Chapter 8

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets: The Source of

Operating Capacity

BUS780

Long-Lived Operational Assets

Long-lived operational assets include:

Tangible Assets: land, buildings, factory

plants, computers, machinery, etc.

Intangible assets: patents, copyrights,

franchises, goodwill, organization costs, trade names, trademarks, etc.

Natural Resources: oil and gas reserves,

timber, mineral deposits.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 2

Tangible Assets: Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE)

Tangible assets are productive assets deriving their value from the use of them in operations. Tangible assets are: Assets used in operations (not for resale). Long-term in Nature (Economic Life > one year). Possess physical substance. $ must be material.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 3

Intangible Assets
Assets -a. with future economic benefits, b. no physical substance, c. with high degree of uncertainty concerning the future benefit.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 4

Objectives of the Chapter

1. To understand the concept of expensing versus capitalizing expenditures. 2. To learn the valuation of long-lived assets at acquisition. 3. To learn the cost allocation process of longlived assets after acquisition (i.e., depreciation, amortization) including changes in estimates of depreciation.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 5

Objectives of the Chapter (Contd.)

4. To learn the accounting treatment for

asset impairment of long-lived assets. 5. To understand the accounting treatment for the disposition of long-lived assets.

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

1. Expense Vs. Capitalize Expenditures

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When an expenditure occurs, accountants have to decide whether the expenditure should be debited into an expense account (expense) or to an asset account (capitalize). If the expenditure is expensed, it becomes a period expense and will be deducted from the income of the current year.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 7

Expense Vs. Capitalize Expenditures (Contd.)

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Expense an expenditure may have tax benefit (thus, increase cash flows) if it is tax deductible but it will reduce the current years income. If an expenditure is capitalized, it will be reported on the balance sheet as an asset and will be subject to depreciation or amortization in the future years.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

Expense Vs. Capitalize Expenditures (contd.)

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The Impact of expenditure capitalization:

x

a. The expenditure will be recognized as an asset and will not reduce current years income. b. the cost allocation of the asset over the life of the asset (i.e., depreciation expense) will reduce future years income.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 9

Improper Capitalization Examples- WorldCom

WorldCom Inc. consistently met Wall Street's targets for earnings during 2000 and the first three quarters of 2001. But the company now says it improperly capitalized $3.8 billion dollars of expenses to inflate profits, in what could be the largest accounting fraud ever.
(Wall Street Journal, 8/5/2002)

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Improper Capitalization WorldCom (Contd.)

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According to Stickney and Weil (2006), the impact of the improper capitalization of costs that WorldCom paid to other carriers of the telecommunication lines results in an increase of earnings by $53.1 billion and $17.1 billion in 2000 and 2001, respectively. The restated earnings of WorldCom indicated a net loss of $48.9 billion and $15.6 billion for 2000 and 2001, respectively.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 11

Improper CapitalizationGlobal Crossing

(WSJ, 7/1/2002)

Mr. Olofson's (Finance Executive of Global Crossing) August, 2001 letter says the company may have improperly capitalized the real-estate lease on its Madison, N.J., headquarters building.

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Improper Capitalization -Global Crossing (contd.)

"This is just another example of Global Crossing's methods of meeting its numbers, ," said Paul Murphy, his attorney at O'Neill Lysaght & Sun. Global Crossing also used swap transactions (i.e., trading same amounts of telecom capacity with another telecom corp. and recorded the trade as revenue and the costs as capital expenditures).
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 13

Accounting Scandals-Time Warner (WSJ, 3/22/2005)

the SEC found that AOL had improperly capitalized certain advertising costs that should have been expensed, inflating revenue for six of eight quarters in fiscal 1995 and 1996. The Securities and Exchange Commission slapped Time Warner Inc. with a $300 million fine, its second-biggest fine in history.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 14

Accounting Scandals Delphi (WSJ, 3/7/2005)

According to Delphi, the company used several improper accounting methods during this time. In some cases, it prematurely recognized revenue for technology contracts and rebates when it should have spread them over the life of the contract.

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Accounting Scandals Delphi (Cont.)

Other times it improperly capitalized expenses over time, rather than recognizing them immediately. It also boosted cash flow from operations and pretax earnings by claiming it sold assets and inventory that it had actually agreed to buy back later.

