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Determinants of leasing propensity in Canadian listed companies

Author

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  • Antonello Callimaci
  • Anne Fortin
  • Suzanne Landry

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between a firm's propensity to lease and several firm characteristics: tax position, financial constraint, ownership structure, growth, and size. Design/methodology/approach - Controlling for industry, total lease share, operating and capital lease share ratios, obtained using an income statement approach, are regressed on a trichotomous tax variable, a dichotomous cash flow coverage ratio variable, debt over fixed assets, ownership concentration, market to book value of shares and the natural log of sales. Findings - Total lease share increases with leverage, tax position and growth; it decreases with cash flow coverage, ownership concentration and firm size. Results for operating lease share are similar to those for total lease share. In contrast, capital lease share decreases with tax position and increases with ownership concentration and size. Research limitations/implications - The results suggest that leasing offers added debt capacity and increases in financially constrained firms. Firms that pay high taxes seem to place more value on the constant stream of tax deductions from the rental payments than on deductions from decreasing interest costs and amortization. Finally, highly concentrated Canadian firms may use less leasing because they are more family‐controlled. Originality/value - The literature offers mixed reasons for firms' decisions to lease or purchase assets. This study provides further evidence in a rich setting. In 2001, the Canadian tax authorities changed the tax treatment of leases, thus providing an opportunity to validate prior results on the impact of taxes on leasing. By including two different measures of financial constraint, this study disentangles the substitution and the added debt capacity hypotheses.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonello Callimaci & Anne Fortin & Suzanne Landry, 2011. "Determinants of leasing propensity in Canadian listed companies," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(3), pages 259-283, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijmfpp:v:7:y:2011:i:3:p:259-283
    DOI: 10.1108/17439131111144469
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Natalia Nehrebecka & Aneta Dzik-Walczak, 2016. "Publication selection bias in the sources of financing the enterprises research? A Meta-Regression Analysis," Working Papers 2016-02, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    2. Munir, Qaiser & Kok, Sook Ching & Teplova, Tamara & Li, Tongxia, 2017. "Powerful CEOs, debt financing, and leasing in Chinese SMEs: Evidence from threshold model," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 487-503.
    3. Białek-Jaworska, Anna & Dzik-Walczak, Aneta & Nehrebecka, Natalia, . "Kiedy firmy sięgają po leasing?," Gospodarka Narodowa-The Polish Journal of Economics, Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie / SGH Warsaw School of Economics, vol. 2015(2).
    4. Jaszczuk Joanna & Białek-Jaworska Anna & Opolski Krzysztof & Sylwestrzak Marek & Trzpioła Katarzyna, 2018. "Leasing Puzzle in Polish Small Firms Listed on the Alternative Market," Central European Economic Journal, Sciendo, vol. 5(52), pages 25-39, January.
    5. Anna Białek-Jaworska & Natalia Nehrebecka, 2016. "Determinants of Polish Enterprises' Propensity to Lease," Working Papers 2016-07, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    6. Anna Białek-Jaworska & Aneta Dzik-Walczak & Natalia Nehrebecka, 2015. "Kiedy firmy sięgają po leasing?," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 2, pages 113-144.
    7. Naim Spahiu & Halim Bajraktari & Florin Lata, 2017. "Ownership of Copyright in Works Created During Employment Relationships," European Journal of Economics and Business Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 3, ejes_v3_i.
    8. Landry, Suzanne & Fortin, Anne & Callimaci, Antonello, 2013. "Family firms and the lease decision," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 4(3), pages 176-187.

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