Leasing is a financial contract in which the lessor (financing party) acquires a selected fixed asset (e.g. a vehicle, machine, real estate) and transfers it to the lessee (using party) for its exclusive use for a specified period in return for regular payments. There are various forms of leasing, which include operating leases, finance leases and sale-and-leaseback leases. They differ, among other things, in the terms of the purchase of the object at the end of the leasing period and the depreciation rules.