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Leasing
Chapter Synopsis
25.1 The Basics of Leasing
A lease is a contract between two parties.
The lessee is liable for periodic payments in exchange for the right to use the asset.
The lessor is the owner of the asset and is entitled to the lease payments in exchange for
letting the lessee use the asset.
At the end of the contract term, the lease specifies who will retain ownership of the asset and
at what terms. The lease also specifies any cancellation provisions, any options for renewal
and purchase, and the obligations for maintenance and related servicing costs.
Many types of lease transactions are possible based on the relationship between the lessee
and the lessor.
In a sales-type lease, the lessor is the manufacturer of (or a primary dealer for) the asset.
In a direct lease, the lessor is an independent company that specializes in purchasing
assets and leasing them to customers.
In a sale and leaseback, the lessee receives cash from the sale of the asset and then
makes lease payments to retain the use of the asset.
In a leveraged lease, the lessor borrows the initial capital for the purchase and uses the
lease payments to pay interest and principal on the loan.
In some circumstances, the lessor is not an independent company but rather a separate
business partnership, called a special-purpose entity (SPE), which is created by the lessee for
the sole purpose of obtaining the lease. SPEs are commonly used in synthetic leases, which
are designed to obtain specific accounting and tax treatment.
In a perfect market, the cost of leasing is equivalent to the cost of buying and reselling the
asset:
PV(Lease Payments) = Purchase Price – PV(Residual Value)
where the residual value is the market value of the asset at the end of the lease. Thus the
amount of the lease payment will depend on the purchase price, the residual value, and the
appropriate discount rate for the cash flows.
In a perfect market, the cost of leasing and then purchasing the asset is equivalent to the
cost of borrowing to purchase the asset and making loan payments:
PV(Lease Payments) + PV(Residual Value) = PV(Loan Payments).
At the end of the lease, the lease may allow the lessee to obtain ownership of the asset for
some price.
A fair market value (FMV) lease gives the lessee the option to purchase the asset at its
fair market value at the termination of the lease.
In a fair market value cap lease, the lessee can purchase the asset at the minimum of its
fair market value and a fixed price (the “cap”).
In a $1.00 out lease, ownership of the asset transfers to the lessee at the end of the
lease for a nominal cost of $1.00.
In a fixed price lease, the lessee has the option to purchase the asset at the end of the
lease for a fixed price that is set in the lease contract.
Firms that prefer to keep a lease off of the balance sheet will often structure lease contracts
to avoid these conditions.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) separates leases into two broad categories.
In a true tax lease, the lessor receives the depreciation deductions associated with the
ownership of the asset. The lessee can deduct the full amount of the lease payments as
an operating expense, and these lease payments are treated as revenue for the lessor.
In a non-tax lease, the lessee receives the depreciation deductions and can deduct the
interest portion of the lease payments as an interest expense. The interest portion of the
lease payment is interest income for the lessor.
IRS Revenue Ruling 55-540 provides the conditions that determine the tax classification of a
lease. If the lease satisfies any of these conditions, it is treated as a non-tax lease.
1. The lessee obtains equity in the leased asset.
2. The lessee receives ownership of the asset on completion of all lease payments.
3. The total amount that the lessee is required to pay for a relatively short period of use
constitutes an inordinately large proportion of the total value of the asset.
4. The lease payments greatly exceed the current fair rental value of the asset.
5. The property may be acquired at a bargain price in relation to the fair market value of
the asset at the time when the option may be exercised.
6. Some portion of the lease payments is specifically designated as interest or its
equivalent.
These rules attempt to identify cases in which a lease is likely to provide the lessee with use
of the asset for a large fraction of its useful life and are designed to prevent the use of leases
solely for tax avoidance.
The treatment of leased property in bankruptcy depends on its classification.
If the lease is considered a security interest, the firm effectively owns the asset and the
asset is protected against seizure. The lessor is then treated as any other secured
creditor and must await the firm’s reorganization or ultimate liquidation.
If the lease is classified as a true lease, then the lessor retains ownership rights over the
asset. Within 120 days of filing Chapter 11, the bankrupt firm must choose whether to
assume or reject the lease. If it assumes the lease, it must settle all pending claims and
continue to make all promised lease payments. If it rejects the lease, the asset must be
returned to the lessor (with any pending claims of the lessor becoming unsecured claims
against the bankrupt firm). Thus, if a lease contract is characterized as a true lease in
bankruptcy, the lessor is in a somewhat superior position than a lender if the firm
defaults.
The distinction is very similar to the accounting and tax distinctions. Operating and true tax
leases are generally viewed as true leases by the courts, whereas capital and non-tax leases
are more likely to be viewed as a security interest.
offers a better rate, you can discount the lease payments at the firm’s pretax borrowing rate
and compare it to the purchase price of the asset.
When evaluating a true-tax lease, you can compare leasing the asset to purchasing the asset
using the following steps.
1. Compute the incremental cash flows for leasing versus buying, including the
depreciation tax shield if buying and the tax deductibility of the lease payments if
leasing.
