CFA CFA-Level-II Exam Prep
CFA Level II Chartered Financial Analyst (Page 5 )

Andrew Carson is an equity analyst employed at Lee, Vincent, and Associates, an investment research firm. In a conversation with his supervisor, Daniel Lau, Carson makes the following two statements about defined contribution plans.

Statement 1: Employers often face onerous disclosure requirements.
Statement 2: Employers often bear all the investment risk.
Carson is responsible for following Samilski Enterprises (Samilski), a publicly traded firm that produces motorcycles and other mechanical parts. It operates exclusively in the United States. At the end of its 2009 fiscal year, Samilski's employee pension plan had a projected benefit obligation (PBO) of $320 million. Also, unrecognized prior service costs were $35 million, the fair value of plan assets was $316 million, and the unrecognized actuarial gain was $21 million.

Carson believes the rate of compensation increase will be 5% as opposed to 4% in the previous year, and the discount rate will be 7% as opposed to 8% in the previous year.
This past year, Samilski began using special purpose entities (SPEs) for various reasons. In preparation for analyzing the SPE disclosures in the footnotes to the financial statements, Carson prepares a memo on SPEs. In the memo, he correctly concludes that the company will be required under new accounting rules to classify them as variable interest entities (VIE) and consolidate the entities on the balance sheet rather than report them using the equity method as in the past.

Under current U.S. GAAP pension accounting standards, the amount of the pension asset or liability that Samilski should report on its 2009 fiscal year end balance sheet is closes/ to a:

Andrew Carson is an equity analyst employed at Lee, Vincent, and Associates, an investment research firm. In a conversation with his supervisor, Daniel Lau, Carson makes the following two statements about defined contribution plans.

Statement 1: Employers often face onerous disclosure requirements.
Statement 2: Employers often bear all the investment risk.

Carson is responsible for following Samilski Enterprises (Samilski), a publicly traded firm that produces motorcycles and other mechanical parts. It operates exclusively in the United States. At the end of its 2009 fiscal year, Samilski's employee pension plan had a projected benefit obligation

(PBO) of $320 million. Also, unrecognized prior service costs were $35 million, the fair value of plan assets was $316 million, and the unrecognized actuarial gain was $21 million.

Carson believes the rate of compensation increase will be 5% as opposed to 4% in the previous year, and the discount rate will be 7% as opposed to 8% in the previous year.
This past year, Samilski began using special purpose entities (SPEs) for various reasons. In preparation for analyzing the SPE disclosures in the footnotes to the financial statements, Carson prepares a memo on SPEs. In the memo, he correctly concludes that the company will be required under new accounting rules to classify them as variable interest entities (VIE) and consolidate the entities on the balance sheet rather than report them using the equity method as in the past.

What are the likely effects of the required change in accounting for SPEs on Samilski's:

Return on assets? Return on equity?

Andrew Carson is an equity analyst employed at Lee, Vincent, and Associates, an investment research firm. In a conversation with his supervisor, Daniel Lau, Carson makes the following two statements about defined contribution plans.
Statement 1: Employers often face onerous disclosure requirements.
Statement 2: Employers often bear all the investment risk.

Carson is responsible for following Samilski Enterprises (Samilski), a publicly traded firm that produces motorcycles and other mechanical parts. It operates exclusively in the United States. At the end of its 2009 fiscal year, Samilski's employee pension plan had a projected benefit obligation (PBO) of $320 million. Also, unrecognized prior service costs were $35 million, the fair value of plan assets was $316 million, and the unrecognized actuarial gain was $21 million.

Carson believes the rate of compensation increase will be 5% as opposed to 4% in the previous year, and the discount rate will be 7% as opposed to 8% in the previous year.
This past year, Samilski began using special purpose entities (SPEs) for various reasons. In preparation for analyzing the SPE disclosures in the footnotes to the financial statements, Carson prepares a memo on SPEs. In the memo, he correctly concludes that the company will be required under new accounting rules to classify them as variable interest entities (VIE) and consolidate the entities on the balance sheet rather than report them using the equity method as in the past.

Which of the following items, when recognized, will likely increase:

PBO? Pension expense?

High Plains Tubular Company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality steel products used in energy, industrial, and automotive applications worldwide.

The U.S. steel industry has been challenged by competition from foreign producers located primarily in Asia. All of the U.S. producers are experiencing declining margins as labor costs continue to increase. In addition, the U.S. steel mills arc technologically inferior to the foreign competitors. Also, the U.S. producers have significant environmental issues that remain unresolved.

