T. Allen Home Improvement Company installs replacement siding, windows, and louvered glass doors for single family homes

P9-2 (Lower-of-Cost-or-Market) T. Allen Home Improvement Company installs replacement siding, windows, and louvered glass doors for single family homes and condominium complexes in northern New Jersey and southern New York. The company is in the process of preparing its annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007, and Tim Taylor, controller for T. Allen, has gathered the following data concerning inventory. At May 31, 2007, the balance in T. Allen’s Raw Material Inventory account was $408,000, and the Allowance to Reduce Inventory to Market had a credit balance of $29,500. Taylor summarized the relevant inventory cost and market data at May 31, 2007, in the schedule below. Taylor assigned Patricia Richardson, an intern from a local college, the task of calculating the amount that should appear on T. Allen’s May 31, 2007, financial statements for inventory under the lower-of-cost or-market rule as applied to each item in inventory. Richardson expressed concern over departing from the cost principle.

Replacement Sales Net Realizable Normal
Cost Cost Price Value Profit
Aluminum siding $ 70,000 $ 62,500 $ 64,000 $ 56,000 $ 5,100
Cedar shake siding 86,000 79,400 94,000 84,800 7,400
Louvered glass doors 112,000 124,000 186,400 168,300 18,500
Thermal windows 140,000 122,000 154,800 140,000 15,400
Total $408,000 $387,900 $499,200 $449,100 $46,400

Instructions
(a) (1) Determine the proper balance in the Allowance to Reduce Inventory to Market at May 31, 2007.
(2) For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007, determine the amount of the gain or loss that would be recorded due to the change in the Allowance to Reduce Inventory to Market.
(b) Explain the rationale for the use of the lower-of-cost-or-market rule as it applies to inventories


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Stephen Gall and his family became ill after drinking contaminated water supplied to their home by the McKeesport Municipal Water Authority

Stephen Gall and his family became ill after drinking contaminated water supplied to their home by the McKeesport Municipal Water Authority. They filed suit against the utility, arguing, among other things, that the utility had breached the UCC implied warranty of merchantability when it sold them contaminated water. The utility moved to dismiss their complaint, arguing that since water was not “goods,” the UCC did not apply. Should the Galls’ complaint be dismissed?

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You are the president and chief executive officer of a family owned manufacturing firm with assets of $45 million

You are the president and chief executive officer of a family owned manufacturing firm with assets of $45 million. The company articles of incorporation and state law place no restrictions on the sale stock to outsiders. An unexpected opportunity to expand arises that will require an additional investment of $ 14 million. A commitment must be made quickly if this opportunity is to be taken. Existing stockholders are not in a position to provide the additional investment. You wish to maintain family control of the firm regardless of which form of financing you might undertake. As a first step, you decide to contact an investment banking firm.

a) What considerations might be important in the selection of an investment banking firm?
b) A member of your board has asked if you have considered competitive bids for the distribution of your securities compared to a negotiated contract with a particular firm. What factors are involved in this decision?
c) Assuming that you have decided upon a negotiated contract, what are the first questions that you would ask of the firm chosen to represent you?
d) As the investment banker, what would be your first actions before offering advice?
e) Assuming the investment banking firm is willing to distribute your securities, describe the alternative plans that might be included in a contract with the banking firm.
f) How does the investment banking firm establish a selling strategy?
g) How might the investment banking firm protect itself against a drop in the price of the security during the selling process?
h) What follow-up services will be provided by the banking firm following a successful distribution of the securities?
i) Three years later, as an individual investor, you decide to add your own holding of the security but only at a price that you consider appropriate. What form of order might you place with your broker?

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