Reading 24: Non-Current (Long-Term) Liabilities

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Bond Issuance and Measurement7 min
A bond's initial liability is the present value of its future cash flows discounted at the market rate at issuance. If the coupon rate differs from the market rate, the bond is issued at a discount or premium. The effective interest rate method calculates interest expense by multiplying the carrying value by the market rate at issuance. For discount bonds, the carrying value increases over time; for premium bonds, it decreases. Issuance costs are typically netted against the liability, effectively increasing the interest rate.

Key Points

  • Liability = PV of coupons and face value at issuance market rate.
  • Discount Bond: Coupon < Market Rate; Carrying value increases to par.
  • Premium Bond: Coupon > Market Rate; Carrying value decreases to par.
  • Interest Expense = Beginning Book Value × Market Rate at Issuance.
  • Issuance costs reduce the initial liability and increase the effective interest rate.
Derecognition and Debt Covenants5 min
When bonds are redeemed before maturity, the firm recognizes a gain or loss equal to the book value minus the redemption price. Debt covenants protect creditors by restricting borrower actions. Affirmative covenants require actions (e.g., paying interest), while negative covenants forbid actions (e.g., issuing excessive debt). Violation leads to technical default.

Key Points

  • Gain/Loss = Book Value - Redemption Price.
  • Redemption cash outflow is a financing activity.
  • Affirmative covenants: Actions the borrower must take.
  • Negative covenants: Actions the borrower must avoid.
  • Covenants reduce default risk and borrowing costs.
Lease Accounting8 min
Lessees generally recognize a Right-of-Use asset and a lease liability for all leases (except short-term/low-value). For finance leases, interest and amortization are reported separately. For U.S. GAAP operating leases, a single lease expense is reported. Lessors classify leases as finance (asset removed, receivable recorded) or operating (asset remains, rent income recorded).

Key Points

  • Finance Lease (Lessee): Amortization + Interest Expense.
  • Operating Lease (Lessee U.S. GAAP): Single Lease Expense.
  • Lease Liability: PV of lease payments.
  • Finance Lease (Lessor): Derecognize asset, recognize receivable.
  • Operating Lease (Lessor): Keep asset, recognize rent income.
Pensions and Solvency Ratios5 min
Defined contribution plans expense contributions as incurred. Defined benefit plans involve complex estimation of future obligations, resulting in a net pension asset or liability on the balance sheet. Solvency ratios measure leverage (debt levels) and coverage (ability to service debt).

Key Points

  • Defined Contribution: Expense = Employer Contribution.
  • Defined Benefit: Net Liability = Estimated Obligation - Plan Assets.
  • Debt-to-Equity = Total Debt / Total Equity.
  • Interest Coverage = EBIT / Interest Payments.
  • Solvency ratios assess long-term ability to meet obligations.

Questions

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the balance sheet liability of a bond at issuance?

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Question 2

A bond is issued with a coupon rate of 6 percent when the market rate of interest is 7 percent. This bond is issued at:

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Question 3

Using the effective interest rate method, the interest expense reported in the income statement is calculated as:

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Question 4

For a bond issued at a premium, how does the amortization of the premium affect the bond's book value over time?

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Question 5

If a bond is issued at a discount, the interest expense reported on the income statement will be:

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Question 6

A zero-coupon bond is also known as a:

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Question 7

Under U.S. GAAP, bond issuance costs are typically:

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Question 8

When a firm redeems bonds before maturity, a gain is recognized if:

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Question 9

Which of the following is an example of an affirmative debt covenant?

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Question 10

A technical default occurs when:

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Question 11

For a lessee, a lease is classified as a finance lease if:

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Question 12

Under IFRS, how does a lessee report a finance lease on the balance sheet?

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Question 13

For a finance lease, the lessee's income statement reports:

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Question 14

Under U.S. GAAP, for an operating lease (long-term), the lessee reports:

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Question 15

From a lessor's perspective, a lease is classified as a finance lease if:

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Question 16

Which of the following describes a defined contribution pension plan?

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Question 17

In a defined benefit plan, if the fair value of plan assets is less than the estimated pension obligation, the firm reports:

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Question 18

Which ratio measures the percentage of total assets financed with debt?

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Question 19

The interest coverage ratio is calculated as:

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Question 20

A firm issues a 3-year annual coupon bond with a face value of $100,000 and a 10 percent coupon rate. The market interest rate at issuance is 9 percent. The initial book value of the bond is closest to:

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Question 21

A firm issues a bond at a discount. In the first year, the interest expense reported on the income statement will be composed of:

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Question 22

Under the effective interest rate method, the amortization of a bond discount results in:

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Question 23

If a firm reports debt at fair value under the fair value option, a decrease in the bond's yield will result in:

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Question 24

When presenting cash flows using the indirect method, how is the amortization of a bond discount treated?

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Question 25

A firm reacquires $1 million face amount of bonds at 102 percent of par when the carrying value of the bond liability is $995,000. The firm will recognize:

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Question 26

Which of the following is typically a negative debt covenant?

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Question 27

Affordable Company enters a 4-year lease with annual payments of $10,000. The interest rate is 5 percent. The present value of payments is $35,460. If classified as a finance lease, the initial lease liability is:

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Question 28

In the early years of a finance lease, compared to an operating lease (under U.S. GAAP), the lessee will typically report:

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Question 29

Under IFRS, cash flows from the principal portion of a finance lease payment are classified as:

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Question 30

Which of the following creates a net pension asset?

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Question 31

The debt-to-capital ratio is defined as:

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Question 32

Which ratio includes operating lease payments in the numerator and denominator to assess solvency?

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Question 33

A firm has total debt of $1,000, total equity of $2,000, and total assets of $4,000. Its debt-to-equity ratio is:

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Question 34

Regarding financial reporting quality, determining the 'capacity to repay' is most associated with:

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Question 35

Which of the following is true regarding the accounting for issuance costs under IFRS?

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Question 36

A firm has a defined benefit plan. The employer's contribution is $100,000, but the total pension expense calculated is $120,000. The difference is primarily reflected in:

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Question 37

Under U.S. GAAP, interest paid on a bond is classified as:

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Question 38

For a bond issued at a premium, interest expense in the first year is:

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Question 39

Under IFRS, what condition exempts a lessee from recording a lease asset and liability?

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Question 40

If a company leases a machine for its entire useful life, it is most likely classified as:

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Question 41

Regarding lessee accounting under U.S. GAAP, which cash flow is classified as operating for an operating lease?

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Question 42

The carrying value of a bond liability is also known as its:

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Question 43

A firm issues a $1,000 par value bond at $980. The $20 difference is:

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Question 44

Which of the following would *most likely* decrease a firm's return on assets (ROA) in the early years of a lease?

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Question 45

A defined benefit plan's periodic cost reported in net income includes:

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Question 46

Which of the following is considered a 'non-interest-bearing liability' when calculating the debt-to-capital ratio?

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Question 47

For a bond issued at par, the cash flow from financing activities at maturity is:

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Question 48

If a firm grants a lessee an option to purchase the asset at a price significantly lower than fair value, the lease is likely:

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Question 49

A discount bond has a coupon rate of 5% and a market rate of 7% at issuance. After one year, assuming rates don't change, the bond's liability value will:

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Question 50

Why might a firm prefer to issue a bond at a discount rather than at par?

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