repare a memo to the board summarizing the goals and requirements of the new revenue recognition standard ASC 606. Be sure to address the key criteria that FASB focused on as to when revenue should be recognized. Include in your memo to the board summaries of the various revenue and earnings manipulations that Sunbeam Corporation committed in the late 1990’s.

EBK CONTEMPORARY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
14th Edition
ISBN:9781337514835
Author:MOYER
Publisher:MOYER
Chapter7: Common Stock: Characteristics, Valuation, And Issuance
Section: Chapter Questions
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In the late 1990's, Sunbeam Corporation faced financial woes and attempted various strategies to boost its reported earnings. In 1997, three strategies appeared to be working; revenues had risen by 18%. However, by April 1998 Sunbeam’s stock was downgraded by investment analysts after noticing unusually high accounts receivables, massive increases in electric blankets in the third quarter 1997, which usually sell best in the fourth quarter, as well as unusually high sales of barbecue grills for the fourth quarter. Soon after, Sunbeam announced a first quarter loss of $44.6 million, and Sunbeam’s stock prices fell 25%. Sunbeam then faced a lawsuit by shareholders and an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

You are the controller for a company that is considering becoming publicly-traded in the next few years, and the board of directors wants to be sure the company is properly following GAAP in regards to revenue recognition. They have heard that there is a new accounting standard in place for revenue recognition that they want to comply with, but they also want to be sure that the company does not repeat the errors that Sunbeam and other companies have made.

  1. Prepare a memo to the board summarizing the goals and requirements of the new revenue recognition standard ASC 606. Be sure to address the key criteria that FASB focused on as to when revenue should be recognized.
  2. Include in your memo to the board summaries of the various revenue and earnings manipulations that Sunbeam Corporation committed in the late 1990’s.
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