On January 1, 2007, Cardinal Corporation Issued 5% 25-Year Bonds

On January 1, 2007, Cardinal Corporation issued 5% 25-year bonds at par and used the $12,000,000 proceeds to finance the construction of a new plant. On January 1, 2017, the company acquired the bonds on the open market for $11,500,000. Assuming that Cardinal Corporation is neither bankrupt nor insolvent, the acquisition and retirement of the bonds results in which of the following:

A) The company must recognize a $500,000 gain.
B) The company can make an election to recognize a $500,000 gain or reduce the company's basis in the plant by $500,000.
C) The company must recognize a $500,000 gain and increase the company's basis in the plant by $500,000.
D) The company can amortize the $500,000 gain, recognizing income over the remaining life of the bonds.
E) None of these.