Guía de Leasing para Empresas
Temas abordados
Guía de Leasing para Empresas
Temas abordados
When deciding between leasing and purchasing an asset outright, a company should consider: 1) Current cash flow and capital availability; leasing is advantageous if cash flow is tight but operational smoothness is crucial . 2) The anticipated duration of asset utility; assets with rapid obsolescence favor leasing due to flexibility in asset updates or returns . 3) Tax implications; leasing often allows operating expense deductions, impacting taxable income . 4) The residual value and financial strategy; if ownership aligns with strategic goals or the asset's value retention is high, purchasing might be more beneficial. Evaluating interest costs of leasing against potential borrowing rates for purchase financing is also critical .
Financial leases provide specific accounting benefits by potentially allowing lease payments to be treated as operating expenses. This treatment can lead to a reduction in taxable income and, thereby, an effective tax burden. Leased assets might not show as full liabilities on balance sheets, depending on jurisdictional accounting rules, thereby preserving capital adequacy ratios and maintaining a more favorable debt-equity ratio. These accounting benefits can make financial statements appear stronger by showing lower liabilities compared to traditional borrowing methods, indirectly affecting investor perceptions and credit ratings .
Financial leases impact a company's balance sheet differently than outright asset purchases. Under a financial lease, the lessee records the leased asset as an asset and the lease obligation as a liability, thus affecting the company's leverage and financial ratios differently than if the asset were purchased, which would immediately reduce cash reserves or increase financing liabilities significantly. This setup allows companies to leverage the asset's benefits without the immediate debt or depletion of cash that comes with outright purchases . This accounting treatment aims to reflect the transfer of risks and rewards associated with ownership more accurately .
Financial leasing facilitates strategic growth by allowing companies to allocate capital more effectively, preserving cash flow for core business activities instead of tying it up in asset purchases. Leasing enables organizations to manage their resources by aligning asset costs with revenue generation periods, supporting expansion without over-leveraging. Additionally, leasing aids in cash flow optimization, enabling investments in strategic areas such as R&D or market expansion, while continuously updating or scaling business operations through flexible asset management . It essentially converts capital expenses into operational ones, reducing the barrier to accessing and deploying latest technologies or capabilities .
Leasing offers several advantages over other forms of financing: 1) It allows companies to use assets without immediate huge capital outlay, preserving cash flow . 2) Leasing can offer tax benefits as lease payments are often deductible as business expenses, reducing taxable income . 3) It provides flexibility with options to purchase, upgrade, or return the asset, aligning with the company's usage needs and technological changes . 4) Leasing arrangements can improve balance sheet ratios since, in some cases, the asset does not appear as a liability, maintaining better financial leverage .
The 'sale and leaseback' arrangement improves liquidity by allowing a company to sell an asset it owns to a leasing company and then lease it back. This transaction provides the company with immediate cash from the asset's sale while continuing to use it under a lease agreement. This inflow of capital enhances the company's liquidity position without losing operational access to the essential asset .
A lessee might choose not to purchase the asset at the end of a lease if the asset has become obsolete or no longer meets their technological or operational needs, making the purchase economically unwise. Additionally, market conditions, such as a decline in asset value or availability of better alternatives, might deter the lessee from exercising the purchase option. The decision also depends on the residual value set in the lease agreement; if it is perceived as too high in comparison to the asset's market value, it becomes financially unviable for the lessee to purchase it .
A financial lease typically includes an option for the lessee to purchase the asset at the end of the lease term at a residual value, while a pure lease does not confer such an option, merely permitting the use of the asset over the lease period. In a financial lease, the lease payments usually cover the entire cost of the asset along with interest, whereas a pure lease focuses on rental payments without transferring ownership. Financial leases are designed to eventually transfer most risks and rewards associated with ownership, although the formal title might not pass . In contrast, pure leases maintain a clear distinction, where the asset will revert to the lessor, and future options like resale or renewal depend on separate agreements .
Residual value is crucial in leasing as it represents the asset's estimated market value at the end of the lease term. For lessees, it affects the decision of whether to exercise the purchase option at lease end; the residual value must align with or be lower than market value to be attractive. For lessors, setting an appropriate residual value is key to ensuring they recover the asset’s cost through lease payments and potential resale. It influences lease pricing and risk allocation, impacting both parties' investment and financial planning decisions .
Financial leasing contracts are governed by a combination of specific leasing regulations and broader contractual laws. In some jurisdictions, like under Decreto Legislativo N.° 299, leasing contracts are explicitly regulated to ensure they meet certain legal standards. Additionally, principles from the civil code regarding obligations and contracts apply to protect both parties' interests. These frameworks are designed to ensure transparency, define rights and obligations clearly, and provide mechanisms for conflict resolution, thereby safeguarding the lessor's and lessee's respective interests .