High Plains is not immune from the problems of the industry and is currently in technical default under its bond covenants. The default is a result of the failure to meet certain coverage and turnover ratios. Earlier this year, High Plains and its bondholders entered into an agreement that will allow High Plains time to become compliant with the covenants. If High Plains is not in compliance by year end, the bondholders can immediately accelerate the maturity date of the bonds. In this case. High Plains would have no choice but to file bankruptcy.

High Plains follows U.S. GAAP. For the year ended 2008, High Plains received an unqualified opinion from its independent auditor. However, the auditor's opinion included an explanatory paragraph about High Plains' inability to continue as a going concern in the event its bonds remain in technical default.

At the end of 2008, High Plains' Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) filed the necessary certifications required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

To get a better understanding of High Plains' financial situation, it is helpful to review High Plains' cash flow statement found in Exhibit 1 and selected financial footnotes found in Exhibit 2.


Exhibit 2: Selected Financial Footnotes
1. During 2008, High Plains' sales increased 27% over 2007. Its sales growth continues to significantly exceed the industry average. Sales are recognized when a firm order is received from the customer, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.

2. The cost of inventories is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Had the first-in, first-out method been used, inventories would have been $152 million and $143 million higher as of December 31,2008 and 2007, respectively.

3. Effective January 1, 2008, High Plains changed its depreciation method from the double- declining balance method to the straight-line method in order to be more comparable with the accounting practices of other firms within its industry. The change was not retroactively applied and only affects assets that were acquired on or after January 1,2008.

4. High Plains made the following discretionary expenditures for maintenance and repair of plant and equipment and for advertising and marketing:



5. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, High Plains sold $50 million of its accounts receivable, with recourse, to an unrelated entity. All of the receivables were still outstanding at year end.
6. High Plains conducts some of its operations in facilities leased under noncancelable capital leases. Certain leases include renewal options with provisions for increased lease payments during the renewal term.

7. High Plains' average net operating assets at the end of 2008 and 2007 was $977.89 million and $642.83 million, respectively.

Which of the following is least likely to prevent earnings manipulation?

High Plains Tubular Company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality steel products used in energy, industrial, and automotive applications worldwide.

The U.S. steel industry has been challenged by competition from foreign producers located primarily in Asia. All of the U.S. producers are experiencing declining margins as labor costs continue to increase. In addition, the U.S. steel mills arc technologically inferior to the foreign competitors. Also, the U.S. producers have significant environmental issues that remain unresolved.

High Plains is not immune from the problems of the industry and is currently in technical default under its bond covenants. The default is a result of the failure to meet certain coverage and turnover ratios. Earlier this year, High Plains and its bondholders entered into an agreement that will allow High Plains time to become compliant with the covenants. If High Plains is not in compliance by year end, the bondholders can immediately accelerate the maturity date of the bonds. In this case. High Plains would have no choice but to file bankruptcy.

High Plains follows U.S. GAAP. For the year ended 2008, High Plains received an unqualified opinion from its independent auditor. However, the auditor's opinion included an explanatory paragraph about High Plains' inability to continue as a going concern in the event its bonds remain in technical default.

At the end of 2008, High Plains' Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) filed the necessary certifications required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

To get a better understanding of High Plains' financial situation, it is helpful to review High Plains' cash flow statement found in Exhibit 1 and selected financial footnotes found in Exhibit 2.


Exhibit 2: Selected Financial Footnotes
1. During 2008, High Plains' sales increased 27% over 2007. Its sales growth continues to significantly exceed the industry average. Sales are recognized when a firm order is received from the customer, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.
2. The cost of inventories is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Had the first-in, first-out method been used, inventories would have been $152 million and $143 million higher as of December 31,2008 and 2007, respectively.
3. Effective January 1, 2008, High Plains changed its depreciation method from the double- declining balance method to the straight-line method in order to be more comparable with the accounting practices of other firms within its industry. The change was not retroactively applied and only affects assets that were acquired on or after January 1,2008.
4. High Plains made the following discretionary expenditures for maintenance and repair of plant and equipment and for advertising and marketing:



5. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, High Plains sold $50 million of its accounts receivable, with recourse, to an unrelated entity. All of the receivables were still outstanding at year end.
6. High Plains conducts some of its operations in facilities leased under noncancelable capital leases. Certain leases include renewal options with provisions for increased lease payments during the renewal term.
7. High Plains' average net operating assets at the end of 2008 and 2007 was $977.89 million and $642.83 million, respectively.

Which of the following is least likely to prevent earnings manipulation?