Problem 1: Reynolds Construction needs a piece of equipment that costs $200. Reynolds can either lease the equipment or borrow $200 from a local bank and buy the equipment. If the equipment is leased, the lease would not have to be capitalized. Reynolds' s balance sheet prior to the acquisition of the equipment is as follows:
- Current assets 300 Debt 400
- Fixed assets 500 Equity 400
- Total assets 800 Total claims 800
a. What is Reynolds's current debt ratio?
b. What would the company's debt ratio be if it purchased the equipment?
c. What would the company's debt ratio be if the equipment were leased?
d. Would the company's financial risk be different under the leasing and purchasing alternatives?
Problem 2: Delamont Transport Company (DTC) is evaluating the merits of leasing versus purchasing a truck with a 4-year life that costs $40,000 and falls into the MACRS 3-year class. If the firm borrows and buys the truck, the loan rate would be 10%, and the loan would be amortized over the truck's 4-year life, so the interest expense for taxes would decline over time. The loan payments would be made at the end of each year. The truck will be used for 4 years, at the end of which time it will be sold at an estimated residual value of $10,000. If DTC buys the truck, it would purchase a maintenance contract that costs $1,000 per year, payable at the end of each year. The lease terms, which include maintenance, call for a $10,000 lease payment (4 payments total) at the beginning of each year. DTC's tax rate is 40%. What is the net advantage to leasing? (Note: Assume MACRS rates for Years 1 to 4 are 0.3333, 0.4445, 0.15, and 0.07.)