During its long tenure, the CAP produced a total of 51 ARBs. While the CAP was in existence, another committee, the Committee on Terminology of the American Institute of Accountants (the previous name of the AICPA), prepared certain definitions. Assess their definitions of assets and liabilities (see Chapter 11 for the definitions). Do you see any problems with one committee preparing rules and another making definitions?
Read Chapter 15 of ARB 43 on unamortized discount, issue cost, and redemption premium on bonds refunded. Why do you think these issues concerned the committee? What were the two acceptable alternatives for dealing with the costs of any issue? Why would the definition of assets be helpful in analyzing a situation of this type? Are there any other situations that might be somewhat analogous to the bond redemption situation?