Bricker Graphics is a privately held company specializing in package labels. Representatives of the firm have just returned from Switzerland where a Swiss firm is manufacturing a custom-made high speed, color labeling machine. Confidence is high that the new machine will help rescue Bricker from sharply declining profitability, Bricker's chief operating officer, Don Benson, has been under fire for not reaching the company's performance goals of achieving a rate of return on assets of at least 12% The afternoon of his return from Switzerland, Benson called Susan Sharp into his office, Susan is Bricker's Controller. Benson: I wish you had been able to go. We have some accounting issues to consider Sharp: I wish I'd been there, too. I understand the food was marvelous. What are the accounting issues? Benson: They discussed accepting our notes at the poing rate for a face amount of $12.5 million. We also discussed financing with stock Sharp: I thought we agreed; didbe is the way to go for us now. Benson: Yes, but I've been thinking. We can issue shares for a total of $10 million. The labeler is custom made and doesn't have a quoted selling price, but the domestic labelers we considered went for around $10 million. It sure would help our rate of return if we keep the asset base as low as possible Required: 1. How will Benson's plan affect the return measure? What accounting issue is involved? 2. Is the proposal ethical? 3. Who would be affected if the proposal is implemented