Beale Management has a noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan. On December 31, 2018 (the end of Beale's fiscal year), the following pension-related data were available: Projected Benefit Obligation ($ in millions) Balance, January 1, 2018 $ 460 Service cost 48 Interest cost, discount rate, 5% 23 Gain due to changes in actuarial assumptions in 2018 (14) Pension benefits paid (23) Balance, December 31, 2018 $ 494

Answer: The projected benefit obligation is $494 millions

Explanation:

Using the formula

Closing PBO = Opening PBO + S + I - B ± A

Where PBO = Projected Benefit Obiligation, S = service cost, I = interest cost, B = Pension benefit paid, A = Gain due to changes in actuarial assumptions

Interest cost = 5% of 460

= (5: 100) = 0.05 * 460

= 23

Closing PBO = 460 + 48 + 23 - 23 - 14

= $494

There is an increase in the Projected benefit obligation to $494 million