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True Lease v. Disguised Security Interest: A New Dilemma

By Beth Stern Fleming
March 01, 2004

Over the past several years, courts faced with the issue of whether a lease is a “true lease” or a “disguised security interest” have been making it more and more difficult for lessors to have their leases confirmed as true leases. Through a process of focusing on economic reality instead of the intent of the parties and increasing the amount of residual value required at the end of a lease term, courts are creating a dilemma for the leasing industry. Certain segments of the equipment leasing industry are more severely effected by these changes than others.

Under the amended Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) '1-201(37), which most states have adopted, courts first determine if the lease is considered to be a disguised security interest as a matter of law. A transaction creates a security interest as a matter of law if the consideration that the lessee is to pay to the lessor for the right to possession and use of the goods is an obligation for the term of the lease not subject to termination by the lessee, and:

1) the original term of the lease is equal to or greater than the remaining economic life of the goods,

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