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Treatment of Expenditures with Potential Long-Term Benefit Acquired Externally

Tangible Land, Building Equipment (asset) Intangible Patent (a) (Merck, expl. 6) Copyright (a) Goodwill (a) Trade name (a) Proved technologies (a) In-Process technologies (e)
(Merck, expl. 9 on p370)

a = asset; e = expense
(source: figure 8.3 of textbook)

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Treatment of Expenditures with Potential Long-Term Benefit Acquired Internally

Tangible Intangible Self-Constructed Research and DevelopLand, Building ment (e) (Merck, example 7) Equipment (asset) Software Development cost: Pre-tech. Feasibility (e) Post-tech. Feasibility (a)
(Microsoft, expl. 8 on p370)
a = asset; e = expense
(source: figure 8.3 of textbook)
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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2. Cost of Property, Plant and Equipment

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At acquisition, PPE is recorded at the acquisition cost. At the end of period, PPE is also reported at cost. Acquisition cost includes the purchase price and any costs necessary to bring the asset to the location and condition for its intended use.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 19

Cost of PPE (contd.)

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PPE (except for land) is subject to depreciation. Depreciation is a process of cost allocation, not a process of asset valuation. If the acquisition cost or the selfconstructed cost is greater than the market value at time of delivery, Lower of cost or market is applied (see Wal-Mart, expl. 5 on
p370).
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 20

Determination of Acquisition Cost

x x x x

Cost of Land Cost of Buildings Cost of Equipment Cost of Self-Constructed Assets

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Cost of Land
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(held for operation, not for resale)

Any cost occurred before the land is ready for its intended use should be capitalized as cost of land.

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Cost of Land (contd.)

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Cost of land includes: 1. Purchase price. 2. Title search fee. 3. Closing fee. 4. Clearing fee. 5. Back property taxes (unpaid by previous owner). 6. Net razing cost of an old building. 7. Land improvements with unlimited (permanent in nature) life. (landscaping, pavements, street lights,etc.) 8. Assessment by cityTangible and Intangible Assets project. for drainage Long-Lived

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Cost of Buildings
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Cost of Buildings includes: 1. contract price(including materials, labor, etc.), 2. cost of remodeling, 3. Architects fee, 4. building permits, 5. surveying cost before construction, 6. interest cost (for self-constructed building), 7. excavation cost before construction. * Costs of strike or accidents are expensed.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 24

Cost of Equipment
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Any cost occurred to acquire and to bring the equipment to the location and condition for its intended use.

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Cost of Equipment (contd.)

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Cost of Equipment includes: 1. purchase price, 2. freight-in, 3. insurance in transit, and 4. foundation cost, installation cost, cost of test runs and assembling cost. Not including: Cash discount lost, unnecessary storage cost and hauling charges from storage for delivery of equipment.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 26

Example 12 on p372 of the textbook

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General Motors incurs the following costs in searching and acquiring the land and building:

1. Purchase price of land and building, $1,000,000. 2. Fees paid to lawyers related to the purchase, $10,000. 3. Transfer taxes paid to the city, $2,000. 4. Salaries earned by management personnel during the search for the site and the negotiation of its purchase, $8,000.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 27

Example (contd.)
5. Operating expenditures for company automobiles used during the search, $75. 6. Depreciation charges for company automobiles used during the search, $65. 7. Fees paid to engineer for a repot on the structural soundness of the building, $15,000. 8. Uninsured costs to repair automobiles damaged in an car accident during the search, $3,000. 9. Profits lost on sales the company failed to make because, during the search, management paid insufficient attention to a potential new customer, $20,000.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 28

Example (contd.)
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What is the cost of land and Building? x Cost of both land and building: items 1 to 6 x Cost of building: item 7 x Items 8 and 9 ? Cost of both land and building should be allocated to cost of land and cost of building, respectively, based on the relative market value of land and building.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 29

Cost Allocation of a Lump Sum Purchase An Example

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A building and land were purchased at $100,000. The market value of building and land was $30,000 and $90,000, respectively. Building 25,0001 Land 75,0002 Cash 100,000
1. 30,000/(30,000+90,000)=25%, 25%x100,000 = 25,000 Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 2. 90,000/(30,000+90,000)=75%,

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Cost of Self-Constructed (S-C) Assets

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Cost of self-constructed assets includes: 1. direct materials, 2. direct labor, 3. factory overhead (variable overhead and fixed overhead).

