for 3M Company follows:
(in millions)
2008
2007
Year-end accounts payable
$ 1,301
$ 1,505
Average accounts payable
1,403
1,454
Sales
25,269
24,462
Cost of goods sold
$13,379
$12,735
Required:
a. Calculate accounts payable turnover (APT) for 2008 and 2007. Did turnover improve in 2008?
b. In general do companies prefer a higher or a lower APT? Why?
c. Calculate accounts payable days outstanding for both years.
d. What effect does the change in APT have on net cash flows from operating activities?
Answer:
a. 2008 APT = $13,379 / $1,403 = 9.54 times per year
2007 APT = $12,735 / $1,454 =8.76 times per year
Turnover did not improve in 2008 because the company paid off its bills more quickly.
b. In general, companies prefer a lower APT because it means they are paying more slowly and
keeping their cash longer. However, if companies do not pay promptly, suppliers may cut them off
or offer less attractive credit terms.
c. 2008 accounts payable days outstanding = $1,301 / ($13,379 / 365) = 35.49 days
2004 accounts payable days outstanding = $1,505 / ($12,735 / 365) = 43.14 days
d. An increase in APT results in a decrease in net cash flows from operating activities because
3M is speeding up its payments to suppliers.
Topic: Computing and interpreting accounts payable ratios
LO: 1
2. Selected financial information for Hewlett-Packard Corporation follows:
(in millions)
2008
Average accounts payable
$ 12,963
$
Year-end accounts payable
14,138
Sales (products)
91,697
Cost of goods sold (products)
69,342
2007
11,945
11,787
84,229
63,435
Required:
a. Calculate accounts payable turnover (APT) for 2008 and 2007.
b. In general do companies prefer a higher or a lower APT? Why?
c. Calculate accounts payable days outstanding for both years.
d. What effect does the change in APT have on net cash flows from operating activities?
Answer:
a. 2008 APT = $69,342 / $12,963 = 5.35 times per year
2007 APT = $63,435 / $11,945 = 5.31 times per year
b. In general, companies prefer a lower APT because it means they are paying more slowly and
keeping their cash longer. However, if companies do not pay promptly, suppliers may cut them off
or offer less attractive credit terms.
c. 2008 accounts payable days outstanding = $14,138 / ($69,342 / 365) = 74.42 days
2007 accounts payable days outstanding = $11,787 / ($63,435 / 365) = 67.82 days
d. An increase in APT results in an decrease in net cash flows from operating activities because
Hewlett-Packard Corporation is speeding up its payments to supplier.
Topic: Computing and interpreting accounts payable ratios
LO: 1
3. Selected recent balance sheet and income statement information for Carmike Cinemas, Inc.
follows:
(in thousands)
Average accounts payable
Year-end accounts payable
Sales
Cost of goods sold
2008
26,093
23,995
474,403
$ 189,185
2007
25,751
28,190
483,958
$ 192,744
Required:
a. Calculate accounts payable turnover (APT) for 2008 and 2007.
b. Calculate accounts payable days outstanding (APDO) for both years.
c. In general do companies prefer a higher or a lower number of days payables outstanding?
Why?
d. What effect does the change in APDO have on net cash flows from operating activities?
Answer:
a. 2008 APT = $189,185 / $26,093= 7.25
2007 APT = $192,744 / $25,751= 7.48
b. 2008 accounts payable days outstanding = $23,995 / ($189,185 / 365) = 46.29 days
2007 accounts payable days outstanding = $28,190 / ($192,744 / 365) = 53.38 days
c. In general, companies prefer a higher number of AP days outstanding because it means they
are paying more slowly and keeping their cash longer. However, if companies do not pay
promptly, suppliers may cut them off or offer less attractive credit terms.
d. A decrease in APDO from 53 to 46 days results in an decrease in net cash flows from operating
activities because Carmike Cinemas is speeding up its payments to suppliers.
Balance Sheet
Transaction
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
2008 capital
expenditures
2008
remediation
and
environmental
expenditures
Income Statement
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
Expenses
Net
= Income
Answer:
a. Merck accrues a liability for environmental liabilities that the companys management team
believes are probable and reasonably estimable. This is current GAAP. At December 31, 2008,
Merck had accrued on its balance sheet, $89.5 million for such liabilities.
b. Merck does not accrue a liability for environmental costs that are reasonably possible. Instead,
Merck discloses these potential future payments in a footnote. At December 31, 2008, these
liabilities amounted to an additional $70 million.
c. The $89.5 million is the total accrual on Mercks balance sheet at year end. The $47.1 million is
the amount that Merck anticipates paying out in the coming five years (2009 to 2013). The
difference of $42.4 million will be paid in 2014 and later.
d.
Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Transaction
2008 capital
expenditures
2008
remediation
and
environmental
expenditures
Cash
Noncash
+
Asset
Assets
-18.7
million
+18.7 million
(PPE)
-34.5
million
LiabilContrib.
Earned Rev+
+
ities
Capital
Capital enues
-34.5
million
(Accrued
liabilities)
Expenses
Net
= Income
2008
$ 4,175.9
6,177.4
2007
$ 4,210.4
5,942.7
1,506.4
2,175.5
$14,035.2
1,580.6
2,173.9
$13,907.6
Required:
a. Explain in laymans terms the liabilities labeled Unearned premiums and Loss reserves.
b. What percentage of Progressives total liabilities relates to current operating liabilities? Do you
believe that this number is higher than most companies or lower? Why?
c. Which current liability reported by Progressive is the least reliably measured that is, the most
subjective? Explain.
Answer:
a. Unearned premiums are cash premiums received from customers for future insurance
coverage. These premiums cover the future and thus Progressive has not earned them yet they
represent a liability until time passes and the premiums are earnings.
Loss reserves are anticipated payments for claims made under current insurance policies. These
future payments are liabilities now because they arise from insurance coverage during the current
and past years. As the company recognizes premiums as revenue, the company estimates how
many claims will arise from current insurance policies and accrues the eventual (estimated)
payments. This is evidence of the matching principle.
b. ($4,175.9 + $6,177.4 + $1,506.4)/ $14,035.2 = 84.5% This is higher than most companies. It
arises from unearned premiums and loss reserves due to the nature of the insurance industry.
c. The loss reserve is the anticipated future payments and is the most subjective current liability
on Progressives balance sheet. To estimate the reserve, Progressive must estimate the number
of claims that will be made, the amount that will be ultimately paid out, and the timing of such
future payments. Such estimates are very difficult to audit.
Unearned premiums are more reliable (less subjective) because cash prepayments can be
verified and insurance policy terms are easy to confirm and the unearned premium calculation is
straight forward.
Accounts payable are more reliably measured because they are typically recorded when bills
received or shipping documents arrive with goods. Accrued expenses are more subjective than
accounts payable but likely less subjective than loss reserves.
2008
Carrying
Value
Fair Value
2007
Carrying
Value
Fair Value
$ 348.9
$ 355.3
$ 348.6
$ 367.8
149.3
154.3
149.2
162.9
294.6
272.0
294.4
311.8
394.0
350.0
393.9
397.6
988.7
$2,175.5
450.0
$1,581.6
987.8
$2,173.9
936.5
$2,176.6
On December 31, 2008, we entered into a 364-Day Secured Liquidity Credit Facility Agreement
with National City Bank (NCB). Under this agreement, we may borrow up to $125 million, which
may be increased to $150 million at our request but subject to NCBs discretion. The purpose of
the credit facility is to provide liquidity in the event of disruptions in our cash management
operations, such as disruptions in the financial markets, that affect our ability to transfer or
receive funds. The revolving credit facility agreement discussed above replaced an uncommitted
line of credit with NCB in the principal amount of $125 million. Under this terminated agreement,
no commitment fees were required to be paid and there were no rating triggers. Interest on
amounts borrowed would have generally accrued at the one-month LIBOR plus .375%. We had
no borrowings under this arrangement during 2008, 2007, or 2006.
Aggregate principal payments on debt outstanding at December 31, 2008, are $0 for 2009, 2010,
and 2011, $350.0 million for 2012, $150.0 million for 2013, and $1.7 billion thereafter.
Required:
a. What amount does Progressive report for long-term debt on its balance sheet?
b. Why is there a difference between the fair value and the carrying value of Progressives longterm debt?
c. Were the 6.375% notes originally issued at par, at a discount or at a premium? How do you
know?
d. What is the amount of the unamortized discount on the 7% notes as of December 31, 2008?
e. What cash interest payment did Progressive make for the 6 5/8 notes in 2008? What interest
expense did Progressive record for these notes during 2008? Assume for this question that
Progressive pays interest annually.
f. If Progressive were to repurchase all of its bonds on January 1, 2009, how would the income
statement be affected?
g. How much does the company owe under the line of credit with National City Bank at year end?
Why does Progressive discuss this in its debt footnote?
h. What is the current portion of long-term debt at December 31, 2008?
Answer:
a. Progressive reports the carrying value (net book value) of long-term debt on its balance sheet.
