Super Bowl Sunday!
January 31, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized
Well it’s almost time for the Super Bowl again. So get the snacks ready in front of the big screen TV. But what comes with the game and half-time? Of course, the commercials. However, the hoopla behind Super Bowl ads has spawned a team of skeptics. Growing research shows the $3.5 million that advertisers pay for 30 seconds during Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants often isn’t worth the cost.
Questions:
1. What companies are lined up to advertise on the Super Bowl 2012?
2. Why does the article say that companies would be better off advertising somewhere else?
3. How would you record, in the accounting records, the $3.5 M paid to a network for airing a Super Bowl ad? Are there any other costs other than the airing costs? Discuss what they are and how you would record them in the accounting records.
Source:
Dicker, R. (2012). Super Bowl: Are Ads Worth the Millions? The Huffington Post, Jan. 31 (Retrievable online at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/super-bowl-are-ads-worth-_n_1241677.html?ref=business)
M’Hudi Winery
January 31, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized, Video Updates
A clinical psychologist, her ‘armchair farmer’ husband and their family launched an internationally successful wine label — without capital, farming experience or wine-making knowledge. The company is the first South African winery wholly owned and managed by a Black South African family.
Question:
1. How did the Rangaka’s decide on their particular farm? Discuss the costs or benefits of this approach?
2. How long did it take before the farm was producing a drinkable wine? How did Malmsey keep the winery afloat financially during the early years?
3. From a strategic perspective, does naiveté usually benefit a new entrepreneur? How does the article contend that this helped in this particular case?
4. One hectare is equivalent to 2.47 acres and the Rangaka’s have 21 hectares that produce 14,000 cases (12 per case) of wine per year. If the average price of 6 bottles is $52.38, what is the winery’s total revenue per year?
Source:
Pitman, J. (2011). M’hudi Wines: Malmsey Rangaka, Entrepreneur Magazine: South Africa, Dec. 14 (Retrievable online at http://www.entrepreneurmag.co.za/advice/women-entrepreneurs/women-entrepreneur-successes/m%E2%80%99hudi-wines-malmsey-rangaka/)
CNN Video. (2012). A Family of Winemakers. Jan. 30 (Retrievable online at www.cnn.com/videos).
What are you doing in the Summer of 2014?
January 30, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized, Video Updates
Country singer Dolly Parton is set to expand her entertainment empire and open a water-snow theme park in Nashville, Tennessee. The 66-year-old launched Dollywood in the Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee in 1986 and added a water park next door in 2001. Now Parton is working on a new addition to her popular attractions and she announced plans for the new $50 million venture on E! online.The new, as of yet unnamed park, will be opened in the Spring or Summer of 2014.
Questions:
- In general, how would you book the $50 million dollar costs?
- How should these costs be classified on the financial statements?
- What is Dolly’s Secret regarding Dollywood?
Sources:
Cnn Video. (2012). Dolly’s New Adventure, Jan. 19 (Retrievable online at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/01/19/exp-dollys-new-adventure.cnn)
King, Dennis. (2012) Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Secret. News OK, Jan. 24 (Retrievable online at http://newsok.com/dolly-partons-dollywood-secret/article/3642804)
Pressure Packages
January 24, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized
Pressure from financial institutions and Treasury officials undermined an effort to limit executive pay at seven companies rescued with taxpayer money, a new government audit showed on Tuesday. The official overseeing executive pay for bailout firms limited cash compensation and made some reductions in pay, but still approved compensation packages in the millions, the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) inspector general said in the report. Former U.S. pay czar Kenneth Feinberg approved pay packages worth $5 million or more from 2009 to 2011 for 49 top earners, the report said.
Questions:
1. What was the significant leverage that the article said the companies had over Feinberg? Do you agree that this would be significant enough to compromise? Why or why not?
2. What was Feinberg’s title? What does TARP stand for?
3. Who were the companies involved? Which of these have exited the TARP program?
Source:
Reuters Staff. (2012). Bailed-out Companies Pressured TARP Pay Czar to Keep Executive Pay High: Report, Jan. 24 (Retrievable online at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/tarp-executive-pay_n_1226485.html?ref=business)
Verizon Posts New Numbers
January 24, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized
Verizon Communications on Tuesday reported a net loss of $212 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, despite rising iPhone sales and revenue growth in its wireless business, compared with net income of $4.65 billion in the same quarter a year ago, the company said Tuesday. The loss was primarily because of the impact of previously announced noncash pension charges, the company said.