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Interest Costs During Construction

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Background of SFAS No. 34 (effective in 1979) Only capitalize the interest on funds borrowed for construction.

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Interest Costs During Construction (contd.)

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Interest can only be capitalized for qualifying assets which must meet the following criteria: 1. Assets are constructed for firms own use or constructed as discrete projects for sale or lease to others (i.e., ships, real estate developments). 2. Capitalization will make a difference on the earnings per share.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 33

Interest Costs During Construction (contd.)

Capitalization period:
Starting when: 1. Expenditures for the assets have been made; 2. Construction activities are in progress; and 3. Interest cost is being occurred. Ending when: 3 Assets are substantially completed and ready for intended use.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 34

Example interest capitalization for selfconstructed asset

The labor, material and overhead totaled $2,400,000 for the construction of a building in 2006. In addition, during

20X6, total interest expense was $1,845,000 of which $159,500 was capitalized as the cost of the selfconstructed building and $1,685,500 was charged to expense.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Example (contd.)
Journal entry to record the construction costs and interest expense for 20x6 is:
Building 2,559,500 Interest Expense 1,685,500 Cash 4,245,000

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Example (contd.)
Reporting:
Income Statement (for the year ended 12/31/x6) Other Revenues & Expenses: Interest Expenses $1,845,000 Less: Capitalized Int. (159,500) $ 1,685,500 Notes: Accounting Policy Capitalized interest: during 20X6, total interest expense was $1,845,000 of which $159,500 was capitalized and $1,685,500 was charged to expense.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 37

Acquisition Cost for Intangibles

Acquisition cost plus any other costs that are necessary to make the intangible assets ready for the intended uses (i.e., purchase price, legal fees,)
x

If intangible assets are developed internally, all the R&D costs are expensed.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 38

3. Cost Allocation of LongLived Assets Over the Life of the Assets

A firm consumes the services of long-lived assets to generate revenue, the cost of these assets should be expensed over time to match the revenue generated (in compliance with the matching principle). The process of allocating the depreciable cost (cost the salvage value) of assets over the estimated economic life is called depreciation (amortization) for tangible (intangible) assets.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 39

Cost Allocation of LongLived Assets Over the Life of the Assets (contd.)

For intangible assets, the salvage value is zero. For tangible assets, the salvage value could be either positive, zero or even negative (i.e., dismantling a nuclear power plant).

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Depreciation and Earnings Quality

The estimation of service life and salvage value is at the discretion of managers (see the case of Waste Management on p378). The choice of depreciation method is also at the discretion of mangers. Earnings would be affected when different depreciation methods or different estimates were used.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 41

Depreciation Methods
a. Straight-Line. b. Sum-of-the-Years-Digits (SYD). c. Declining-Balance.

1. Time-based methods (time-based)

(For Financial Reporting Purposes)

2. Activity-based method (activitybased)

Unit-of-Production. Note: SYD and Declining balance methods are accelerated depreciation Methods.
x
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 42

Straight-Line Method
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Cost is allocated evenly through the life of the P.P.E. Example 1: Machine costing $10,000 was purchased on 1/1/x1. The estimated residual value of the machine is $2,000 and the estimated life of the machine is 4 years.
Depreciation Expense per year: ($10,000 - 2,000)/ 4 = $2,000 12/31/x1 Depreciation Expenses 2,000 Accumulated Depreciation 2,000
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 43

Straight-Line Method (contd.)

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Example 2 (partial year depreciation): Using the

Depreciation Expense of year x1 ==> [($10,000-2,000)/4] x (10/12) = $1,667 Year Depr. Exp Acc. Depr. x1 1667 (10 months) 1,667 x2 2000 (12 months) 3,667 x3 2000 (12 months) 5,667 x4 2000 12 months) 7,667 x5 333 (2 months) 8,000
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

information in example 1, except that the machine was purchased on 3/11/x1 rather than 1/1/x1.

