Question & Answer

Bobek Inc. has recently reported steadily increasing income. The company reported income of $20,000 in 2011, $25,000 in 2012, and $30,000 in 2013. A number of market analysts have recommended that investors buy the stock because they expect the steady growth in income to continue. Bobek is approaching the end of its fiscal year in 2014, and it again appears to be a good year. However, it has not yet recorded warranty expense. Based on prior experience, this year’s warranty expense should be around $5,000, but some managers have approached the controller to suggest a larger, more conservative warranty expense should be recorded this year. Income before warranty expense is $43,000. Specifically, by recording a $7,000 warranty accrual this year, Bobek could report an increase in income for this year and still be in a position to cover its warranty costs in future years. Instructions (a) What is earnings management? (b) Assume income before warranty expense is $43,000 for both 2014 and 2015 and that total warranty expense over the 2-year period is $10,000. What is the effect of the proposed accounting in 2014? In 2015? (c) What is the appropriate accounting in this situation?

Virginia Corporation is a calendar-year corporation.  At the beginning of 2024, its election to be taxed as an S corporation became effective.  Virginia Corp.’s balance sheet at the end of 2023 reflected the following assets (it did not have any earnings and profits from its prior years as a C corporation). Asset Adjusted basis FMV Cash $20,000 $20,000 Accounts receivable 40,000 40,000 Inventory 90,000 200,000 Land 150,000 175,000   Totals $300,000 $435,000   In 2024, Virginia Corp. reported business income of $50,000 (this would have been its taxable income if it were still a C corporation). What is Virginia’s built-in gains tax in each of the following alternative scenarios?

Structuring a compensation plan   Required Describe the factors that need to be considered when structuring a compensation plan for executives. (LO2 and 4)

Oregon Bank has branches overseas that concentrate on short-term deposits in dollars and floating-rate loans in British pounds. Because it maintains rate-sensitive assets and liabilities of equal amounts, the bank believes it has essentially eliminated its interest rate risk. Do you agree? Explain. (LO3)

On January 1, 2014, Wetzel Company sold property for $250,000. The note will be collected as follows: $120,000 in 2014, $90,000 in 2015, and $40,000 in 2016. The property had cost Wetzel $150,000 when it was purchased in 2012. Instructions (a) Compute the amount of gross profit realized each year, assuming Wetzel uses the cost-recovery method. (b) Compute the amount of gross profit realized each year, assuming Wetzel uses the installment-sales method.

Dakota Bank has a branch overseas with the following balance sheet characteristics: 50 percent of the liabilities are rate-sensitive and denominated in Swiss francs; the remaining 50 percent of liabilities are rate-insensitive and are denominated in dollars. With regard to assets, 50 percent are rate-sensitive and are denominated in dollars; the remaining 50 percent of assets are rate-insensitive and are denominated in Swiss francs. (LO3, LO7) A. Is the performance of this branch susceptible to interest rate movements? Explain. B. Assume that Dakota Bank plans to replace its short-term deposits denominated in U.S. dollars with short-term deposits denominated in Swiss francs because Swiss interest rates are currently lower than U.S. interest rates. The asset composition would not change. This strategy is intended to widen the spread between the rate earned on assets and the rate paid on liabilities. Offer your insights into how this strategy could backfire. C. One consultant has suggested to Dakota Bank that it could avoid exchange rate risk by making loans in whatever currencies it receives as deposits. In this way, it will not have to exchange one currency for another. Offer your insights into whether this strategy has any disadvantages.

Relative performance evaluation Relative performance evaluation at the company level often results in using a market index like the ASX100 as the peer group.   Required Outline the potential advantages and disadvantages of this practice.             (LO2, 3 and 5)

What is the relationship between current assets and current liabilities?

Recent financial statements of General Mills, Inc. report net sales of $12,442,000,000. Accounts receivable are $912,000,000 at the beginning of the year and $953,000,000 at the end of the year. Compute General Mills’ accounts receivable turnover. Compute General Mills’ average collection period for accounts receivable in days.

