A bond sinking fund is a restricted asset of a corporation that was required to set aside money for redeeming or buying back some of its bonds payable.
A bond sinking fund is reported in the section of the balance sheet immediately after the current assets. The bond sinking fund is part of the long-term asset section that usually has the heading "Investments." The bond sinking fund is a long-term (noncurrent) asset even if the fund contains only cash. The reason is the cash in the fund must be used to retire bonds, which are long-term liabilities. In other words, because the money in the bond sinking fund cannot be used to pay current liabilities, it must be reported outside of the working capital section of the balance sheet. (Working capital is current assets minus current liabilities.)
marketable securities
A sinking fund occurs when a company sets aside money over time to repay a debt or replace an asset. This fund is typically established for long-term liabilities, such as bonds or loans, to ensure that sufficient funds are available when the debt matures. By regularly contributing to the sinking fund, the company can reduce financial risk and manage cash flow more effectively.
example of sinking fund
A sinking fund has a very important purpose. The purpose of a sinking fund is to reduce the amount of debt by repaying or purchasing outstanding loan amounts.
A provision on a bond that provides for the systematic retirement of the bond prior to maturity is known as a sinking fund provision. This provision requires the issuer to set aside funds on a regular basis to repay a portion of the bond issue before it matures, reducing the overall debt burden.
Payments into a sinking fund are typically made at regular intervals, such as annually, semi-annually, or quarterly, depending on the terms of the bond or debt agreement. These payments are designed to accumulate enough funds to repay the principal amount of the debt when it matures. The schedule and amount of these payments are predetermined and specified in the bond indenture or debt contract.
future value of an annuity is a reciprocal of a sinking fund
establishment of fund: petty cash fund xx cash in bank xx payment of expenses out of the petty cash fund: expenses xx petty cash fund xx
A sinking fund is established to set aside cash for the purpose of repaying debt or replacing a large asset when it reaches the end of its useful life. By accumulating funds over time, organizations can ensure they have the necessary resources to meet future obligations or expenses without resorting to additional borrowing. This approach helps manage financial risk and maintain liquidity.
A call provision can make a bond more risky for the investor because it gives the issuer the option to redeem the bond at a predetermined price before maturity, potentially preventing the investor from earning interest for the full term. On the other hand, a sinking fund provision can make a bond less risky for investors as it requires the issuer to set aside money regularly to retire a portion of the bond issue before maturity, reducing the overall outstanding debt and default risk.