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Sum-of-the-Years-Digits (SYD)
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Example : Machine costing $10,000 was purchased on 1/1/x1 with an estimated residual value of $2,000 and an estimated life of 4 years.
Value Year *Depr. Base Fraction Expense at the end x1 $8,000 4/10 $3,200 6,800 x2 $8,000 3/10 $2,400 4,400 x3 $8,000 2/10 $1,600 2,800 x4 $8,000 1/10 $800 2,000
Long-Lived Tangible and Value * Depr. Base= Cost - Residual Intangible Assets 45

Depr. **Book

Declining-Balance Method
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Depreciation Exp.= constant rate book value at the beginning of the period
x Residual

value is not considered in the computation. x Assets cannot be depreciated below the residual value. x The constant rate is expressed as a function of a straight-line annual depreciation rate.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 46

Double DecliningBalance Method

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Example : Machine costing $10,000 purchased on 1/1/x1, with a residual value of $2,000 and an estimated life of 4 years. A double declining-balance method is used to depreciate the machine. Thus, the constant rate is twice of the S-L Depr. Rate (2 x 25% = 50%).
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 47

Double Declining-Balance Method

Example (contd.)
Book Value of Asset at Beg. of Constant Depr. Book Value Year the Year Rate Exp. At the End x1 $10,000 50% $5,000 $5,000 x2 $5,000 50% 2,500 2,500 x3 $2,500 50% 500* 2,000* x4 2,000 50% 0 2,000
*Assets cannot be depreciated below the residual value.
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A Comparison of Depreciation Methods

Assuming expected life = 4 years
1. Straight-Line Method 2. S-Y-D Method 3. Declining-Balance Method
Depreci ation Expense
1 3 2

Ye Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets ar

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Income Tax Depreciation: MACRS

s Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System

(MACRS) is used to compute tax depreciation expense for assets purchased in or after 1987. MACRS was enacted by Congress in the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Assets are classified in 8 property classes. A specified GAAP depreciation method is used in computing the depreciation expense for all classes (i.e., for a 3-year life PPE, DDB is used).
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 50

MACRS Depreciation Rate

Recovery 3-year 5-year 7-year 10-year 15-year 20-year Year (200% DB) (200% DB) (200% DB) (200% DB) (150% DB) (150% DB)
1 33.33 20.00 2 44.45 32.00 3 14.81* 19.20 4 7.41 11.52* 5 11.52 6 .. 5.76 7 8 9 10.00 5.00 18.00 9.50 14.40 8.55 11.52 7.70 9.22 6.93 7.37 6.23 6.55* 5.90* 6.55 5.90 6.56 5.91 Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 14.29 24.49 17.49 12.49 8.93* 8.92 8.93 4.46

MACRS DEPR. RATES BY CLASS OF PROPERTY

3.750 7.219 6.677 6.177 5.713 5.285 4.888 4.522 4.462*

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covery 3-year 5-year 7-year 10-year 15-year 20-year Year (200% DB) (200% DB) (200% DB) (200% DB) (150% DB) (150% DB)
10 6.55 5.90 11 3.28 5.91 12 5.90 13 5.91 14 5.90 15 5.91 16 2.95 17 18 19 20 21 Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

MACRS Depreciation Rate (Contd.) Re-

4.461 4.462 4.461 4.462 4.461 4.462 4.461 4.462 4.461 4.462 4.461 2.231 52

Amortization of Intangibles
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Amortization: a cost allocation of intangibles with finite lives (i.e., patents, copyrights) over the estimated life of intangibles. Current Practice: to amortize over the shorter of the legal or useful life, not to exceed 40 years No amortization for trade names, trademarks and goodwill.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 53

Amortization Method
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Straight-line method (unless the company can prove other methods are more appropriate) Residual value is, in general, zero and partial year amortization applied Journal entry for amortization: Amortization Expense xxx Intangible Asset xxx (i.e., patents).
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 54

Intangible Assets 1. Patents 2. Copyrights 3. Trade Names & Trademarks 4. Franchises or Licenses 5. Organization Costs 6. Goodwill

A Summary of Amortization of Intangibles

Legal Life

Amortization The shorter of useful or 20 legal life Life of creator The shorter of useful or + 70 years legal life not to exceed 40 years Unlimited None Contractual agreements Unlimited Unlimited Same as copyright 5 - 10 years None
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Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

Impact of New Information on Long-Lived Assets- Changes In

Depreciation Estimate
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Accounting treatment: no retroactive effect and make no adjustment for the past years misstatement. Spread the remaining undercoated balance (i.e., the book value) less the revised (new) residual value over the revised (new) estimate of the remaining life of the assets.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 56

