On January 1, a company entered into a capital lease resulting in an obligation of
$20,000 being recorded on the balance sheet. Estimated economic life of the leased
asset is ten years with an expected salvage value of zero at the end of ten years. The
company will depreciate this asset on a straight-line basis over its economic life. The
lessor’s implicit interest was 10 percent. At the end of the first year of the lease, the cash
flow from financing activities section of the lessee’s statement of cash flows showed a
use of cash of $2,200 applicable to the lease. How much did the company pay the lessor
in the first year of the lease?
A. $2,000
B. $2,200
C. $4,200
D. $20,000
Postretirement Health Benefits
Warden Corp. has a postretirement health benefit plan for its employees. As of
December 31, 2006, the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) is $250
million and the postretirement health benefit cost for the year was $23 million. The plan
assets are $10 million. Warden chose to recognize its unfunded liability immediately.
Warden also has a pension plan, which is fully funded.
a. What reasons are there for the minimal funding of the postretirement health benefits
plans versus the full funding of the pension plan?
b. In 2006 Warden makes the following changes.
– Increases its expected rate of return on plan assets.
– Increases the expected compensation growth rate.
– Increases its discount rate.
Explain the effect of each of these on
i. economic cost as of the end of 2007.