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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
**1. The major lessor groups in the United States are banks, captives, and independents. Captives
have the point of sale advantage in finding leasing customers; that is, as soon as a parent receives
**2. (a) Possible advantages of leasing:
1. Leasing permits the write-off of the full cost of the assets (including any land and residual
value), thus providing a possible tax advantage.
6. Potential of off-balance sheet financing with certain types of leases.
Assuming that funds are readily available through debt financing, there may not be great
advantages (in addition to the above-mentioned) to signing a noncancelable, long-term
lease. One of the usual advantages of leasing is its availability when other debt financing
is unavailable.
(b) Possible disadvantages of leasing:
1. In an ever-increasing inflationary economy, retaining title to assets may be desirable as
a hedge against inflation.
2. Interest rates for leasing often are higher and a profit factor may be included in addition.
3. In some cases, owning the asset provides unique tax advantages, such as when bonus
depreciation is permitted.
(c) Since a long-term noncancelable lease which is used as a financing device generally results
in the capitalization of the leased assets and recognition of the lease commitment in the
balance sheet, the comparative effect is not very different from purchase and ownership.
**3. Lessees have available two lease accounting methods: (a) the operating method and (b) the
capital-lease method. Under the operating method, the leased asset remains the property of the