Kelly Company and Its Subsidiaries Are Engaged in the Manufacture

Essay

Kelly Company and its subsidiaries are engaged in the manufacture and marketing of ready-to-eat cereal and convenience foods. In its annual report to shareholders, Kelly disclosed the following:
DISPOSITIONS
Last year, the Company sold certain assets and liabilities of the Leader's Bagels business to Aura Foods Inc. for $275 million in cash. As a result of this transaction, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $178.9 million ($119.3 million after tax or $.29 per share). This charge included approximately $57 million for disposal of other assets associated with the Leader's business, which were not purchased by Aura. Disposal of these other assets was completed during the current year. The original reserve of $57 million exceeded actual losses from asset sales and related disposal costs by approximately $9 million. This amount was recorded as a credit to other income (expense), net during the current year.
Required:
Explain how the Kelly transactions described could be interpreted as an example of earnings management.