Resources and transactions that do not show on the balance sheet. It involves financing other than by equity or debt. It occurs in a variety of circumstances notably: (a) where a financial institution provides an operating lease that makes a fixed asset available to the firm in return for regular rental payments. The use of the asset is acquired but no capital expenditure has taken place and so does not appear on the balance sheet; (b) where a company securitises available assets and markets them to investors through a special purpose vehicle in the form of bonds secured on the underlying assets. It transfers the assets to the SPV but retains use of them as income generators. They come off the balance sheet’ to improve the return on investment and other financial ratios. See SECURITISATION.