Questions:
1. What percentage drop in net income existed between 4th quarter 2011 and 4th quarter 2010?
2. What are noncash pension charges?
3. Discuss how the deal that Verizon made with cable companies will advance its offerings strategically.
4. What percentage increase of new wireless subscribers did Verizon gain over the last quarter of 2011?
Source:
Chen, B.X. (2012) Verizon Posts Loss on Pension Charges, Jan. 24 (Retrievable online at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/technology/verizon-posts-loss-on-pension-charges.html?_r=1&ref=business)
Insulting Discounts: The Costa Concordia Saga
January 24, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized, Video Updates
The owners of the Costa Concordia are offering survivors of the disaster a 30 percent discount off future cruises as they battle to stave off law suits expected to cost hundreds of millions of pounds. As the body of a 12th victim was found inside the hull of the £370 million, 1,000 ft vessel, survivors call the discount offer “insulting.” The most recent victim was found wearing a life jacket on the fourth deck, close to a muster station.
Question:
1. What was the difference between net income for Carnival from 2010 to 2011?
2. What did Carnival attribute this drop in income to?
3. What is Carnival’s connection with the Concordia and why is Carnival seeing a downturn in bookings this year?
CNN Video. (2012). Carnival Cruise Lines Takes Financial Hit, Jan. 16 (Retrievable online at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2012/01/16/pkg-boulden-cruise-ship-business-after-concordia.cnn)
Duffin, C., R. Mendick, N. Squires, and V. Ward (2012). Costa Concordia: ‘Insulting’ Cruise Offer to Survivors, The Telegraph, Jan. 24 (Retrievable online at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9030212/Costa-Concordia-insulting-cruise-offer-to-survivors.html)
Kraft Cuts Jobs
January 17, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized
Kraft Foods Inc. will cut 1,600 positions in North America as it prepares to split its business in two. The company announced in August that it would split into two independent companies: a global snacks business and North American grocery business. Kraft said the moves are needed to help the businesses run more effectively.
Questions:
1. Based on the article, what percentage of its workforce is Kraft cutting? In what area will most cuts take place?
2. Based on the article, calculate Kraft’s most current P/E ratio.
3. How does this P/E ratio compare with other companies in the industry and how would you interpret it?
Source:
Associated Press Staff. (2012). Kraft Foods to Cut Up to 1,600 Positions, The New York Times, Jan. 17 (Retrievable online at http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/01/17/business/AP-US-Kraft-Jobs.html?ref=business)
Bonuses, Anyone?
January 17, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized
Alan Johnson is among a small group of behind-the-scenes information brokers who help determine how Wall Street firms distribute billions of dollars to their workers. He operates as a compensation consultant in an obscure corner of the management consulting industry and in the shadows of high finance.
Questions:
1. What was the most interesting thing that you learned in this article?
2. How do this year’s bonuses compare to 2008?
3. What do Wall Street pay packages routinely include? Discuss how these bonus items are accounted for.
4. How does Mr. Johnson research his recommendations?
Source:
Roose, K. (2012).The Invisible Hand Behind Bonuses on Wall Street, The New York Times, Jan. 16 (Retrievable online at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/business/the-invisible-hand-behind-wall-street-bonuses.html?_r=1&ref=business)
Watch that Password!
January 17, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized, Video Updates
Zappos began emailing its 24 million customers Sunday, advising them that its site had been hacked, and some customers’ personal details and account information likely stolen. Despite Zappos’ data breach notification to consumers, the company hasn’t yet answered several key questions, such as detailing when the data breach occurred, the length of time for which attackers may have had access to its systems, or how the breach was finally detected. Zappos also hasn’t indicated whether it will offer identity theft monitoring services to affected customers.
Source:
Hartman, C. (2012). Zappos Hacked, 24 Million Accounts Exposed, 5min LifeVideopedia, January 16 (Retrievable at http://www.5min.com/Video/Zappos-Hacked-24-Million-Accounts-Exposed-517248590)
Schwartz, M. (2012) Zappos Hack Exposes Passwords, InformationWeek, Jan. 17 (Retrievable online at http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/attacks/232400441)
Questions:
1. According to the video, what is Zappos known for?
2. What advice is being given to the compromised account holders? Does it sound like the accounting information system was breached?
3. Who owns Zappos and what industry are they in? What type of contingent liabilities could this breach expose Zappos to?
BANKING ERRORS: Foreclosure, Without Missing a Payment?
January 8, 2012 by LuAnn Bean
Filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized
Christine Jackson’s three-bedroom wood-frame home in Indianapolis is in danger of foreclosure. It’s not because she can’t afford her mortgage, but because of a bank error, she said. Jackson is among thousands of homeowners from all walks of life who have complained that the major banks that service their mortgages have made frequent errors in calculating their loans. These errors include slapping unnecessary inspection fees onto accounts, misapplying payments in violation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines and “force-placing” expensive insurance on homes that are already insured.
Questions:
1. Summarize what happened to Jackson.
2. What is an escrow account and how are they suppose to work?
3. In November, the biggest banks and independent servicers agreed in a consent order with federal regulators to allow homeowners to do what?
Source:
Hallman, B. (2012). Foreclosure Lawyer Could Lose Her Home Because of Alleged Bank Error. The Huffington Post.com, January 6 (Retrievable online at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/foreclosure_n_1189367.html?ref=business)
