The Decision to Lease or Buy at Warf Computers

Warf Computers has decided to proceed with the manufacture and distribution of the virtual keyboard (VK) the company has developed. To undertake this venture, the company needs to obtain equipment for the production of the microphone for the keyboard. Because of the required sensitivity of the microphone and its small size, the company needs specialized equipment for production.

Nick Ward, the company president, has found a vendor for the equipment. Clapton Acoustical Equipment has offered to sell Warf Computers the necessary equipment at a price of $7.1 million. Because of the rapid development of new technology, the equipment falls in class 45 with a CCA rate of 45%. At the end of four years, the market value of the equipment is expected to be $860,000.

Alternatively, the company can lease the equipment from Hendrix Leasing. The lease contact calls for four annual payments of 1.86 million due at the beginning of the year. Additionally, Warf Computers must make a security deposit of $440,000 that will be returned when the lease expires. Warf Computers can issue bonds with a yield of 11%, and the company has a marginal tax of 35%.

QUESTION

Nick mentions to James Hendrix, the president of Hendrix Leasing, that although the company will need the equipment for four years, he would like a lease contract for two years instead. At the end of the two years, the lease could be renewed. Nick would also like to eliminate the security deposit, but he would be willing to increase the lease payments to $3.0 million for each of the two years. When the lease is renewed in two years, Hendrix would consider the increased lease payments in the first two years when calculating the terms of renewal. The equipment is expected to have a market value of $2.1 million in two years. What is the NAL of the lease contract under these terms? Why might Nick prefer this lease? What are the potential ethical issues concerning the new lease terms?