What is the purpose of a statement of cash flows? How does it differ from a balance sheet and an income statement?

Should a remuneration plan include a cash bonus or share options?      Under which circumstances would either be appropriate?             (LO3 and 4)

When is an S corporation required to pay the excess net passive income tax?

Some bank managers argue that U.S. banks’ access to capital is restricted because the capital requirements imposed by U.S. regulators are too high. Write a short essay that offers logical insights into why high capital requirements may restrict a bank’s access to capital. Also, describe why high capital requirements for all banks in the United States might actually allow the banks to have easier access to capital. Which of the arguments do you believe?

Net income for the year for Tanizaki, Inc. was $750,000, but the statement of cash flows reports that net cash provided by operating activities was $860,000. Tanizaki also reported capital expenditures of $75,000 and paid dividends in the amount of $30,000. Compute Tanizaki’s free cash flow.

Why are inventories valued at the lower-of-cost-ormarket? What are the arguments against the use of the LCM method of valuing inventories?

What is Goodhart’s Law? How is it relevant to (a) monetary policy; (b) using assignment grades to assess a student’s ability; (c) paying workers according to the amount of output they produce; (d) awarding local authority contracts to cleaning or refuse disposal companies on the basis of tendered prices?

Paolo is a 50 percent partner in the Capri Partnership and has decided to terminate his partnership interest. Paolo is considering two options as potential exit strategies. The first is to sell his partnership interest to the two remaining 25 percent partners, Giuseppe and Isabella, for $105,000 cash and the assumption of Paolo’s share of Capri’s liabilities. Under this option, Giuseppe and Isabella would each pay $52,500 for half of Paolo’s interest. The second option is to have Capri liquidate Paolo’s partnership interest with a proportionate distribution of the partnership assets. Paolo’s basis in his partnership interest is $110,000, including Paolo’s share of Capri’s liabilities. Capri reports the following balance sheet as of the termination date: Assets Tax Basis FMV Cash $ 80,000 $ 80,000 Receivables 40,000 40,000 Inventory 50,000 80,000 Land 50,000 60,000    Totals $ 220,000 $ 260,000 Liabilities and capital Liabilities $ 50,000 Capital – Paolo 85,000  – Giuseppe 42,500  – Isabella 42,500       Totals $ 220,000 a. If Paolo sells his partnership interest to Giuseppe and Isabella for $105,000, what are the amount and character of Paolo’s recognized gain or loss? b. Giuseppe and Isabella each have a basis in Capri of $55,000 before any purchase of Paolo’s interest. What are Giuseppe’s and Isabella’s bases in their partnership interests following the purchase of Paolo’s interest? c. If Capri liquidates Paolo’s partnership interest with a proportionate distribution of the partnership assets ($25,000 deemed cash from debt relief, $15,000 of actual cash, and half of the remaining assets), what are the amount and character of Paolo’s recognized gain or loss? d. If Capri liquidates Paolo’s interest, what is Paolo’s basis in the distributed assets? e. Compare and contrast Paolo’s options for terminating his partnership interest. Assume that Paolo’s marginal tax rate is 35 percent and his capital gains rate is 15 percent.

Risk profiling You are required to offer advice to a small but growing community bank. Describe the steps you would take to prepare a risk profile for this organisation. (LO6)

Why might a bank retain some excess earnings rather than distribute those funds as dividends? (LO1)

Gary and Lakesha were married on December 31 last year. They are now preparing their taxes for the April 15 deadline and are unsure of their filing status.

The following table discloses the interest rate sensitivity of two savings institutions (dollar amounts are in millions). Based on this information only, which institution’s stock price would likely be affected more by a given change in interest rates? Justify your opinion. (LO4)

What is the purpose of a free cash flow analysis?

What are some of the techniques of disclosure for the balance sheet?

Explain the difference between shares and share options.             (LO2)

Explain how CUs’ exposure to liquidity risk differs from that of other financial institutions. Explain why CUs are more insulated from interest rate risk than some other financial institutions. (LO7)