Equipment Finance Advisor assembled its first Lessee CFO Roundtable to provide readers a unique view of the equipment finance decision from “the other side of the desk” – the lessee’s perspective. In this roundtable discussion, we sat with the chief financial officers of three companies with significant equipment capital expenditure budgets to gain an understanding of what drives the decision to choose one lessor/lender over another, what factors influence the long-term success of a lessee/lessor relationship, and how these CFOs experienced the borrowing environment over the past five years. The following three interviews provide insights from three diverse companies and industries.

• A regional construction company
• A national over-the-road transportation company
• A national motor coach operator

Each interviewee was provided total anonymity at their request.

Among the many things we learned from these conversations, one thing is certain – one size does not fit all. The factors that ultimately drive the choice between lessors/lenders are as diverse as these companies and industries themselves.

Please feel free to read these three interviews in any order you prefer.