Exam 1: The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments

Club Co. appropriately uses the equity method to account for its investment in Chip Corp. As of the end of 2011, Chip's common stock had suffered a significant decline in fair value, which is expected to be recovered over the next several months. How should Club account for the decline in value?

On January 1, 2010, Dawson, Incorporated, paid $100,000 for a 30% interest in Sacco Corporation. This investee had assets with a book value of $550,000 and liabilities of $300,000. A patent held by Sacco having a book value of $10,000 was actually worth $40,000 with a six year remaining life. Any goodwill associated with this acquisition is considered to have an indefinite life. During 2010, Sacco reported income of $50,000 and paid dividends of $20,000 while in 2011 it reported income of $75,000 and dividends of $30,000. Assume Dawson has the ability to significantly influence the operations of Sacco. -The equity in income of Sacco for 2010, is

On January 4, 2010, Harley, Inc. acquired 40% of the outstanding common stock of Bike Co. for $2,400,000. This investment gave Harley the ability to exercise significant influence over Bike. Bike's assets on that date were recorded at $10,500,000 with liabilities of $4,500,000. There were no other differences between book and fair values. During 2010, Bike reported net income of $500,000. For 2011, Bike reported net income of $800,000. Dividends of $300,000 were paid in each of these two years. -How much income did Harley report from Bike for 2010?

On January 4, 2010, Harley, Inc. acquired 40% of the outstanding common stock of Bike Co. for $2,400,000. This investment gave Harley the ability to exercise significant influence over Bike. Bike's assets on that date were recorded at $10,500,000 with liabilities of $4,500,000. There were no other differences between book and fair values. During 2010, Bike reported net income of $500,000. For 2011, Bike reported net income of $800,000. Dividends of $300,000 were paid in each of these two years. -What was the reported balance of Harley's Investment in Bike Co. at December 31, 2010?

On January 3, 2011, Jenkins Corp. acquired 40% of the outstanding common stock of Bolivar Co for $1,200,000. This acquisition gave Jenkins the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee. The book value of the acquired shares was $950,000. Any excess cost over the underlying book value was assigned to a patent that was undervalued on Bolivar's balance sheet. This patent has a remaining useful life of ten years. For the year ended December 31, 2011, Bolivar reported net income of $312,000 and paid cash dividends of $96,000. Required: Prepare a schedule to show the balance Jenkins should report as its Investment in Bolivar Co. at December 31, 2011.

On January 4, 2011, Mason Co. purchased 40,000 shares (40%) of the common stock of Hefly Corp., paying $560,000. At that time, the book value and fair value of Hefly's net assets was $1,400,000. The investment gave Mason the ability to exercise significant influence over the operations of Hefly. During 2011, Hefly reported income of $150,000 and paid dividends of $40,000. On January 2, 2012, Mason sold 10,000 shares for $150,000. -What is the balance in the investment account after the sale of the 10,000 shares?

Steven Company owns 40% of the outstanding voting common stock of Nicole Corp. and has the ability to significantly influence the investee's operations. On January 3, 2011, the balance in the Investment in Nicole Corp. account was $503,000. Amortization associated with this acquisition is $12,000 per year. During 2011, Nicole earned net income of $120,000 and paid cash dividends of $40,000. Previously in 2010, Nicole had sold inventory costing $35,000 to Steven for $50,000. All but 25% of that inventory had been sold to outsiders by Steven during 2010. Additional sales were made to Steven in 2011 at a transfer price of $75,000 that had cost Nicole $54,000. Only 10% of the 2011 purchases had not been sold to outsiders by the end of 2011. -What amount of equity income would Steven have recognized in 2011 from its ownership interest in Nicole?

Under the equity method, when the company's share of cumulative losses equals its investment and the company has no obligation or intention to fund such additional losses, which of the following statements is true?

What is the justification for the timing of recognition of income under the equity method?

Atlarge Inc. owns 30% of the outstanding voting common stock of Ticker Co. and has the ability to significantly influence the investee's operations and decision making. On January 1, 2011, the balance in the Investment in Ticker Co. account was $402,000. Amortization associated with the purchase of this investment is $8,000 per year. During 2011, Ticker earned an income of $108,000 and paid cash dividends of $36,000. Previously in 2010, Ticker had sold inventory costing $28,800 to Atlarge for $48,000. All but 25% of this merchandise was consumed by Atlarge during 2010. The remainder was used during the first few weeks of 2011. Additional sales were made to Atlarge in 2011; inventory costing $33,600 was transferred at a price of $60,000. Of this total, 40% was not consumed until 2012. -What amount of equity income would Atlarge have recognized in 2011 from its ownership interest in Ticker?

