The Ins & Outs of Leasing Technology

1. The Ins & Outs of Leasing Technology LawNet 2004 Annual Conference Phoenix, Arizona August 26, 2004 Thursday, 3:15 p.m. Grand Sonoran C, D Presented by: Jennifer Volz-Arave U.S. Bancorp Oliver-Allen Technology Leasing

2. Presentation Overview • Background of U.S. Bancorp Oliver-Allen Technology Leasing • The advantages & disadvantages of paying cash, using bank & leasing • What can be leased • The typical lease terms • End-of-term options: purchase or return? • Preparing for the lease process • Putting together an effective RFP • The “fine print” to be aware of in some lease documentation • A recap

3. U.S. Bancorp Oliver-Allen Technology Leasing • Longest company name in the history of technology leasing • Oliver-Allen was established in 1973 and acquired by U.S. Bancorp in March of 2000 • Subsidiary of 6th largest U.S. financial services holding company • $192 billion in assets • Specializes in leasing technology to law firms • Over 230 law firm clients nationwide including 28 firms in the AM LAW 100 and 73 firms in the NLJ 250 • Strong supporter of legal educational associations

4. Paying Cash for Technology Advantages • The firm owns the equipment at the time of the purchase • No financing fees or interest • Price is easily understood Disadvantages • May require five year depreciation even though the useful life may be shorter • May be difficult to gain internal approval for entire cost of replacing technology • The firm’s cash may be better put to use by investing or growing the firm

5. Bank Financing Advantages • Excellent for equipment with a useful life longer than five years • Firms are comfortable using existing bank lines • Working with banks, that are also firm clients, can be advantageous from a business/political standpoint Disadvantages • Excessive paperwork and time • Loans can be inflexible and include such things as partner guarantees, cross collateral securitization and other bank covenants • The firm may not want to use up their bank line • A client bank may charge more fees and a higher interest rate because of the relationship

6. Lease Financing Advantages from a Financial perspective: • Establish a monthly technology expense • Conserve working capital • Keep bank & other lines of credit open • Provide an additional line of credit • Expense lease payments rather than depreciate • Avoid potential book losses • Proceed with projects that exceed the firm’s budget • Avoid partner guarantees & covenants • Avoid phantom income • Help maximize cash flow • Gain flexibility • Simplify financing documentation • IT must manage its assets • Establish asset management (Electronic or on-line asset tracking capability)

7. Simplify financing documentation Lease Financing Advantages from an I.S. perspective: Fixed monthly technology expense Proceed with projects that exceed the firm’s budget Protection against equipment obsolescence Refresh technology as needed Gain flexibility Establish asset management Transfer disposal of equipment to leasing company

8. Lease Financing Disadvantages • Some lease contracts contain onerous terms and conditions • Some lessors may broker entire transaction • Many lessors charge higher rates and/or fees on small transactions/schedules ($50,000 or less) • Some lessors are not technology specialists nor have expertise in the legal community • Some captive lessors do not offer competitive financing for products other than their own • Some captive lessors have lease language or policies that restrict or limit the firm’s ability to exchange or swap equipment from another manufacturer/vendor • Some captive lessors stipulate the FMV may be determined solely by the lessor.

9. Desktops / PCs Laptops Servers Storage Area Networks Telecommunication systems Accounting systems Network systems Document management systems Videoconferencing equipment Copiers Printers Software Installation Configuration Training Implementation Consulting fees Furniture Office equipment What Can Be Leased

10. Desktops Laptops Servers Accounting systems Network/SAN systems Document management systems Videoconferencing systems 36-48 months 24-36 months 36-48 months 36-60 months 36-60 months 36-60 months 36-60 months Typical Lease Terms It is best to lease technology with a life span of 5 years or less.

11. End-of-Term Options • Purchase options: $1.00; 10%, 15%, 20%, etc. • - Expected useful life is greater than lease term (24, 36, 48, 60 months) • - Firm wants to own the equipment but doesn’t want the cash outlay up-front • FMV option with return provision: • - Expected useful life meets the economic life of the equipment • - Firm’s intent is to refresh equipment

12. Preparing for the Lease Process • Contact up to 5 leasing companies • Be available to answer questions • Let the leasing companies formulate their own solutions • Check that all lease documents are included • Compare each proposal to the Master Lease and other documents • Make sure lease costs were disclosed in the proposal • Determine which company is offering the best solution

13. Putting Together an Effective Leasing RFP • What to include in the RFP: • Brief financial overview of the firm • Total project cost (cost breakdown) • Lease term (s) • Project installation period • Type of lease structure • References from at least ten other law firms that are of similar size and have had an end-of-term experience with a fair-market value lease

14. “Fine Print” To Be Aware of in Some Lease Documentation • Excessive Pro-Rata Rent • Quarterly Interim Rent • Miscellaneous Fees • Unfair End-of-Term Provisions

15. Pro-Rata Rent • “…rent for portions of a month are based on a daily rental equal to one-thirtieth (1/30) of the monthly rent.” • Charged the lease rate factor multiplied by the equipment installed until lease commences • Payments are in excess of the lease term • Also beware of ‘minimum Schedule size’ language. This type of language give the Lessor the ability to keep your firm paying pro- rata interim rent if a minimum dollar amount has not been spent.

