Question

Computing and Assessing Plant Asset Impairment

On January 1, Zeibart Company purchases equipment for $225,000. The equipment has an estimated useful life of 10 years and expected salvage value of $25,000. The company uses straight-line depreciation. Four years later, economic factors cause the fair value of the equipment to decline to $90,000. On this date, Zeibart examines the equipment for impairment and estimates undiscounted expected cash inflows from this equipment of $125,000
(a) Compute the annual depreciation expense relating to this equipment.
(b) Compute the equipment's net book value at the end of the fourth year.
(c) Apply the test of impairment to this equipment as of the end of the fourth year. Is the equipment impaired?

Answer 1

a. Depreciation expense = (Cost - Salvage value / Useful life

Depreciation expense = ($225,000 - $25,000) / 10 years

Depreciation expense = $20,000

b. Equipment's net book value = Cost of equipment - Depreciation for 4 years

Equipment's net book value = $225,000 - ($20,000 * 4)

Equipment's net book value = $225,000 - $80,000

Equipment's net book value = $145,000

c. When the sum of undiscounted expected cash flows < Net book value of asset, then the asset is impaired

Here, $125,000 < $145,000. So, the equipment is impaired.

Impairment loss = Net book value of asset - Fair value of asset

Impairment loss = $145,000 - $90,000

Impairment loss = $55,000