Question

Problem 17-6 Determine the PBO; plan assets; pension expense; two years [LO17-3, 17-4, 17-6]

Stanley-Morgan Industries adopted a defined benefit pension plan on April 12, 2018. The provisions of the plan were not made retroactive to prior years. A local bank, engaged as trustee for the plan assets, expects plan assets to earn a 10% rate of return. The actual return was also 10% in 2018 and 2019.* A consulting firm, engaged as actuary, recommends 4% as the appropriate discount rate. The service cost is $150,000 for 2018 and $280,000 for 2019. Year-end funding is $160,000 for 2018 and $170,000 for 2019. No assumptions or estimates were revised during 2018.

*We assume the estimated return was based on the actual return on similar investments at the inception of the plan and that, since the estimate didn’t change, that also was the actual rate in 2019.

Required:

Calculate each of the following amounts as of both December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2019: (Enter your answers in thousands (i.e., 200,000 should be entered as 200).)

Answer 1

Solution:

		December 31, 2018	December 31, 2019
1.	Projected Benefit Obligation	$150,000	$436,000
2.	Plan assets	$160,000	$346,000
3.	Pension expense	$150,000	$420,000

Explanation:

Projected Benefit Obligation
Details	Amount($)
Balance, January 1, 2018	$0
Service cost	$150,000
Interest cost (4% × $0)	$0
Benefits paid	($0)
Balance, December 31, 2018	$150,000
Service cost	$280,000
Interest cost (4% × $150,000)	$6,000
Benefits paid	($0)
Balance, December 31, 2019	$436,000

.

Plan assets
Details	Amount($)
Balance, January 1, 2018	$0
Actual return on plan assets (10% × $0)	$0
Contributions, 2018	$160,000
Benefits paid	($0)
Balance, December 31, 2018	$160,000
Actual return on plan assets (10% × $160,000)	$16,000
Contributions, 2019	$170,000
Benefits paid	($0)
Balance, December 31, 2019	$346,000

.

Pension expense
Details	Amount($)
Service cost	$150,000
Interest cost (4% × $0)	$0
Expected return on the plan assets (10% × $0)	$0
Pension expense	$150,000
Service cost	$280,000
Interest cost (4% × $150,000)	$6,000
Expected return on the plan assets (10% ×$160,000)	($16,000)
Pension expense	$420,000