A Chicago area company (Company) has been manufacturing metal gas tanks for passenger automobiles since 1918. The

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Question:

• A Chicago area company (“Company”) has been manufacturing metal gas tanks for passenger automobiles since 1918. The Company has always been a privately held family run business.

• The Company has been profitable for much of its history; retained earnings at the end of 20X1 was $20 million. • Recently mandated EPA mpg requirements have caused automobile manufacturers to move to utilizing plastic gas tanks – which are much lighter than metal. This change in materials helped automobile manufacturers reduce auto weights and meet the increased mpg requirements.

• The Company decided not to convert their operation to plastic gas tanks because their expertise was only in manufacturing metal products. • A few years back, the owners were faced with two options: Liquidate and distribute available assets or move into a different line of business. The Company decided to do the latter. The Company felt it could use its expertise to manufacture metal frames for televisions (like for Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.) • The Company built a new manufacturing plant in Georgia for manufacturing these metal TV frames; the plant was financed with low interest rate IRBs (Industrial Revenue Bonds).

• The IRBs were for $25 million with a 20-year term. The Company has no other debt.

• Unfortunately, in its first two years of operation of the new metal picture frame plant– 20X2 & 20X3 – the Company lost $11 million and $8 million, respectively. The metal TV frame business is extremely competitive; sales prices of metal TV frames are quite low. The Company was simply unable to produce large quantities of metal frames at a cost which would enable the Company to generate adequate gross profit.

• You are finishing your Audit of 20X3 & discussed the Going Concern issue with the Company’s management, including the family owners. The owners / managers feel they have no choice but to continue producing metal TV frames – due to the 20-year IRB term.

• Management prepares financial projections for the next year which shows the Company breaking even; the projections reflect a significant increase in the gross profit – it is unclear how management will improve their gross profit margin so significantly.

Required:

1. State whether you believe there is or is not substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a Going Concern. Provide your supporting arguments, specifically addressing:

• Conditions and Events

• Management’s Plans

Stating that you believe there is substantial doubt means that your Audit Firm’s Independent Auditor’s Report for the year of 20X3 will include an emphasis of a matter paragraph with the supporting footnote. (There is no need to formally draft the paragraph & supporting footnote.)

Stating that you believe there is no substantial doubt means that your Audit Firm’s Independent Auditor’s Report for the year of 20X3 will not include an emphasis of a matter paragraph but the Audited Financial Statements will include a footnote describing the conditions and events and how management’s plans alleviated the conditions and events. (There is no need to formally draft the footnote.)