70.2K

Verified Solution

Link Copied!

Group project 9:Issuing stock (E, p357, #8-3)

Sahara Unlimited Inc. began operations on January 2, 20Y4, with the issuance of 250,000 shares

of $8 par common stock. The sole stockholders of Sahara Unlimited Inc. are Karina Takemoto

and Dr. Noah Grove, who organized Sahara Unlimited Inc. with the objective of developing a

new flu vaccine. Dr. Grove claims that the flu vaccine, which is nearing the final development

stage, will protect individuals against 80% of the flu types that have been medically identified.

To complete the project, Sahara Unlimited Inc. needs $25,000,000 of additional funds. The

banks have been unwilling to loan the funds because of the lack of sufficient collateral and the

riskiness of the business. The following is a conversation between Karina Takemoto, the chief

executive officer of Sahara Unlimited Inc., and Dr. Noah Grove, the leading researcher:

Karina: What are we going to do? The banks won't loan us any more money, and we've got

to have $25 million to complete the project. We are so close! It would be a disaster to

quit now. The only thing I can think of is to issue additional stock. Do you have any

suggestions?

Noah: I guess you're right. But if the banks won't loan us any more money, how do you

think we can find any investors to buy stock?

Karina: I've been thinking about that. What if we promise the investors that we will pay

them 2% of sales until they have received an amount equal to what they paid for the

stock?

Noah: What happens when we pay back the $25 million? Do the investors get to keep the

stock? If they do, it'll dilute our ownership.

Karina: How about, if after we pay back the $25 million, we make them turn in their stock

for what they paid for it? Plus, we could pay them an additional $50 per share. That's a

$50 profit per share for the investors.

Noah: It could work. We get our money, but don't have to pay any interest or dividends until

we start generating sales. At the same time, the investors could get their money back plus

$50 per share.

Karina: We'll need current financial statements for the new investors. I'll get our accountant

working on them and contact our attorney to draw up a legally binding contract for the

new investors. Yes, this could work.

In late 20Y4, the attorney and the various regulatory authorities approved the new stock

offering, and shares of common stock were privately sold to new investors for $25,000,000.

In preparing financial statements for 20Y4, Karina Takemoto and Glenn Bergum, the

controller for Sahara Unlimited Inc., have the following conversation:

Glenn: Karina, I've got a problem.

Karina: What's that, Glenn?

Glenn: Issuing common stock to raise that additional $25 million was a great idea. But ...

Karina: But what?

Glenn: I've got to prepare the 20Y4 annual financial statements, and I am not sure how to

classify the common stock.

Karina: What do you mean? It's common stock.

Glenn: I'm not so sure. I called the auditor and explained how we are contractually obligated

to pay the new stockholders 2% of sales until they receive what they paid for the stock.

Then, we may be obligated to pay them $50 per share.

Karina: So ...

Glenn: So the auditor thinks that we should classify the additional issuance of $25 million as

debt, not stock! And, if we put the $25 million on the balance sheet as debt, we will

violate our other loan agreements with the banks. And, if these agreements are violated,

the banks may call in all our debt immediately. If they do that, we are in deep trouble.

We'll probably have to file for bankruptcy. We just don't have the cash to pay off the

banks.

1. Discuss the arguments for and against classifying the issuance of the $25 million of stock as

debt.

Answer & Explanation Solved by verified expert

See Answer