Ch 4 - Leases Flashcards
What are the diff options for a company to obtain the use of fixed assets?
Purchase
Leasing (hiring) via a finance lease
Leasing (hiring) via an operating lease
Define a lease
A lease is an agreement whereby one party pays another to use an asset for an agreed length of time
Define a lessor
A lessor is the party who legally owns the asset and receives payment for its use
Define a lessee
The lessee is the party who makes payment to use the asset and receives payment for its use
Define a lease term
The lease term is the period for which the lessee has agreed to lease the asset
What are the 2 types of leases
Finance
Operating
Define a finance lease
is a lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the party using the asset
In some cases legal ownership is transferred at the end of the lease
Define an operating lease
any lease other than a finance lease
Why is it important to correctly classify a lease
as the acc treatment for each is v different
Give some examples of risks of ownership
Costs of insuring the asset
Costs of maintenance
Risk of obsolescence
Possibility of losses from idle capacity
Variations in return because of changing economic conditions
Give some examples of rewards of ownership
Profitable use of the asset for the majority of its useful life
Unlimited access to the asset
Gain from appreciation in value**
Realisation of a residual value**
Note, these last 2 assume the transfer of legal ownership at the end of the lease term
Give some examples of situations leading to classification of a lease as a finance leas
As the assessment of risks and rewards isn’t always conclusive, FRS 102 Section 20 suggests that if ANY of the following circs apply, a lease should be classified as a finance lease
- Ownership is transferred to the lessee at the end of the lease term
- The lessee has the option to purchase the asset for a bargain price
- The least term = the majority of the useful life of the asset
- The lessee can continue the lease for a secondary period at a below-market rate
- At the start of the lease, the PV of the min lease payments (MLPs) is substantially equal to FV of asset
- Asset is specialised so that only the lesee can use it without major modification
- If the lessee cancels the lease, they must repay the lessor for any losses associated with the cancellation
If land and buildings are leased together, what must the comp determine?
The comp should determine the classification of the land element and buildings element separately as a finance or operating lease, using the normal risks and rewards criteria
For the exam, what do you always assume a land lease is?
An operating lease
What needs to be done if the lease of L&B needs to be split?
The minimum lease payments should be allocated between L&B in proportion to the relative FV of the land and buildings at the start of the lease
What is substance over form?
Commercial substance is always accounted for over legal form
What is the legal form and commercial substance of a purchase?
Legal form: Asset legally belongs to purchasers
Commercial substance: purchaser uses the assets and therefore has the risks and rewards
Substance = legal form
What is the legal form and commercial substance of a finance lease?
Legal form: Asset legally belongs to lessor
Commercial substance: lessee bears risks and rewards, so uses it as if it was owned
Substance DOESN’T = legal form
What is the legal form and commercial substance of an operating lease?
Legal form: Asset legally belongs to lessor
Commercial substance: lessee does not bear risks and rewards, so doesn’t treat it as if it was owned
Substance = legal form
Where does an asset acquired through a finance lease appear in FS?
An asset acquired through a fin lease should be shown on the BS of the lessee as if it is owned
Where does an asset acquired through an operating lease appear in FS?
An asset acquired through an operating lease doesn’t hit the BS
The ‘rental’ is charged to P&L
What is the acc entry for a finance lease?
- Recording of asset
DR Fixed asset
CR Finance lease liability
Amount = lower of
Fair cash value of the asset and PV of the minimum lease payments (PV MLP) - Annual depr charge
DR Depr
- Cr Accumulated
- Depr over the shorter of Lease term (including any secondary periods) and UEL
- HOWEVER if the ownership transfers at the end of the lease, always use UEL - Record lease payments according to lease agreement
- DR Finance lease liability
- CR Cash - Record interest accruing on the fin lease liability
- This is reflected in the P&L
- DR Interest payable (P&L)
- CR Finance lease liability