Reference no: EM132624095

Question - A fellow accountant has solicited your opinion regarding the classification of short-term obligations repaid prior to being replaced by a long-term security. Cheshire Foods, Inc., issued $5,000,000 of short-term commercial paper during 2015 to finance construction of a plant. At September 30, 2016, Cheshire's fiscal year-end, the company intends to refinance the commercial paper by issuing long-term bonds. However, because Cheshire temporarily has excess cash, in November 2016 it liquidates $2,000,000 of the commercial paper as the paper matures. In December 2016, the company completes a $10,000,000 long-term bond issue. Later during December, it issues its September 30, 2016, financial statements. The proceeds of the long-term bond issue are to be used to replenish $2,000,000 in working capital, to pay $3,000,000 of commercial paper as it matures in January 2017, and to pay $5,000,000 of construction costs expected to be incurred later that year to complete the plant.

You initially are hesitant because you don't recall encountering a situation in which short-term obligations were repaid prior to being replaced by a long-term security. However, you are encouraged by a vague memory that this general topic is covered by GAAP literature you came across when reading an Internet article.

Required - Determine how the $5,000,000 of commercial paper should be classified by consulting the authoritative GAAP literature and citing the appropriate location in the FASB Codification. Before doing so, formulate your own opinion on the proper treatment.