As of December 31, 2008 this was $2,175.5 million.
b. Carrying value and Fair Value differ because the prevailing market rates of interest are higher
than the notes coupon (stated) interest rate. Thus, the fair value of the notes is less than their net
book value.
c. The 6.375% notes were originally issued at a discount because the carrying value of $348.9
million is less than the face value of $350 million.
d. The unamortized discount on the 7% notes as of December 31, 2008 is $ 700,000 ($150
million - $149.3 million).
e. Progressive paid cash interest of $19.875 million for the 6 5/8% notes ($300 million 6 5/8 %).
The interest expense for these notes was $20.075 million. Interest expense on a bond issued at a
discount = cash interest paid + amortization of bond discount. During the year, the bonds
carrying value increased from $294.4 million to $294.6 million, an increase of $0.2 million.
Therefore, interest expense = $19.875 million + $0.2 million = $20.075 million.
f. Because the market value of Progressives notes is less than its book value, Progressive will
have to report this difference as a gain on the income statement when it repurchases the bonds.
g. Progressive does not owe anything under the line of credit at year end. The $125 million line of
credit ensures that the company has easy access to significant amounts of cash if the need
arises. This reduces liquidity risk to investors and creditors, which could reduce Progressives
cost of capital.
h. The footnote reveals that $0 is due in 2009, thus, there is no current portion of long-term debt.
Topic: Preparing bond amortization table
LO: 2
7. Neel Industries recently issued $20 million of 11% coupon bonds, payable semiannually, which
mature in 15 years. The bonds were sold for $18,623,513 to yield an 12% annual rate. Use the
table below to show the amortization of the discount, interest expense, and the carrying amount
of the bonds from issuance till the end of period 4.
Interest
Expense
Interest
Paid
Amortization
Discount
Bond Payable
Interest
Expense
Interest
Paid
Amortization
1,117,411
1,118,455
1,119,563
1,120,737
1,100,000
1,100,000
1,100,000
1,100,000
-17,411
-18,455
-19,563
-20,737
Discount
1,376,487
1,359,076
1,340,621
1,321,058
1,300,321
Bond Payable
18,623,513
18,640,924
18,659,379
18,678,942
18,699,679
0
1
2
3
4
Answer:
0
1
2
3
4
$157
500
1,500
1,000
262
500
2,000
1,500
1,000
2007
$500
500
135
500
1,500
1,000
226
500
2,000
1,500
1,000
2006
$1,095
500
500
129
500
1,500
216
500
2,000
-
294
8,713
1,041
$9,754
127
9,488
898
$10,386
70
7,010
95
$7,105
Principal payments required on long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2008, are $1.0 billion
in 2009, $160 million in 2010, $2.0 billion in 2011, $1.0 billion in 2012, $265 million in 2013 and
$5.1 billion thereafter.
At December 31, 2008, Abbott's long-term debt rating was AA by Standard & Poor's Corporation
and A1 by Moody's Investors Service. Abbott has readily available financial resources, including
unused lines of credit of $5.3 billion that support commercial paper borrowing arrangements of
which a $2.3 billion facility expires in December 2009 and a $3.0 billion facility expires in 2012.
Related compensating balances, which are subject to withdrawal by Abbott at its option, and
commitment fees are not material. Abbott's access to short-term financing has not been affected
by the recent credit market conditions. Abbott's weighted-average interest rate on short-term
borrowings was 0.5% at December 31, 2008, 3.7% at December 31, 2007 and 5.0% at
December 31, 2006.
The fair value of long-term debt at December 31, 2008 and 2007 amounted to $10.5 billion and
$10.6 billion, respectively (average interest rates of 5.2% and 5.0%, respectively) with maturities
through 2037.
Required:
a. What is a Yen note? Why might Abbott Labs issue such notes?
b. What proportion of long-term debt will Abbott Labs repay in 2009?
c. Does Abbott Labs have unrealized gains or losses on its long-term debt at December 31, 2007
and 2008? Quantify the gains/losses each year.
d. How much does the company owe under the line of credit at year end? Why does Abbott Labs
discuss this in its debt footnote?
e. What is the purpose of an interest rate hedge contract?
f. How would you characterize Abbott Labs default risk?
