The Tony Hawk Skate Park was built in early 2010. The construction was financed by $10 million of 5% bonds issued at face value, due in 10 years, with interest payable on June 30 and December 31 each year. The park did well initially, reporting net income in both 2010 and 2011. However, the discussion at the executive board meeting in late 2012 focused on falling skate-park revenues and increasing maintenance expenses. While several ideas were proposed, Jim Trost, the VP of finance, had an intriguing short-term solution. Jim stated, "Interest rates have steadily climbed the past three years. At the current market interest rate of 9%, we could repurchase our bonds for just under $8 million, recording a gain of over $2 million on the repurchase. We could then reissue new bonds at the current 9% rate."
Required:
1. Calculate the actual repurchase price on December 31, 2012, assuming the 10-year, 5% bonds paying interest semiannually were initially issued at a face value of $10 million three years earlier on January 1, 2010.
2. Record the bond retirement on December 31, 2012.
3. Is it ethical to time the repurchase of bonds in 2012 in order to include a $2 million gain on repurchase in a bad year? What if the transaction is fully disclosed?
4. From a business standpoint, is the retirement of 5% bonds and the reissue of 9% bonds a good idea? Explain why or why not.