2. Compute the NPV of leasing versus buying using equivalent leverage by discounting the
incremental cash flows at the after-tax borrowing rate.
If the NPV is positive, then leasing does provide an advantage over debt financing.
Any differences in the maintenance and service arrangements or any cancellation or other
lease options should also be included when comparing leasing versus a debt-financed
purchase.
lease as a liability. However, whether they appear on the balance sheet or not, lease
commitments are a liability for the firm and have the same effect on the risk and return
characteristics of the firm as other forms of leverage. Most financial analysts and
sophisticated investors understand this fact and consider operating leases (which must
be listed in the footnotes of the financial statements) to be additional sources of
leverage.
Avoiding Capital Expenditure Controls. One reason some managers will choose to lease
equipment rather than purchase it is to avoid the scrutiny that often accompanies large
capital expenditures.
Preserving Capital. A commonly cited advantage of leasing is that there is no down
payment required, so the lessee can save cash for other needs. However, for most large
corporations, the amount of leverage the firm can obtain through a lease is unlikely to
exceed the amount of leverage the firm can obtain through a loan. Thus this benefit is
likely to exist only for small or highly capital-constrained firms.
Direct Lease
A lease in which the lessor is an independent company that specializes in purchasing assets
and leasing them to customers.
Fair Market Value (FMV) Lease, Fair Market Value Cap Lease
A lease that gives the lessee the option to purchase the asset at its fair market value at the
termination of the lease. In a fair market value cap lease, the lessee can purchase the asset
at the minimum of its fair market value and a fixed price (the “cap”).
Lease-Equivalent Loan
A loan that is required to purchase an asset that leaves the purchaser with the same
obligations as the lessee would have.
Lessee
The party in lease contract that is liable for periodic payments in exchange for the right to use
the asset.
Lessor
The owner of a leased asset who is entitled to the lease payments in exchange for lending
the asset.
Leveraged Lease
A lease in which the lessor borrows the initial capital for the purchase and uses the lease
payments to pay interest and principal on the loan.
Non-Tax Lease
A lease in which the lessee receives the depreciation deductions and can deduct the interest
portion of the lease payments as an interest expense. The interest portion of the lease
payment is interest income for the lessor.
Operating Lease
A lease in which the lessee reports the lease payment as an operating expense and the
lessee does not deduct a depreciation expense for the asset. The lessee does not report the
asset on its balance sheet, but it must be disclosed in the footnotes of the financial
statements.
Residual Value
The market value of the asset at the end of the lease.
Sales-Type Lease
A lease in which the lessor is the manufacturer (or a primary dealer) of the asset.
True Lease
A lease in which the asset is not protected in the event that the lessee declares bankruptcy,
and the lessor can seize the asset if lease payments are not made. If the lease is deemed a
security interest by the bankruptcy court, then the asset is protected and the lessor becomes
a secured creditor.
25.4.2. If a lease is not listed as a liability on the firm’s balance sheet, does it mean that a firm that
leases rather than borrows is less risky?
Even if a lease is not listed as a liability on the firm’s balance sheet, a firm that leases is
not less risky than a firm that borrows. A lease commitment is a liability for the firm.
Therefore, a lease has the same effect on the risk-and-return characteristics of the firm as
other forms of leverage.
Examples
1. Your firm will either purchase or lease a new $500,000 packaging machine from the
manufacturer. If purchased, the machine will be depreciated straight-line over five years. You
can lease the machine using a true tax lease for $125,000 per year for five years with the
first payment today. Assume the machine has no residual value, the secured borrowing rate
is 9%, and the tax rate is 35%. Should you buy or lease?
Step 1. Determine the cash flow consequences of buying the machine.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Capital Expenditures –500,000 — — — — —
Depreciation Tax Shield 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000
Free Cash Flow –500,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000
Step 2. Determine the cash flow consequences of leasing the machine.
0. 1 2 3 4 5
Lease Payments –125,000 –125,000 –125,000 –125,000 –125,000 —
Income Tax Savings 43,750 43,750 43,750 43,750 43,750 —
Free Cash Flow –81,250 –81,250 –81,250 –81,250 –81,250 —
Step 3. Determine the incremental cash flows of leasing versus buying.
0. 1 2 3 4 5
Free Cash Flow Lease –81,250 –81,250 –81,250 –81,250 –81,250 —
Less: Free Cash Flow Buy–500,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000
Lease – Buy 418,750 –116,250 –116,250 –116,250 –116,250 –35,000
Step 4. Determine the NPV of leasing versus buying using the incremental cash flows
The after-tax borrowing rate is 9%(1 – 0.35) = 5.85%.
−116,250 −116,250 −116,250 −116,250 −35,000
NPV = 418,750 + + + + + = −$11,796
1.0585 1.05852 1.0585 3 1.0585 4 1.05855
0 1 2 3 4 5
Lease Payments 23,600 23,600 23,600 23,600 23,600 —
Less: Income Tax 3,540 3,540 3,540 3,540 3,540 —
Free Cash Flow 20,060 20,060 20,060 20,060 20,060 —
The incremental cash flows of buying and then leasing the machine are as follows.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Free Cash Flow of Buying –100,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000
Free Cash Flow of Leasing 20,060 20,060 20,060 20,060 20,060 —
Buy + Lease –79,940 23,060 23,060 23,060 23,060 3,000
Step 5. Determine the NPV for the lessor.
