All articles by Grant Collinson
Grant Collinson
Aldermore touts leasing to next generation
During a talk on successful business strategies given to students of Aberystwyth Univeristy School of Management and Business (SMB), Aldermore managing director and Leaseurope board member George Ashworth said firms such as his can benefit from the cutting-edge research and expertise that is available within UK universities. Ashworth, an alumnus of the Welsh university, also set a business challenge to teams of students and the winning team spent the day at Aldermore Asset Finances head office learning about the industry.
Slow growth in German leasing hints at apprehension
The German leasing market grew 3.6% in the first half of 2012 compared with the same period last year, recording 20.3bn in new business, according to the German leasing association, the BDL. The first half-year growth in Europes largest leasing market was described as a good result for the industry by BDL chief executive Horst Fittler, especially given the 15% year-on-year growth experienced in 2011.
In the scheme of things…
The inclusion of leasing in the National Loan Guarantee Scheme (NLGS) was welcomed by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) when Chancellor George Osborne announced the plan the day before his 2012 Budget back in March.
Small but perfectly formed
As competition continues unabated in the 125bn European fleet leasing industry, Leasing Life discovers why SME fleet business is the most sought after in the market When, in a recent interview with Leasing Life, the UK head of commercial vehicles with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS) stated his intention to target the SME fleet sector, his plan was quickly echoed by other fleet professionals. In the weeks that followed, fellow captive Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), international lessor LeasePlan and service provider Kwik-Fit Fleet all expressed an intention to focus growth on their SME customer portfolios, having identified it as the best prospect for growth in mature leasing markets.
Business decline at SGEF not enough to affect profit
Equipment leasing businesswas down at Socit Gnrale Equipment Finance (SGEF) but the French banking giants Specialised Financial Services and Insurance division maintained a steady profit for the second quarter of the year. Specialised Financial Services, the banks sub-division which includes SGEF and the groups fleet business, reported stable income of 707m, 0.3% down on the same period last year.
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UK leasing up 9% in Q2
The latest figures from the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show new business volume for the three months to the end of June of £5.3bn (6.6bn) compared to £4.9bn in 2011.
Demand for operational leasing to grow despite fears over cost increase
Demand for operational leasing contracts is likely to grow despite fears over higher cost pressures, according to research from the Corporate Vehicle Observatory (CVO) Barometer.The study found most UK fleet operators are concerned about rising costs, with 74% of managers from the largest companies (1,000 staff) expecting cost pressures on their fleet to increase this year.The majority of small and medium UK firms also expect costs to increase, with an average of 49% of fleet decision-makers anticipating a rise.Operators in Europe were more optimistic, however, with 53% from the largest firms pointing to increased costs and an average of 42% in smaller and medium firms doing the same.Despite cost fears, calculating the difference between fleet companies intending to develop their use of operational leasing and those intending to reduce usage over the next three years, the study showed positive figures in favour of an increase in the fleet leasing product.Large-sized (100-999 employees) firms showed intent to develop leasing, responding positively by a margin of 39% and the largest companies wanted to introduce operating leasing by a margin of 22%.Medium-sized (10-99 employees) and smaller (1-10 employees) firms showed slightly more reluctance to increase their adoption of leasing, but the results were still positive, with a 4% and 16% margin in favour of finance over the next three years, respectively.
Rust turns into recovery for resurgent US leasing
US equipment finance new business volume increased by $8bn (6.6bn) in June, up 9.5% from $7.3bn in June 2011, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) Receivables over 30 days were 2.4%, down from 2.7% in May, and down slightly compared to the same period in 2011
Fleet Friday: Outsourcing up & leases get longer
The weekly round-up of fleet news including varying monthly price quotes, longer lease deals and a new job for former Alphabet man The monthly rentals offered on popular fleet models are varying by as much 100 a month between lessors as the cost of leasing rises across Europe, said European fleet management firm Fleet Logistics.
US equipment leasing outpaces Europe
The 2012 Survey of Equipment Finance Activity (SEFA) released by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) showed year-on-year growth surpassed the 3.9% increase reported for 2010 and marks the second growth year following volumes declines in 2009 and 2008. Recently released data from European leasing trade body Leaseurope showed the continents equipment leasing market grew 12% in 2011, with new business volume reported by members totalling 224bn for the year compared to 200bn in 2010.