Lease Options

 

Capital Leasefixed-term lease similar to a loan agreement for purchase of capital asset on installments.  Lessor’s services are limited to financing the asset, the lessee pays all other costs, including insurance, maintenance, and taxes.  Capital leases are regarded as essentially-equivalent to a sale by the lessor.  Must be shown on lessee’s balance sheet as a fixed asset.  Lessee acquires all economic benefits (such as depreciation) and risks (such as the loss of the leased asset) of ownership, but can claim only the interest portion (not the entire amount) of the lease payment as an expense.

 

Operating Lease short-term lease, equipment returned to lessor at lease end, lessor gives lessee the exclusive right to possess and use leased asset for a specific period, but retains almost all risks and rewards of ownership – full amount of lease payment is charged as an expense on the lessee’s income statement but no associated asset or liability (other than lease payment) appears on lessee’s balance sheet.

 

Sale and LeasebackOff balance sheet financing in which an owner sells an asset to a leasing firm and, at the same time, lease it (as a lessee) on a long-term basis to retain exclusive possession and use.  Although this arrangement frees capital tied up in a fixed asset, the original owner loses depreciation and tax benefits.  Also called a leaseback.