All articles by Fred Crawley
Fred Crawley
Keeping it to themselves
In a job market virtually dead for the best part of a year, it is notable that two recruitment consultancies last month told Leasing Life that they had recently seen an increase in brokers seeking contact with other brokers.
One to watch: Microlease
Microlease has just received investment of nearly 10 million With its fingers in many pies already, from defence finance to asset management, it will be worth watching what it does with its latest cash injection.
Negative development continues in the Czech market with leasing down more than 50%
In 2009s first half, the Czech Leasing and Finance Association (CLFA) reports that leasing in the key CEE market was down more than 50 percent year-on-year, owing to continued negative development in the Czech economy.
Germany’s funding gap
The withdrawal of HSH Nordbank from the lease refinancing market at the end of 2008 signalled the start of a new and barren funding climate for Germanys independent lessors.
LLighting company launches low energy lease scheme
Leeds-based lighting firm High Technology Lighting (HTL) has launched a new equipment leasing scheme for low energy lighting systems, as part of a partnership with government backed energy initiative The Carbon Trust.
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De Lage Landen buys up CIT’s clinical lease book
De Lage Landen has completed the purchase of CITs healthcare leasing portfolio in the UK, incorporating all of CIT’s NHS operating lease portfolio. It is understood that the lease book, which includes clinical equipment, has significantly grown De Lage Landen’s healthcare portfolio in the UK.
Parex looking to sell leasing units – reports
Latvias liquidity-starved Parex Bank is strongly considering the sale of its CIS and Russian leasing units, it was reported this week. With the bank planning a return to market by the start of December this year, it has been holding talks with equity funds from Europe and the Middle East in the hope of selling off subsidiaries The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has already purchased a 25 percent stake in Parex for 73.1 million, but this has not solved the banks cash shortage.
Czech leasing down 54% over year
Czech leasing companies financed CZK 22.8 bln (892.4 million) worth of assets in the first half of 2009, demonstrating a year-on-year drop of 54.2 percent According to Czech leasing association CLFA, the average value of leasing deals has increased, as has the proportion of operating leases Road transport asset leasing continued to dominate the market, with passenger cars gaining more prominence and used vehicles seeing a dropoff.
Textainer “pleased” with half-year results
Textainer, the worlds largest container fleet lessor, said it had taken advantage of its growing size to boost half-year earnings by 1.3 percent year-on-year, despite suffering lower revenue. Although Textainers overall business was down 20 percent to $114 million (80 million), EBITDA was up 1.3 percent to $92.6 million, a result which John Maccarone, president and CEO of Textainer, said he was pleased with.
Square 1 saves client £450,000 through LPG van lease
Wheeled asset and IT specialist Square 1 Leasing says it could save a lessee up to £450,000 over 5 years, by combining lease finance with conversion of a van fleet to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Square 1 Leasing, set up in February last year by IT distribution firm Square 1 Products and fleet lease expert Andrew Poole, has already supplied four LPG vehicles to Lancashire based firm Hirst & Danson, as the first step in replacing a 20 vehicle diesel fleet.