Figure: Acker Inc. bought 40% of Howell Co. on January 1, 2010 for $576,000. The equity method of accounting was used. The book value and fair value of the net assets of Howell on that date were $1,440,000. Acker began supplying inventory to Howell as follows: Year Cost to Acker Transfer Price Amount Held by Howell at Year-End 2010 \ 55,000 \ 75,000 \ 15,000 2011 \ 70,000 \ 110,000 \ 55,000 Howell reported net income of $100,000 in 2010 and $120,000 in 2011 while paying $40,000 in dividends each year. -What is the amount of unrealized intra-entity inventory profit to be deferred on December 31, 2011?

All of the following statements regarding the investment account using the equity method are true except:

After allocating cost in excess of book value, which asset or liability would not be amortized over a useful life?

Figure: On January 4, 2011, Bailey Corp. purchased 40% of the voting common stock of Emery Co., paying $3,000,000. Bailey properly accounts for this investment using the equity method. At the time of the investment, Emery's total stockholders' equity was $5,000,000. Bailey gathered the following information about Emery's assets and liabilities whose book values and fair values differed: Book Value Fair Value Buildings (20-year life) \ 1,000,000 \ 1,800,000 Equipment (5 -year life) 1,500,000 2,000,000 Franchises (10-year life) 0 700,000 Any excess of cost over fair value was attributed to goodwill, which has not been impaired. Emery Co. reported net income of $400,000 for 2011, and paid dividends of $200,000 during that year. -How much goodwill is associated with this investment?

On January 3, 2011, Roberts Company purchased 30% of the 100,000 shares of common stock of Thomas Corporation, paying $1,500,000. There was no goodwill or other cost allocation associated with the investment. Roberts has significant influence over Thomas. During 2011, Thomas reported income of $300,000 and paid dividends of $100,000. On January 4, 2012, Roberts sold 15,000 shares for $800,000. -What was the balance in the investment account before the shares were sold?

How should a permanent loss in value of an investment using the equity method be treated?

Idler Co. has an investment in Cowl Corp. for which it uses the equity method. Cowl has suffered large losses for several years, and the balance in the investment account has been reduced to zero. How should Idler account for this investment?

On January 1, 2011, Deuce Inc. acquired 15% of Wiz Co.'s outstanding common stock for $62,400 and categorized the investment as an available-for-sale security. Wiz earned net income of $96,000 in 2011 and paid dividends of $36,000. On January 1, 2012, Deuce bought an additional 10% of Wiz for $54,000. This second purchase gave Deuce the ability to significantly influence the decision making of Wiz. During 2012, Wiz earned $120,000 and paid $48,000 in dividends. As of December 31, 2012, Wiz reported a net book value of $468,000. For both purchases, Deuce concluded that Wiz Co.'s book values approximated fair values and attributed any excess cost to goodwill. -What amount of equity income should Deuce have reported for 2012?

On January 4, 2010, Harley, Inc. acquired 40% of the outstanding common stock of Bike Co. for $2,400,000. This investment gave Harley the ability to exercise significant influence over Bike. Bike's assets on that date were recorded at $10,500,000 with liabilities of $4,500,000. There were no other differences between book and fair values. During 2010, Bike reported net income of $500,000. For 2011, Bike reported net income of $800,000. Dividends of $300,000 were paid in each of these two years. -How much income did Harley report from Bike for 2011?

Figure: On January 3, 2011, Austin Corp. purchased 25% of the voting common stock of Gainsville Co., paying $2,500,000. Austin decided to use the equity method to account for this investment. At the time of the investment, Gainsville's total stockholders' equity was $8,000,000. Austin gathered the following information about Gainsville's assets and liabilities: Book Value Fair Value Buildings (10-year life) \ 400,000 \ 500,000 Equipment (5 -year life) 1,000,000 1,300,000 Franchises ( 8 - year life) 0 400,000 For all other assets and liabilities, book value and fair value were equal. Any excess of cost over fair value was attributed to goodwill, which has not been impaired. -What is the amount of goodwill associated with the investment?