Question

Fallen Company commonly issues long-term notes payable to its various lenders. Fallen has had a pretty good credit rating such that its effective borrowing rate is quite low (less than 8% on an annual basis). Fallen has elected to use the fair value option for the long-term notes issued to Barclay's Bank and has the following data related to the carrying and fair value for these notes.
Carrying Value Fair Value
December 31,2014 54,000 54,000
December 31,2015 44,000 42,500
December 31,2016 36,000 38,000
A. Prepare the journal entry at December 31 (Fallen's year end) for 2014, 2015, and 2016 to record the fair value option for these notes.B. At what amount will the note be reported on Fallen's 2015 balance sheet?C. What is the effect of recording the fair value option on these notes on Fallen's 2016 income?D. Assuming that general market interest rates have been stable ove the period, does the fair value data for the notes indicate that Fallen's credit-worthiness has improved or declined in 2016? Explain.

Answer 1

Answer:

A)                                    Journal entries

Date                           Account Titles                 Debit           Credit

Dec 31, 2014    No Journal Entry  

Dec 31,2015  Notes Payable                         $1,500

                        (44,000 – 42,500)

                        Unrealized Holding Gain/Loss                        $1,500

                        (Net Income)

Dec 31,2016    Unrealized Holding Gain/Loss    $3,500

                        (Net Income)

                        Notes Payable                                                   $3,500

                        (38,000 – 36,000 + 1,500)  

B)  The note will be reported at the fair value of notes payable as on 31 December 2015. Therefore, the note will get reported at $42,500 in the Fallen's 2015 balance sheet.

C) Fallen's 2016 net income will get reduced by $3,500 (refer to journal entry 3) as any change in fair value will be reported as an adjustment to the net income for the respective year.

D) Since, the general market interest rates have been stable over the period and similar risk investment in the year 2016, the changes in fair value indicate that Fallen's creditworthiness has improved.