Example: (S-L Depr. Method)

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Machine costing $10,000 acquired on 1/1/x1. Revised Estimates Estimates on 1/1/x1 on 1/1/x3 Residual value $2,000 $1,000 Life 4 years 5 years

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

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Example: (Contd.)
Year Depr. Exp Acc. Depr Book Value x1 $2,0001 2,000 8,000 x2 $2,0002 4,000 6,000 x3 $1,667 5,666.7 4,333.3 x4 $1,667 7,333.4 2,666.6 x5 $1,667 9,000.1 1,000
1. (10,000-2,000)/4 = $2,000 2. (6,000-1,000)/(5-2) =1666.7
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 58

New Information -Additional Costs Subsequent to Acquisition

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Basic principle for capitalization of these costs: Capitalize the cost if it can: a. extend the life of the existing asset, or b. increase the service quality of the existing asset, or c. increase the productivity of the existing asset (including the reduction of unit cost). Otherwise, expense the cost.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 59

Costs Subsequent to Acquisition (contd.)

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Types of costs occurred subsequent to acquisition:

a. Additions b. Improvements, Replacements c. Rearrangement and Reinstallation d. Repairs e. Maintenance
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 60

4. Impairment of LongLived Assets

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PPE and Intangibles are reported at cost except for impairments. An impairment occurs when the book value (cost accumulated depreciation) of an asset is not fully recoverable.

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Operational Assets Held for Use Tangible Assets and Finite-Life

Intangibles (Patents, etc)
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GAAP requires test for impairment only when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the book value of this asset may not recoverable.

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The Accounting Treatment for Impairment (for Held for Use

Tangible and finite-Life Intangibles)

Steps: 1. Conduct the Recoverability Test. 2. Compute the Impaired Amount.

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Step 1: Conduct the Recoverability Test

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Compare the book value (BV) of the asset with the undiscounted expected future cash flows (EFCF) of the asset (asset group). If BV > Undiscounted EFCF, the impairment has occurred and the impaired amount should be written off.
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Step 2: Compute The Impaired Amount

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Impaired amount = Book value - fair value (if the fair value is available) or Impaired amount = Book value estimated fair value1 (if fair value is not available)
1. discounted present value of the future cash flows of the asset can be the estimated fair value
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 65

Write Off the Impaired Amount

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Recognition of Impairment Loss: Loss on Impairment1 $$$$$ Accumulated Depre. $$$$$

1. Reported as part of income from continuing operations, not extraordinary losses.

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Impairment (contd.)
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After the write off, the fair value (or the estimated fair value if fair value is not available) becomes the new cost base for depreciation. No restoration of impaired loss is allowed for tangibles and finite-life intangibles assets held for use.
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Impairment (contd.)
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Disclosure Requirements of impairment loss:

1. A description of the impaired asset or asset group. 2. The facts and circumstances leading to the impairment. 3.The amount of the loss. 4.The method used to determined the fair value.
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 68

Summary of Asset Impairment: Assets Held to Be Used

Asset Type When to Test Impair. Test
Two-Step: 1. BV > EFCF 2. BV - FV

Tangible and Events indicate Intangible with BV not finite life recoverable

Intangible(indefi Annually or more One-Step: nite, excluding often BV FV

goodwill)

Goodwill

Annually or more 1.BV (reporting unit) > FV often

Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

2. BV of goodwill implied FV

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5.

Disposition of Property, Plant and Equipment- Sold for Cash

sExample:

A building costing $300,000 with accumulated depreciation of $200,000 was sold for $70,000. The journal entry to record the transaction is:
Cash 70,000 Accu. Depre. 200,000 Loss 30,000 Building

300,000
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Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets

Disposition of Property, Plant and EquipmentAbandonment

sExample:

An automobile costing $20,000 with accumulated depreciation of $15,000 was abandoned. The journal entry to record the transaction is:
Accu. Depre. 15,000 Loss 5,000 Automobile

20,000

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Disposition of Property, Plant and Equipment Exchange of Assets

Cost of old asset =$20,000 Book value of old asset = 6,000 Fair value of old asset = 4,000 Fair value of new asset = 9,000 New Asset 9,000 Acc. Depr. 14,000 Loss on Disposal of ass. 2,000 Old ass. 20,000 Cash 5,000
Long-Lived Tangible and Intangible Assets 72