Panther Company currently sponsors a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. At the end of 2019, the plan had a projected benefit obligation of $1,456,000 and fair value of plan assets of $1,629,000. Panther recognized a net pension asset in its balance sheet of $173,000 at the end of 2019. Due to the plans overfunded position, Allison Costello, Panther’s CFO, is interested in finding out if it is possible to settle or curtail the plan. Specifically, she is interested in purchasing a portfolio of high-quality bonds that have principal and interest payment dates very similar to the estimated dates pension benefits would be paid. Directions Research the GAAP and prepare a short memo to Allison Costello that provides guidance on the following issues: What is a pension settlement and pension curtailment? Can the company recognize a gain or loss if it settles its pension plan? What is the amount of the gain or loss? Can the company recognize a gain or loss if it curtails its pension plan? What is the amount of the gain or loss?
C19-10 Researching GAAP
Situation
Panther Company currently sponsors a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. At the end of 2019, the plan had a projected benefit obligation of $1,456,000 and fair value of plan assets of $1,629,000. Panther recognized a net pension asset in its balance sheet of $173,000 at the end of 2019. Due to the plans overfunded position, Allison Costello, Panther’s CFO, is interested in finding out if it is possible to settle or curtail the plan. Specifically, she is interested in purchasing a portfolio of high-quality bonds that have principal and interest payment dates very similar to the estimated dates pension benefits would be paid.
Directions
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Research the GAAP and prepare a short memo to Allison Costello that provides guidance on the following issues:
What is a pension settlement and pension curtailment?
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Can the company recognize a gain or loss if it settles its pension plan? What is the amount of the gain or loss?
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Can the company recognize a gain or loss if it curtails its pension plan? What is the amount of the gain or loss?
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Would Allison Costello’s plan of purchasing high-quality bonds qualify as a settlement of a pension plan? Why or why not?
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