Is capitalization of operating lease way to increase of comparability of financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and US GAAP?

Abstract

The paper is concerned with an evaluation of possibilities of companies using operating lease and prepared financial statements under IFRS or US GAAP comparison. The data of non-financial companies listed on the Prague Stock Exchange and reporting information on operating lease in accordance with IAS 17 are used. The study presents the impact of operating lease capitalization on companies' financial statements and financial analysis ratios. The results show a negative impact of operating lease capitalization on financial analysis ratios. The study was motivated by a common effort of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to develop the common standard for Lease reporting. In 2013, a joint exposure draft of standard (ED2013/6) Leases was published. Under the new standard, it is required to capitalize all lease agreements over one year. The distinction between operating leases and finance leases should not exist anymore. The study was carried out to demonstrate the potential impact resulting from the proposed adoption of the new accounting standard concerning mandatory capitalization of all lease contracts.