But that is not the same thing as creating value through ownership of an asset over the long term in a hands-on way.

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Investment is more a look at cash flows and incomes over the years from the ownership of a productive asset.

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"Total cost of ownership and asset utilization are what puts this on the floor, " he says.

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When done correctly and transparently, advocates say, third-party ownership is no different from a form of securitization: You unlock some of the equity in your asset and only pay the lender back when you sell up.

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