16. Pro-Rata Rent Example Other Lessor’s artificially low blended lease rate • PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS: • PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN: • Hardware: $ 500,000 (X) .02700 = $ 13,500 • Soft costs: $ 500,000 (X) .03000 = $ 15,000 • Total:$1,000,000$ 28,500 $1,000,000 = .02850 • Thirty-six (36) month lease term • An even installation over 5.5 months • The first piece of equipment installed in November • The last piece of equipment installs on the 15th of April Total Monthly Rent

17. 15 days NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL $181,818 $181,818 $181,818 $181,818 $181,818 $90,909 $5,182 $5,182 $5,182 $5,182 $5,182 $2,591 $5,182 $5,182 $5,182 $5,182 $2,591 $5,182 $5,182 $5,182 $2,591 $5,182 $5,182 $2,591 $5,182 $2,591 $1,296 Pro-Rata Rent Examplecontinued… PRO-RATA CALCULATION $181,818 installs per month ($1,000,000 divided by 5.5 months) Pro-Rata Rent Per Month = .02850 (x) $181,818 Monthly Rent Compounds Total Pro-Rata rent could equal or exceed$91,981

18. Quarterly Interim Rent • The Language: • “The Lease Term shall become effective the first day of the calendar quarter following the installation date (‘Commencement Date’).” • What it means: • Your firm may pay up to three months of additional rent prior to lease commencement • The Language: • “Lessor shall create Equipment Schedules at the end of each calendar quarter that occurs during the Installation Period. Each such Equipment Schedule shall include the Equipment that was delivered, installed and accepted by Lessee during the respective quarterly period and shall have an Installation Date 15 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter.” • What it means: • This guarantees that your firm will pay an additional 2 1/2 months of full interim rent.

19. Quarterly Interim Rent 15 days April May June July 1, 2005 $14,250 $28,500 $28,500 36 month lease term begins • Total Quarterly Interim Rent: • 15 Days in April($14,250) +May & June($57,000)= $71,250

20. Miscellaneous Fees • Restocking • UCC Filing • Facility • Documentation • Legal • Executory • Commitment • Service Charges • Transaction

21. Extremely Difficult Return Provisions The Language: “Lessee must also ship the Property with all, but not less than all, of the manuals, cables,cartons and packing materials as originally furnished by the suppliers/vendors.” What it means: • Your firm is required to hold on to all original shipping materials and supplies and the leasing company will charge your firm additional payments or fees (extra monthly rentals or purchase price) if you do not comply. • Returning anything other than the actual PC, keyboard, mouse and monitor is extremely difficult, if not impossible.

22. Software Language:Unfair End-of-Term Lease Provisions • The Language: “In the case of software, Lessee will destroy all intangible software items and deliver them to the Lessor all tangible items constituting software. At Lessor’s request, Lessee must also certify in written form acceptable to Lessor that (i) all tangible software has been delivered to Lessor (ii) all tangible records have been destroyed (iii) Lessee has not retained the software in any form (iv) Lessee will not use the software after termination and (v) Lessee has not received from supplier(s) anything of value relating to or in exchange for Lessee’s use, rental or possession of the software during the duration of the lease including a trade-in, substitution or upgrade allowance until the Lessee has complied with all the requirements of the section, rent payment obligations will continue from month to month at the rate delineated on the Schedule.” • What it means: • The firm’s software usage rights are restricted after the Lease Term. • The Lessee must return and destroy all software on the lease.

23. Software Language:Unfair End-of-Term Lease Provisions • The Language: • “Hardware and/or software will be referred to as ‘Equipment’” or “Hardware, software and/or other equipment will be referred to as Property”. • What it means: • Because the software is included as “Equipment” or “Property”, the Firm can expect to pay the Fair-Market Value for the software which is determined by whatever the latest version of that same software costs at the end of the lease term.

24. Remember... • A blended lease rate for hardware and softcosts (i.e.- software, maintenance, etc.) usually means the Lessor is going to have the firm pay FMV for software. • To read all lease documentation in its entirety. • To ensure that all issues agreed to verbally must be specifically addressed in the lease documents. • Be cautious before using leasing companies offering below market rates. • To make sure to request other law firm references that have actually gone to term. • To review all leases with your accountant. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is!

25. If you are interested in a lease solution for your firm or would like more information, please contact: Jennifer Volz - Arave (800) 426-8733, x. 3818 jennifer.volz@usbank.com Or Visit Us at Booth #306!