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equipment leasing at any time. The companies that typically provide
 
financing for large-ticket or middle-market transactions
 
could 
begin competing with us on small-ticket equipment leases. If this occurs,
 
or we are unable to compete effectively with our 
competitors, we may be unable to sustain our operations at their current levels
 
or generate revenue growth. 
Deteriorated economic or business conditions may lead to greater than anticipated
 
lease or loan defaults and credit losses and 
lower origination volumes, which could substantially reduce our operating
 
income and limit our ability to obtain additional
 
financing.
 
Furthermore, natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics
 
(including the recent coronavirus outbreak), acts of 
war or terrorism, or other external events could significantly impact
 
our business
.
Historically, the capital
 
and credit markets have experienced periodic volatility and disruption.
 
In many cases, these markets have 
produced downward pressure on stock prices of, and credit availability
 
to, certain companies without regard to those companies’ 
underlying financial strength. Concerns over geopolitical issues and
 
the availability and cost of credit, have contributed to increased 
volatility for the economy and the capital and credit markets. In the event
 
of extreme and prolonged market events, such as a global 
credit crisis, we could incur significant losses.
 
Even in the absence of a market downturn, we are exposed to substantial risk of
 
loss 
due to market volatility.
 
Our operating income may be reduced by various economic factors
 
and business conditions, including the level of economic activity 
in the markets in which we operate. In turn, those economic factors and business conditions
 
can be significantly and negatively 
impacted by natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics (including
 
the recent coronavirus outbreak), acts of war or terrorism or 
other adverse external events, all of which can result in economic slowdowns
 
or recessions. Delinquencies and credit losses generally 
increase during economic slowdowns or recessions. Because we extend
 
credit primarily to small and mid-sized businesses, many of 
our customers may be particularly susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions
 
and may be unable to make scheduled lease or 
loan payments during these periods. Therefore, to the extent that economic
 
activity or business conditions deteriorate, our 
delinquencies and credit losses may increase. Unfavorable economic
 
conditions may also make it more difficult for us to maintain 
both our new lease and loan origination volume and the credit quality of new
 
leases and loans at levels previously attained. 
Unfavorable economic conditions could also increase our funding
 
costs or operating cost structure or limit our access to funding. We 
experienced such impacts in the year ended December 31, 2020 as a result
 
of macroeconomic conditions driven by the COVID-19 
pandemic, which would be the primary driver of negative impacts for
 
2020 as compared to 2019, including $10.0 million increase in 
realized credit losses, a 52% decline in equipment finance origination
 
volumes, a 69% decline in working capital origination volumes,
 
as well as reduced capital market interest in purchases of finance contracts
 
that, paired with our lower origination volumes, 
substantially reduced our gains on sale.
 
Any return to levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, or the timing of such
 
return, remains 
uncertain, and any prolonged impacts could continue to impact our operating
 
income.
 
In addition, any further changes to economic 
and business conditions could reduce our operating income. 
In addition, natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics (including
 
the recent coronavirus outbreak), acts of war or terrorism or 
other adverse external events could have not only a significant economic impact
 
as described above, but also a significant impact on 
our ability to conduct business as a result of business shutdowns, regional
 
quarantines or otherwise.
 
While we have established and 
regularly test disaster recovery procedures, the occurrence of any such event
 
could have a material adverse effect on our business and 
operations. 
The termination or interruption of, or a decrease in volume under,
 
our property
 
insurance program would cause us to experience 
lower revenues and may result in a
 
significant reduction in our net income.
Our customers are required to obtain all-risk property insurance for the
 
replacement value of financed equipment. Each customer has 
the option of either delivering a certificate of insurance listing us as loss payee
 
under a commercial property policy issued by a third-
party insurer or satisfying such insurance obligation through our
 
insurance program. Under our program, the customer pays for 
coverage under a master property insurance policy written by a national
 
third-party insurer (our “primary insurer”) with whom our 
captive insurance subsidiary,
 
AssuranceOne, has entered into a 100% reinsurance arrangement. Termination
 
or interruption of our 
program could occur for a variety of reasons, including: (1) adverse changes in laws or
 
regulations affecting our primary insurer or 
AssuranceOne; (2) a change in the financial condition or financial strength
 
ratings of our primary insurer or AssuranceOne; 
(3) negative developments in the loss reserves or future loss experience of
 
AssuranceOne, which render it uneconomical for us to 
continue the program; (4) termination or expiration of the reinsurance
 
agreement with our primary insurer, coupled with an inability 
by us to identify quickly and negotiate an acceptable arrangement with a replacement
 
carrier; or (5) competitive factors in the property 
insurance market. If there is a termination or interruption of this program
 
or if fewer small business customers elected to satisfy their 
insurance obligations through our program, we would experience lower
 
revenues and our net income may be reduced.