American Movieplex, a large movie theater chain, leases most of its theater facilities

Ethics Case 15-4 Leasehold improvements

American Movieplex, a large movie theater chain, leases most of its theater facilities. In conjunction with recent operating leases, the company spent $28 million for seats and carpeting. The question being discussed over breakfast on Wednesday morning was the length of the depreciation period for these leasehold improvements. The company controller, Sarah Keene, was surprised by the suggestion of Larry Person, her new assistant.

Keene: Why 25 years? We've never depreciated leasehold improvements for such a long period.
Person: I noticed that in my review of back records. But during our expansion to the Midwest, we don't need expenses to be any higher than necessary.
Keene: But isn't that a pretty rosy estimate of these assets' actual life? Trade publications show an average depreciation period of 12 years.

Required:
1. How would increasing the depreciation period affect American Movieplex's income?
2. Does revising the estimate pose an ethical dilemma?
3. Who would be affected if Person's suggestion is followed?

Click here for the solution: American Movieplex, a large movie theater chain, leases most of its theater facilities

Portia Carter is the president of a company that owns six multiplex movie theaters

Portia Carter is the president of a company that owns six multiplex movie theaters. Carter has delegated decision-making authority to the theater managers for all decisions except those relating to capital expenditures and film selection. The theater managers' compensation depends on the profitability of their theaters. Max Burgman, the manager of the Park Theater, had the following master budget and actual results for the month.

Master Actual
Budget Results
Tickets sold 120,000 110,000
Revenue--tickets $ 840,000 $ 880,000
Revenue--concessions 480,000 330,000
Total revenue $1,320,000 $1,210,000
Controllable variable costs
Concessions 120,000 99,000
Direct labor 420,000 330,000
Variable overhead 540,000 550,000
Contribution margin $ 240,000 $ 231,000
Controllable fixed costs
Rent 55,000 55,000
Other administrative expenses 45,000 50,000
Theater operating income $ 140,000 $ 126,000

1. Assuming that the theaters are profit centers, prepare a performance report for the Park Theater using the chart below. Include a flexible budget. Determine the variances between actual results, the flexible budget, and the master budget.

2. Evaluate Burgman's performance as a manager. 3. Assume that the managers are assigned responsibility for capital expenditures and that the theaters are thus investment centers. Park Theater is expected to generate a desired ROI of at least 6 percent on average invested assets of $2,000,000.
a. Compute the theater’s return on investment and residual income using the chart below.
b. Using the ROI and residual income, evaluate Burgman’s performance as a manager.

Click here for the solution: Portia Carter is the president of a company that owns six multiplex movie theaters