EDGAR , the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, performs automated collection, validation, indexing, and forwarding

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Question:

EDGAR, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, performs automated collection, validation, indexing, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All publicly traded domestic companies use EDGAR to make the majority of their filings. (Some foreign companies file voluntarily.) Form 10-K or 10-KSB, which include the annual report, is required to be filed on EDGAR. The SEC makes this information available on the Internet.

Required:

Obtain the most recent annual report (or 10-K report) for the year ended 12/31/2018 (filed in February 2019) for Avon Products, Co. The easiest way is to use the EDGAR search tools on the SEC.gov website). In the middle of the SEC home page, you will see "Edgar/ Company filings." Type the ticker symbol AVP in the box to the right. Be sure to look for the most recent (2018) 10-K report. Click on the BLUE oval that reads "Interactive Data." (Make sure it is the 10-K report, not the 10-Q.)

Once in Avon's 2018 Annual Report, you will need to look in "Financial Statements" and "Notes to the Financial Statements" to answer the following questions related to the company's cash, accounts receivable and bad debts:

1. What is the amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents at year-end? Be sure to indicate dollars "in thousands," "in millions."

2. What does Avon include in the definition of "Cash and Cash Equivalents"? (You may want to look under "Significant Accounting Policies" for this information.)

3. What is the amount of net accounts receivable at year-end? Be sure to indicate dollars "in thousands," "in millions."

4. What is the amount of bad debt expense (provision for doubtful accounts) at year-end? (Hint: check the statement of cash flows.)

5. Comment on one other interesting item you noticed on Avon's financial statements. Explain what you find is interesting about it. (Two or three sentences)