Harnischfeger Corporation Teaching Note INTRODUCTION The purpose of the "Harnischfeger Corporation" case is to expose students to the managerial motives for making major financial reporting policy changes. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) allow companies wide latitude in the choice of accounting policies. After a firm chooses a set of accounting policies‚ current accounting rules permit changes from one alternative policy to another at the discretion of the management
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changes and the accounting estimates that Harnischfeger made during 1984. Estimate‚ as accurately as possible‚ the effect of these on the company´s 1984 reported profits. 2. What do you think are the motives of Harnischfeger´s management in making the changes in its financial reporting policies? Do you think investors will see through these changes? Answers 1. Identify all the accounting policy changes and the accounting estimates that Harnischfeger made during 1984. Estimate‚ as accurately
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Financial Reporting & Analysis April 19th‚ 2013 Case Study- Harnischfeger Corporation 1. Describe clearly the accounting changes Harnischfeger made in 1984 as stated in Note 2 of its financial statements. The accelerated depreciation method was changed from to straight-line on all company assets that caused to increase after-tax net income for 1984 by $11.005 million. The cumulative effect of change in 1984 there will
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Harnischfeger Corporation‚ a large New York Stock Exchange company‚ faced a financial crisis in 1982. New management was appointed to turn the company around and as part of its restructuring strategy‚ the new management team made a number of financial reporting policy changes and accounting estimates in fiscal year 1984. Listed below are all of the changes and analysis on whether they might be real earnings management activities. In addition‚ the effect of these changes on the company’s revenue‚
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accounting policy changes and accounting estimates that Harnischfeger made during 1984 and estimate as accurately as possible the effect of these changes on the company’s 1984 reported profits? One accounting change that Harnischfeger made was that they were going to include products purchased from Kobe Steel in their net sales. Before November 1‚ 1983 only the gross margin on Kobe products was included in their net sales. Harnischfeger was also going to include the financial statements of certain
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the break-even point‚ (3) reorientation of the company’s business and (4) debt restructuring and recapitalization. These changes at first glance appear to have allowed Harnischfeger to improve its financial performance from a net loss of $3.49 per share in 1983 to a net gain of $1.28 per share in 1984. In addition‚ Harnischfeger has appeared to have achieved a majority of its desired outcomes from each of its four changes as shown below. • Harnischfeger’s desired outcomes from hiring a new COO
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Harnischfeger Corporation • Includes in net sales products purchased from Kobe Steel. Financial Statements of certain foreign subsidiaries are included on the basis of their fiscal years ended July 31. Although this has no significant impact on net income‚ it did increased net sales by $5.4 million. • Perhaps one of the most significant accounting changes would be changing the method for depreciation expenses on plants‚ machinery and equipment – from principally accelerated methods to straight
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In order to recover from losses‚ Harnischfeger made several changes starting in1983. He restructured the top management by creating the position of chief operating officer. To deal with the short-term liquidity problem‚ he decided to cut costs by reducing staff from 6900 to 3800‚ reducing bonus to staff‚ liquidating the excess inventory‚ prolonging payment to creditors and permanent shutting down of an equipment plant at Escanaba. In 1984‚ there was a liquidation of last in first out (LIFO) inventory
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Harnischfeger 1. Describe clearly the accounting changes Harnischfeger made in 1984 as stated in Note 2 of its financial statements. In the 1984 the corporation computed depreciation expense on plants‚ machinery and equipment by using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes. These changes were made to provide a more equitable allocation of the cost of the plants. 2. What is the effect of the depreciation accounting method change on the reported income in 1984? How will
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Introduction As a result of a worldwide recession in the 1980’s the machinery industry suffered a decrease in demand. This was caused mainly by the cost reduction strategies that most of their major consumers were assuming at the time. Harnischfeger Corporation (HC)‚ one of the oldest manufactures in the machinery industry was among the several companies that had to restructure their strategy in order to survive the economic downturn. After suffering a $77 million loss in 1982‚ HC decided to
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