The following items were taken from the accounting records of Nevada Utility Company for the year ended December 31, 2015 (dollar amounts are in thousands):
Accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 48,000
Accrued expenses payable (other than interest) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,200
10% Bonds payable, due April 1, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000
8% Bonds payable, due October 1, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150,000
Unamortized bond discount (8% bonds of 2016) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
12% Bonds payable, due April 1, 2030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300,000
Unamortized bond premium (12% bonds of 2030) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000
Accrued interest payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,650
Bond interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57,000
Other interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000
Notes payable (short-term) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000
Lease obligations-capital leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18,000
Pension obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410,000
Unfunded obligations for postretirement benefits other than pensions . . . . . . . . . 60,000
Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110,000
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42,000
Income tax payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .341,250
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210,000
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,203,950
Other Information
1. The 10 percent bonds due in April 2016 will be refinanced in March 2016 through the issuance of $125,000 in 9 percent, 20-year bonds payable.
2. The 8 percent bonds due October 1, 2016, will be repaid entirely from a bond sinking fund.
3. Nevada Utility is committed to total lease payments of $11,000 in 2016. Of this amount, $6,000 is applicable to operating leases, and $5,000 to capital leases. Payments on capital leases will be applied as follows: $2,000 to interest expense and $3,000 to reduction in the capitalized lease payment obligation.
4. Nevada Utility's pension plan is fully funded with an independent trustee.
5. The obligation for postretirement benefits other than pensions consists of a commitment to maintain health insurance for retired workers. During 2016, Nevada Utility will fund $16,000 of this obligation.
6. The $8,000 in income taxes payable relates to income taxes levied in 2015 and must be paid on or before March 15, 2016. No portion of the deferred tax liability is regarded as a current liability.
Instructions
a. Using this information, prepare the current liabilities and long-term liabilities sections of Nevada Utility Company's classified balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. (Within each classification, items may be listed in any order.)
b. Explain briefly how the information in each of the six numbered paragraphs affected your presentation of the company's liabilities.
c. Compute as of December 31, 2015, the company's ( 1 ) debt ratio and ( 2 ) interest coverage ratio.
d. Solely on the basis of information stated in this problem, indicate whether this company appears to be an outstanding, medium, or poor long-term credit risk. State specific reasons for your conclusion.