Question

(Lessee Capitalization of Bargain-Purchase Option) Albertsen Corporation is considering proposals for either leasing or purchasing aircraft. The proposed lease agreement involves a twin-engine turboprop Viking that has a fair value of \(1,000,000. This plane would be leased for a period of 10 years beginning January 1, 2017. The lease agreement is cancelable only upon accidental destruction of the plane. An annual lease payment of \)141,780 is due on January 1 of each year; the first payment is to be made on January 1, 2017. Maintenance operations are strictly scheduled by the lessor, and Albertsen Corporation will pay for these services as they are performed. Estimated annual maintenance costs are \(6,900. The lessor will pay all insurance premiums and local property taxes, which amount to a combined total of \)4,000 annually and are included in the annual lease payment of \(141,780. Upon expiration of the 10-year lease, Albertsen Corporation can purchase the Viking for \)44,440. The estimated useful life of the plane is 15 years, and its salvage value in the used plane market is estimated to be \(100,000 after 10 years. The salvage value probably will never be less than \)75,000 if the engines are overhauled and maintained as prescribed by the manufacturer. If the purchase option is not exercised, possession of the plane will revert to the lessor, and there is no provision for renewing the lease agreement beyond its termination on December 31, 2026.

Albertsen Corporation can borrow \(1,000,000 under a 10-year term loan agreement at an annual interest rate of 12%. The lessor’s implicit interest rate is not expressly stated in the lease agreement, but this rate appears to be approximately 8% based on 10 net rental payments of \)137,780 per year and the initial fair value of \(1,000,000 for the plane. On January 1, 2017, the present value of all net rental payments and the purchase option of \)44,440 is \(888,890 using the 12% interest rate. The present value of all net rental payments and the \)44,440 purchase option on January 1, 2017, is $1,022,226 using the 8% interest rate implicit in the lease agreement. The financial vice president of Albertsen Corporation has established that this lease agreement is a capital lease as defined in GAAP.

Instructions

1. What is the appropriate amount that Albertsen Corporation should recognize for the leased aircraft on its balance sheet after the lease is signed?

Short answer

The appropriate amount for the leased aircraft is $1,000,000.

Step-by-step solution

Meaning of Bargain purchase option (BPO)

A BPO is alessee's contractual right to acquire a leased asset at a fixed price that is much lower than its projected fair value when the option becomes exercisable at the end of the basic lease period, with the option priced to assure execution.

Explaining the appropriate amount that Albertsen Corporation should recognize for the leased aircraft on its balance sheet after the lease is signed.

The proper amount of the leased aircraft should be recorded as $1,000,000 on the balance sheet of Albertson Corporation. In this case, the present value of net rental payments plus the purchase option ($1,022,226) is less than the fair value. The thing is appraised at its fair market value when this happens..