📈Financial Accounting II Unit 2 – Long-Term Liabilities: Bonds and Notes Payable

What's the Deal with Long-Term Liabilities?

• Long-term liabilities represent obligations a company expects to pay more than one year in the future
• Consist of items such as bonds payable, notes payable, and long-term leases
• Provide a way for companies to finance large projects or expansions without immediately depleting cash reserves
• Require regular interest payments to compensate lenders for the use of their funds over an extended period
• Can have a significant impact on a company's financial statements and ratios
  • Affect the debt-to-equity ratio and the interest coverage ratio
• Must be carefully managed to ensure the company can meet its obligations and maintain financial stability
• Can be secured by collateral (such as property or equipment) or unsecured based on the company's creditworthiness

Bonds: The Basics

• Bonds are long-term debt instruments issued by corporations or governments to raise capital
• Represent a contractual agreement between the issuer and the bondholder
• Bondholders are creditors of the issuing entity and do not have an ownership stake in the company
• Typically have a face value (or par value) of $1,000 which is the amount the bondholder will receive at maturity
• Pay a stated interest rate (coupon rate) on the face value at regular intervals (usually semiannually)
• Have a specified maturity date when the face value is repaid to the bondholder
• Can be traded on secondary markets, allowing bondholders to sell their bonds to other investors before maturity
  • The market price of a bond can fluctuate based on changes in interest rates and the issuer's creditworthiness

Notes Payable: Not Your Average IOU

• Notes payable are written promises to pay a specified amount on a certain date
• Can be issued to lenders such as banks or to suppliers for goods or services purchased on credit
• Often have a shorter maturity than bonds (usually less than 10 years)
• May have a fixed or variable interest rate depending on the terms of the note
• Require periodic interest payments and the repayment of principal at maturity
• Can be secured by collateral or unsecured based on the borrower's creditworthiness
• Accounted for as a liability on the balance sheet
  • The portion due within one year is classified as a current liability
  • The portion due beyond one year is classified as a long-term liability

Valuing Bonds: Time Value of Money in Action

• The value of a bond is determined by the present value of its future cash flows (interest payments and principal repayment)
• Involves discounting the future cash flows at the market interest rate (yield) to determine their present value
• The market interest rate reflects the time value of money and the risk associated with the bond
  • Higher risk bonds require a higher yield to compensate investors
• The present value of a bond can be calculated using the following formula:
  • $PV = \frac{C}{(1+r)^1} + \frac{C}{(1+r)^2} + ... + \frac{C}{(1+r)^n} + \frac{F}{(1+r)^n}$
  • Where PV is the present value, C is the periodic coupon payment, r is the periodic yield, n is the number of periods, and F is the face value
• If the market interest rate is higher than the coupon rate, the bond will sell at a discount (below face value)
• If the market interest rate is lower than the coupon rate, the bond will sell at a premium (above face value)

Issuing Bonds: Above, Below, or At Par

• Bonds can be issued at face value (par), at a discount, or at a premium depending on the relationship between the coupon rate and the market interest rate
• When a bond is issued at par, the proceeds received equal the face value of the bond
  • The journal entry is:

    • Debit Cash

    • Credit Bonds Payable

• When a bond is issued at a discount, the proceeds received are less than the face value
  • The difference between the face value and the proceeds is recorded as a contra-liability account called Discount on Bonds Payable
  • The journal entry is:

    • Debit Cash

    • Debit Discount on Bonds Payable

    • Credit Bonds Payable

• When a bond is issued at a premium, the proceeds received are greater than the face value
  • The excess of the proceeds over the face value is recorded as a liability account called Premium on Bonds Payable
  • The journal entry is:

    • Debit Cash

    • Credit Premium on Bonds Payable

    • Credit Bonds Payable

Interest Expense and Amortization

• Interest expense is the cost of borrowing funds and is recognized on the income statement
• For bonds issued at par, interest expense equals the periodic coupon payment
• For bonds issued at a discount or premium, interest expense consists of the coupon payment adjusted for the amortization of the discount or premium
  • Amortization is the process of allocating the discount or premium over the life of the bond using the effective interest method
• The effective interest method calculates interest expense based on the carrying value of the bond (face value adjusted for unamortized discount or premium)
  • Ensures that the interest expense recognized each period is based on a constant effective yield
• Discount on Bonds Payable is amortized to interest expense, increasing the carrying value of the bond over time
• Premium on Bonds Payable is amortized to interest expense, decreasing the carrying value of the bond over time
• The journal entries for interest expense and amortization are:

  • Debit Interest Expense

  • Debit Discount on Bonds Payable (if issued at a discount)

    or

    Credit Premium on Bonds Payable (if issued at a premium)

  • Credit Cash (for the coupon payment)

Early Retirement of Bonds: Gains and Losses

• Bonds may be retired before their maturity date through a call provision or an open market purchase
• When bonds are retired early, the difference between the carrying value (face value adjusted for unamortized discount or premium) and the reacquisition price is recognized as a gain or loss
• If the reacquisition price is less than the carrying value, a gain on bond retirement is recorded
  • The journal entry is:

    • Debit Bonds Payable

    • Debit Premium on Bonds Payable (if applicable)

    • Credit Discount on Bonds Payable (if applicable)

    • Credit Cash (for the reacquisition price)

    • Credit Gain on Bond Retirement

• If the reacquisition price is greater than the carrying value, a loss on bond retirement is recorded
  • The journal entry is:

    • Debit Bonds Payable

    • Debit Premium on Bonds Payable (if applicable)

    • Debit Loss on Bond Retirement

    • Credit Discount on Bonds Payable (if applicable)

    • Credit Cash (for the reacquisition price)

• Gains and losses on bond retirement are reported on the income statement as other income or expense

Financial Statement Impact and Disclosure

• Long-term liabilities, including bonds and notes payable, are reported on the balance sheet
  • Classified as either current liabilities (portion due within one year) or long-term liabilities (portion due beyond one year)
• Interest expense is reported on the income statement as a non-operating expense
• Gains and losses on bond retirement are reported on the income statement as other income or expense
• The statement of cash flows reflects the issuance of bonds and notes payable as a financing activity (cash inflow)
  • Interest payments and the retirement of bonds and notes are also reported as financing activities (cash outflows)
• Disclosures in the notes to the financial statements provide additional information about long-term liabilities
  • Includes details such as the face value, interest rates, maturity dates, and any collateral pledged
  • Also discloses the amount of interest expense recognized during the period and any gains or losses on bond retirement
• Ratios such as the debt-to-equity ratio and the interest coverage ratio can be calculated using information from the financial statements
  • These ratios provide insights into the company's leverage and its ability to meet its debt obligations