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Lease liability

The present value of future lease payments, recognised on the balance sheet as debt.

How to read the number

Rent on retail space, warehouses or a fleet becomes visible leverage — and enters net debt in a valuation.

When the metric lies

A lease payment is split: part into interest, part into repayment of the liability. That alone lifted reported operating cash flow after the transition without any improvement in the business.

Also known as: lease obligation

Related terms