The whole problem of profit between departments is one phase of the larger problem of the intercompany profits of a holding company. In such a case it usually happens that one of the subsidiaries with separate corporate organization turns over its product to some other subsidiary company at a price which returns a fair rate of profit. As the product passes through the hands of the various subsidiaries, by the time it is ready for final distribution to the public the accumulated profits represent those of all the companies engaged in its production. If, now, all these subsidiaries belong to the same parent company, the book value of the unsold product shows, at the close of the fiscal period, a large unrealized profit which must be adjusted in order not to show the stock-in-trade at an inflated value. This problem is discussed more fully in [Chapter XXXIV] where the main problems of the holding company are taken up.
Corporation Dividends
In addition to these general problems of the profit and loss summary, some further questions arise at the time of closing the records of a corporation for the fiscal period. Much more care must be taken in closing the books of a company than is necessary in the case of either of the other general types of business organization. Thus, the corporation authorized to issue a number of different kinds of stock must see that the dividend declaration is based only on the amounts of the various classes of stock outstanding, and not on the stock unissued or brought back into the treasury. It is customary to set up separate dividend accounts for each class of stock. Oftentimes the terms of issue covering the various kinds of stock introduce complexities in the calculation of the dividend. This is particularly true in the case of stocks which have the privilege of participating in all dividends over a certain amount. Some stocks are cumulative as to their dividend, while others may be non-cumulative. All these conditions of issue must be considered carefully at the time of the declaration of the dividend.
Discount on Bonds
Another problem requiring care is the treatment of discount or premium on bonds as they are related to the bond interest charge. In [Chapter XV] where bonds are discussed, the relation between the bond premium or discount and the bond interest rate is brought out. This necessitates at the time of the payment of the bond interest an entry to bring about the gradual amortization of the bond premium or discount so that by the expiration of the life of the bond issue the premium or discount is written off the books. Where the interest period does not coincide with the close of the fiscal period, for an absolutely accurate showing not only must the accrued bond interest be taken into account but also the accrued amortization of bond premium or discount.
Sinking Funds
A third problem at the time of closing the corporation’s books relates to bringing the sinking fund transactions up to date. Where the sinking fund is in the hands of a trustee, the corporation’s books can show the status of the fund only upon the receipt of the report of the trustee showing the changes in the fund for the current period. Care must be exercised to demand a report from the trustee as on the date of the closing of the corporation’s fiscal period. The character of the adjustments needed and the entries necessary to book them have been explained in [Chapter XXV].
Working Capital
A fourth problem which sometimes needs to be considered is that of “working capital.” Technically the working capital of a business is represented by the excess of current assets over current liabilities. As pointed out in Chapter XXV, a credit account called “Sinking Fund Reserve” is frequently set up to indicate the financial policy pursued in making provision for the retirement of a bond issue at maturity. At the time of the retirement of the bonds this reserve need no longer be shown as a separate item to indicate financial policy and should therefore be closed out. It may be thrown back into general surplus or it may be transferred—to indicate that it is a part of the permanent capital of the corporation—to an account entitled “Working Capital” or “Working Capital Surplus.” In all cases where an item of surplus is created for a specific purpose, care must be exercised to see that the conditions surrounding the creation of the item are lived up to in its final disposition. In cases of surplus created by gift, as in scholastic institutions or hospitals, this problem is particularly important.
A similar problem is also met at the time of the redemption of an issue of preferred capital stock, inasmuch as such redemption is usually at a figure above par.