Excerpts from IBM’s 2012 segment disclosures are given below.

Business Segments and Capabilities

The company’s major operations consist of five business segments: Global Technology Services and Global Business Services, which the company collectively calls Global Services, Software, Systems and Technology and Global Financing. Global Technology Services (GTS) primarily provides IT infrastructure and business process services, creating business value for clients through unique technology and IP integrated services within its global delivery model. Global Business Services (GBS) has the mission to deliver predictable business outcomes to the company’s clients across two primary business areas: Consulting and Application Management Services. Software consists primarily of middleware and operating systems software. Systems and Technology (STG) provides clients with business solutions requiring advanced computing power and storage capabilities. Global Financing facilitates clients’ acquisition of IBM systems, software and services. Global Financing invests in financing assets, leverages with debt and manages the associated risks with the objective of generating consistently strong returns on equity.

The segments represent components of the company for which separate financial information is available that is utilized on a regular basis by the chief executive officer in determining how to allocate resources and evaluate performance. The segments are determined based on Several factors, including client base, homogeneity of products, technology, delivery channels and similar economic characteristics.

 

Segment revenue and pre-tax income include transactions between the segments that are intended to reflect an arm’s-length, market-based transfer price.

 

The following tables reflect the results of operations of the company’s segments consistent with the management and measurement system utilized within the company. Performance measurement is based on pre-tax income. These results are used, in part, by senior management, both in evaluating the performance of, and in allocating resources to, each of the segments.

Major Clients

No single client represented 10 percent or more of the company’s total revenue in 2012, 2011, or 2010.

Geographic Information

The following provides information for those countries that are 10% or more of the specific category.

Required:

All questions relate to 2012 unless stated otherwise.

1. IBM refers to its segment reports as the “Management System Segment View.” What does IBM mean by this and how does it relate to the disclosure requirements under U.S. GAAP?

2. Which business segment contributes the most (least) external revenue for IBM? Compute the percentage of segment external revenue to total segments external revenue for these two segments.

3. Which business segment contributes the most (least) pre-tax income for IBM? Compute the percentage of segment pre-tax income to total segments pre-tax income for these two segments.

4. Which business segment had the highest (lowest) percentage growth (year-to-year change) in total revenue from 2011 to 2012? Show how the growth percentage was Computed for the Software segment.

5. Which business segment had the highest (lowest) percentage growth (year-to-year change) in pre-tax income from 2011 to 2012?

6. Which segment had the highest (lowest) pre-tax income margin? Show how IBM computes the pre-tax income margin for these segments.

7. How would analysts use the business segment data related to the income statement?

8. Why would the Global Financing segment hold 40% ($38,882/$97,310) of the segment assets, but generate only 3.6% ($4,073/$111,826) of total segment revenue?

9. What percentage of IBM’s revenue is earned in the United States?

10. How would a stronger U.S. dollar affect IBM’s future reported revenue?

Management System Segment View (Sin millions) For the year ended December 31: 2012 External revenue Internal revenue Total revenue Pre-tax income Revenue year-to-year change Pre-tax income year-to-year change. Pre-tax income margin 2011 External revenue Internal revenue Total revenue Pre-tax income Revenue year-to-year change Pre-tax income year-to-year change Pre-tax income margin 2010 External revenue Internal revenue Total revenue Pre-tax income Revenue year-to-year change Pre-tax income year-to-year change Pre-tax income margin Global Services Segments Global Global Business Technology Services Services $40,236 1.166 $41,402 $ 6,961 (1.7)% 10.8% 16.8% $40,879 1,242 $42,121 $ 6,284 6.6% 14.3% 14.9% $38,201 1,313 $39.514 $ 5,499 20% 0.3% 13.9% $18,566 719 $19,286 $ 2.983 (4.0)% (0.8)% 15.5% $19,284 797 $20,081 $ 3,006 5.6% 18.1% 15.0% $18,223 798 $19,021 $ 2,546 2.6% 1.8% 13.4% Software $25,448 3,274 $28,722 $10,810 1.8% 8.4% 37.6% $24,944 3,276 $28,219 $ 9,970 10.9% 5.3% 35.3% $22,485 2,950 $25,436 $ 9,466 5.7% 13.8% 37.2% Systems and Technology $17,667 676 $18,343 $ 1.227 (7.5)% (24.9)% 6.7% $18,985 838 $19,823 $ 1,633 5.6% 12.2% 8.2% $17,973 804 $18,777 $ 1,456 9.8% 12.1% 7.8% Global Financing $2.013 2,060 $4,073 $2.034 (2.9)% 1.1% 49.9% $2,102 2,092 $4,195 $2,011 2.8% 2.8% 47.9% $2.238 1,842 $4,080 $1,956 0.1% 13.5% 48.0% Total Segments $103,930 7,896 $111,826 $ 24,015 (2.3)% 4.8% 21.5% $106.194 8,246 $114,440 $ 22,904 7.1% 9.5% 20.0% $ 99,120 7,707 $106,827 $ 20,923 4.2% 8.3% 19.6%