Hoffman Mining Limited needs the use of a large loader truck to transport mining material extracted from its Papua New Guinea gold mine to the associated processing and extraction plant. The cost of purchasing a new Caterpillar loader truck is $500,000. The company can obtain a 10-year interest and principal loan at an 8.50% per annum interest rate from the Bank of PNG Limited to fund the $500,000 purchase cost. If acquired, the loader truck will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over the 10-year asset life. Assume the asset will have no disposal value at the end of the mining project. Based on the above loan terms, the debt repayment schedule will be as follows:

Year

Beginning balance

Interest

Total

Loan payment

Ending Balance

1

$500,000

$42,500

$542,500

$76,204

$466,296

2

$466,296

$39,635

$505,931

$76,204

$429,727

3

$429,727

$36,527

$466,254

$76,204

$390,050

4

$390,050

$33,154

$423,204

$76,204

$347,000

5

$347,000

$29,495

$376,495

$76,204

$300,291

6

$300,291

$25,525

$325,816

$76,204

$249,612

7

$249,612

$21,217

$270,829

$76,204

$194,625

8

$194,625

$16,543

$211,168

$76,204

$134,964

9

$134,964

$11,472

$146,436

$76,204

$70,232

10

$70,232

$5,972

$76,204

$76,204

$0

Alternatively, the company can lease the loader truck through the Caterpillar PNG Mining Finance Company on a 10-year lease term based on annual lease payments made in advance (at the beginning of the year) of $60,000. Hoffman Mining Limited has a corporate tax rate of 30%. Assume that the tax benefits from borrowing or leasing payments / allowable deductions are obtained at the end of same year that payments are made.

Should Hoffman Mining Limited borrow-and-buy or lease the Caterpillar loader truck? (Note: Net advantage of leasing (NAL) = (PV of Tax Benefits from Leasing - PV of Tax Benefits from Borrowing) - Opportunity Cost of Leasing)