The after-tax borrowing rate is 8%(1 – 0.15) = 6.8%.
23,060 23,060 23,060 23,060 3,000
NPV = −79,940 + + + + + = $682.
1.068 1.068 2 1.068 3 1.068 4 1.068 5
Step 6. Make a conclusion.
The NPV is slightly positive for both the lessee and the lessor, so it makes sense to arrange
the lease. However, the NPVs are relatively small.
3. You are considering leasing a $500,000 machine for 5 years. The machine’s estimated
residual value is $100,000. If the borrowing rate is 6% APR with monthly compounding,
compute the monthly lease payment in a perfect market for the following leases:
[A] A fair market value lease.
[B] A fair market value lease with a $50,000 cap.
[C] A $1.00 out lease.
[D] A fixed price lease with a $50,000 final price.
Step 1. Determine the lease payment for the fair market value lease.
$100,000
PV(Lease Payments) = Purchase Price − PV(Residual Value) = $500,000 − = $425,863
(1.005)60
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
$425,863 = L + L ⎜ − 59 ⎟ ⇒ L = $8,192
⎝ 0.005 0.005(1.005) ⎠
Step 2. Determine the lease payment for the fair market value lease with a $50,000 cap.
$50,000
PV(Lease Payments) = Purchase Price − PV(Residual Value) = $500,000 − = $462,931.
(1.005)60
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
$462,931 = L + L ⎜ − 59 ⎟ ⇒ L = $8,905
⎝ 0.005 0.005(1.005) ⎠
Step 3. Determine the lease payment for the $1.00 out lease.
PV(Lease Payments) = Purchase Price − PV(Residual Value)
$1
= $500,000 − ≈ $500,000
(1.005)60
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
$500,000 = L + L ⎜ − 59 ⎟ ⇒ L = $9,618
⎝ 0.005 0.005(1.005) ⎠
Step 4. Determine the lease payment for the fixed price lease with a $50,000 final price.
PV(Lease Payments) = Purchase Price − PV(Residual Value)
$50,000
= $500,000 − = $462,931.
(1.005)60
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
$462,931 = L + L ⎜ − 59 ⎟ ⇒ L = $8,905
⎝ 0.005 0.005(1.005) ⎠
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
$9,629,314 = L + L ⎜ − 59 ⎟
⇒L
⎝ 0.005 0.005(1.005) ⎠
$9,629,314
= = $185,235
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
1+⎜ − 59 ⎟
⎝ 0.005 0.005(1.005) ⎠
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
[B] $10,000,000 = C ⎜ − 60 ⎟
⇒C
⎝ 0.005 0.005(1.005) ⎠
$10,000,000
= = $193,328.02
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
⎜ 0.005 − 0.005(1.005)60 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
[C] Both options are equivalent. The payment for the loan is larger, but you own the asset
past 5 years.
4. Determine the cash flow consequences of buying the truck.
0 1 2 3 4
Capital Expenditures –50,000 — — — —
Depreciation Tax Shield 4,800 4,800 4,800 4,800
Free Cash Flow –50,000 4,800 4,800 4,800 4,800
Determine the cash flow consequences of leasing the machine.
0 1 2 3 4
Lease Payments –13,000 –13,000 –13,000 –13,000 —
Income Tax Savings 5,200 5,200 5,200 5,200
Free Cash Flow –7,800 –7,800 –7,800 –7,800
Determine the incremental cash flows of leasing versus buying.
0 1 2 3 4
Free Cash Flow Lease –7,800 –7,800 –7,800 –7,800 —
Less: Free Cash Flow Buy –50,000 4,800 4,800 4,800 4,800
Lease – Buy 42,200 –12,600 –12,600 –12,600 –4,800
Determine the NPV of leasing versus buying using the incremental cash flows
The after-tax borrowing rate is 9%(1 – 0.35) = 5.85%.
−12,600 −12,600 −12,600 −4,800
NPV=42,200+ + + + =$4,603
1.0585 1.05852 1.05853 1.0585 4
You are better off leasing, since the NPV of leasing is greater than zero.
5. The lease is treated as a capital lease if it satisfies any of the following conditions:
1. Title to the property transfers to the lessee at the end of the lease term.
2. The lease contains an option to purchase the asset at a bargain price that is
substantially less than its fair market value.
3. The lease term is 75% or more of the estimated economic life of the asset.
The present value of the minimum lease payments at the start of the lease is 90% or more of
the asset’s fair market value.
[A] The present value of the lease payments is:
⎛ 1 1 ⎞
PV(Lease Payments) = $400+$400 ⎜ − 59 ⎟ =$19,4133.87
⎝ 0.0075 0.0075(1.0075) ⎠
This represents 19.4 / 20 = 97% of the value of the machine, so it is a capital lease.