Deferred tax assets and the valuation allowance: the case of Ford Motor Company

Describe the differences between defined benefit and defined contribution plans.

Many companies are closing down their defined benefit plans and replacing them with defined contribution plans. Why?

Interest rates have sharply declined in most economies over the past 10 years. What effects would you expect this trend to have had on pension liabilities and pension expenses?

As a prospective employee, which type of plan (defined benefit or defined contribution) do you prefer, and why?

Define “underfunded” and “overfunded.”

What is the difference between “service cost” and “interest cost?”

Describe the effects on pension expense of changing expected returns on pension plan investments. What happens if we increase the expected returns? What happens if we decrease them? provides the income statements and balance sheets from Ford’s 2011 Annual Report. Excerpts from the note on deferred income taxes are provided in The statements of cash flow for Ford reveal cash flows provided by operations of $9.784 billion, $11.477 billion, and $15.477 billion in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. In 2011, Ford reported its highest net income ever (over $20 billion), an improvement of nearly $14 billion from the previous year. But did Ford’s profitability really improve that much?

Ford Motor Company and subsidiaries income statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 (in millions, except per share amounts)

2011

2010

2009

AUTOMOTIVE

Revenues

$128,168

$119,280

$103,868

Costs and expenses

Cost of sales

113,345

104,451

98,866

Selling administrative and other expenses

9,060

9,040

8,354

Total costs and expenses

122,405

113,491

107,220

Operating income/(loss)

5,763

5,789

(3,352

Interest expense

817

1,807

1,477

Interest income and other nonoperating income/ [expense), net (Note 19)

825

(362)

5,284

Equity in net income/(loss) of affiliated companies

479

526

330

Income/(Loss) before income taxes – Automotive

6,250

4,146

785

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Revenues

8,096

9,674

12,415

Costs and expenses

Interest expense

3,614

4,345

5,313

Depreciation

1,843

2,024

3,937

Operating and other expenses

675

845

738

Provision for credit and insurance losses

(33)

(216)

1,030

Total costs and expenses

6,099

6,998

11,018

Other income/(loss), net (Note 19)

413

315

552

Equity in net income/(loss) of affiliated companies

21

12

(135

Income/(Loss) before income taxes – Financial Services

2,431

3,003

1,814

TOTAL COMPANY

Income/(Loss) before income taxes

8,681

7,149

2,599

Provision for/(Benefit from) income taxes [Note 22)

(11,541)

592

(113

Income/(Loss) from continuing operations

20,222

6,557

2,712

Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations

5

Net income/(loss)

20,222

6,557

2,717

Less: Income/(Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

9

(4)

Net income/(loss) attributable to Ford Motor Company

$20,213

$6,561

$2,717

NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO FORD

MOTOR COMPANY

Income/(Loss) from continuing operations

$20,213

$6,561

$2,712

Income/(Loss) from discontinued operations

5

Net income/(loss) attributable to Ford Motor Company

$20,213

$6,561

$2,717

Balance sheets (in millions)

December

December

31,2011

31, 2010

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

$17,148

514,805

Marketable securities [Note 6)

18,618

20,765

Finance receivables, net (Note 7)

69,976

70,070

Dther receivables, net

8,565

8,381

Net investment in operating leases (Note 8)

12,838

11,675

Inventories [Note 10)

5,901

5,917

Equity in net assets of affiliated companies [Note 11)

2,936

2,569

Net property [Note 14)

22,371

23,179

Deferred income taxes [Note 22)

15,125

2,003

Net intangible assets (Note 15)

100

102

Dther assets

4,770

5,221

Total assets

$178,348

$164,687

LIABILITIES

Payables

$17,724

$16,362

Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue [Note 16)

45,369

43,844

Debt (Note 18)

99,488

103,988

Deferred income taxes (Note 22)

696

1,135

Total liabilities

163,277

165,329

EQUITY

Capital stock [Note 24)

Common stock, par value $.01 per share [3745 million shares issued)

37

37

Class B stock, par value $.01 per share

1

1

[71 million shares issued)

Capital in excess of par value of stock

20,905

20,803

Retained earnings/(Accumulated deficit)

12,985

(7,038)

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)

(18,734)

[14,313)

Treasury stock

[166)

(163)

Total equity/(deficit) attributable to Ford Motor Company

15,028

[673)

Equity/(Deficit) attributable to noncontrolling interests

43

31

Total equity/(deficit)

15,071

[642)

Total liabilities and equity

$178,348

$164,687