Answer:
a. Yen notes are bonds issued in Japanese yen. Abbott Labs might issue such notes because
they have operations in Japan and having to repay debt in the local currency provides an
operational currency hedge.
b. Abbott Labs will repay 10.67% of its long-term debt in 2009 ($1,041 / $9,754 = 0.10673).
c. At December 31, 2007 Abbott Labs had an unrealized loss of $214 million on its long-term
debt. The fair value exceeded book value, which means the company owes more (in market
value terms) than their balance sheet reports (fair value of $10.6 billion compared to book value
of $10.386 billion). At December 31, 2008, fair value of the debt was $10.5 billion and net book
value was $9.754. Thus, in 2008, there was an unrealized gain of $746 million.
d. Abbott Labs does not owe anything under the line of credit at year end. The $5.3 billion line of
credit ensures that the company has easy access to significant amounts of cash if the need
arises. This reduces liquidity risk to investors and creditors, which could reduce Abbott Labs cost
of capital.
e. An interest rate hedge contract allows a business to offset exposure to the risk of interest rate
fluctuations. According to Abbott Labs annual report, the effect of these hedges is to change the
fixed interest rate to a variable rate.
f. Abbott Labs has a very low risk of default. Both Standard & Poors and Moodys give Abbott
Labs a high corporate debt rating (upper-medium grade or higher) meaning that Abbott Labs has
a high creditworthiness.
Topic: Credit rating ratios and bond ratings
LO: 3
10. RE Company reported the following in its 2007 annual report (in millions):
Sales
Earnings before interest and taxes
Interest expense
Total liabilities
Total equity
$150
90
6.4
250
325
Required:
a. Calculate RE Companys times interest earned ratios.
b. Calculate RE Companys liabilities-to-equity ratio.
c. What type of ratio are these two ratios? How do they affect REs credit rating?
d. According to Standard & Poors, what are the two types of risk factors considered in credit
analysis?
Answer:
a. Times interest earned = $90 / $6.4 = 14.06.
b. Liabilities-to-equity = $250 / $325 = 77%
c. These are both solvency ratios and they measure a companys ability to meet its debt
obligations both periodic interest payments and principal repayments. These ratios are
indicators of credit risk. Times interest earned ratio provides an indication of the companys ability
to meet its interest obligations. The higher this ratio, the lower the credit risk. The Liabilities to
Equity ratio shows the level of debt relative to owners financing (equity). The higher this ratio, the
higher the credit risk. The higher the credit risk the worse the companys credit rating.
d. According to Standard & Poors, the two types of risk factors considered in credit analysis are
business risk and financial risk
Essay Questions
Topic: Understanding accruals and earnings management
LO: 1
1. Progressive Corp. (a property and casualty insurance company) reported Loss and loss
adjustment expense reserves (an operating liability) of $6,177.4 million its 2008 annual report.
What is the allowance for loan and lease losses? How could Progressive s managers use the
reserve to manage income? Provide a numerical example of the income statement effect of this
sort of earnings management.
Answer: The allowance relates to anticipated payments for future insurance claims. This is a
liabilities now because the future claims arise from insurance coverage during the current and
prior years. Because loss reserves are the anticipated future payments, the number on the
balance sheet is very subjective. To estimate the reserve, Bank of America must estimate the
number of claims that will be made, the amount that will be ultimately paid out, and the timing of
such future payments. Such estimates are very difficult to audit. This makes it easy for
Progressive managers to manipulate the reserve number.
If managers want to increase current period income they could underestimate the reserve. This
would boost net income because the loss expense would be lower. Then in the next period, the
losses would be more than the accrual and next period earnings would decrease. For example, if
managers deliberately underestimated the reserve by $75 million (accruing $6,102.4 million
instead of $6,177.4 million) then 2008 income before tax would be higher by $25 million and 2009
or other future years income before tax would be lower by that amount.
Topic: Leaning on the trade
LO: 1
2. In an effort to improve cash flow, your supervisor suggests paying trade creditors more slowly.
Is such a move always advantageous for a company?
Answer: By extending payables, companies can avail themselves of a source of low cost funds.
They are, in effect, using other companies funds to finance their operations. This is known as
leaning on the trade and it is a way to use accounts payable to finance the working capital of a
company. Leaning on the trade improves RNOA by reducing NOA with no effect on NOPAT so
long as the company does not take undue advantage of its suppliers. If the company lengthens
payables too much, the companys reputation may be impugned and in the extreme, the credit
rating may worsen.
Topic: Contingent liabilities
LO: 1 & 2
3. What are the requirements for determining the financial reporting of a contingent liability? Why
would a company want to keep its contingent liability as low as possible? How could a company
manipulate contingent liability to its advantage?
Answer: A contingent liability is an uncertain accrual. The obligation must be probable and the
amount estimable in order to require reporting on the face of the financial statements.
A company would like to keep its contingent liability as low as possible as it appears on the
balance sheet of a company as a liability. If the accruals are underestimated, it means that the
income and retained earnings are overestimated.
As a company can determine the amount of its contingent liability and whether its probable or
reasonably possible, it could choose to aggressively recognize these as part of a big bath to
relieve future periods of expense or provide a cookie jar if the expenses are over estimated.
Test Bank, Module 8