Question

The board of directors of Chestnut Inc. approved a restructuring plan on November 1, Year 1. On December 1, Year 1, Chestnut publicly announced its plan to close a manufacturing division in New Jersey and move it to China, and the company's New Jersey employees were notified that their jobs would be eliminated. Also on December 1, Year 1, to ensure an orderly transition, management promised a termination bonus of $10,000 to any employee who remains with the company until his or her position is terminated in the fourth quarter of Year 2. Chestnut estimates it will pay termination bonuses to 120 employees at the end of Year 2, for a total of $1,200,000. The present value of the estimated termination bonus is $1,000,000.
Required:
Determine the provision that should be recognized for Chestnut's restructuring plan. Identify the dates on which journal entries should be made and the amounts to be recorded.

Answer 1

Answer:

Company by informing employees about termination is creating constructive obligation. Company should therefore provide for restructuring costs calculated as PV of estimated termination bonus which is based on number of employees would accept the offers. The provision for expenses should be recognized on December 1 of year 1

      Journal entry to record provision for restructuring costs

Date                  General Journal                       Debit                 Credit

01/Dec/Year 1    Restructuring expenses        $1,000,000

                                Provision for termination of benefits      $1,000,000

                           (To record provision for restructuring costs)