All articles by Verdict Staff

Close completes wireless deal with Sarantel

UK bank lessors report healthy H1 results

Cover story: Back to front expertise

Industry wide staffing levels have risen more sharply in back office areas than in direct sales support or field sales over the last three years, statistics compiled for this survey show.

Databank: Asset sales

Q2 holds no fear for BNP Paribas

Q2 holds no fear for BNP Paribas BNP Paribas Equipment Solutions, the French banks leasing business unit, overall grew 6.4 per cent and 9.3 per cent in the financed vehicle fleet, compared to the second quarter 2007.

Hitachi CVS posts 16% profit increase

Hitachi CVS posts 16% profit increase Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions has announced a 16 per cent increase in profit, reporting an operating profit of £10.8m (2007: £9.3m) during the 12 months to 31 March 2008 across its car and commercial divisions.

Italian merger creates profits

Italian merger creates profits Following a merger with another leasing company, Italian lessor, Privata Leasing, part of Spallanzani Group, recorded a pre-tax profit of 3.2m for the first half of 2008, a 10 per cent increase on the same period the year before. The merged company also recorded a portfolio of 95m for H1 2008, a 14 per cent increase on H1 2007, and the number of its leasing contracts rose by 15 per cent.

Close Leasing on target for £0.5bn portfolio in up to five years

Close Leasing on target for £0.5bn portfolio in up to five years Recently formed Close Leasing has completed a £0.5m deal with Sarantel Group Plc, which provides antennas for mobile and wireless devices, bringing the number of deals it has signed its launch in November 2007 to 40. The subsidiary of Close Asset Finance, managed by Neil Davies, the former managing director of Systems Leasing & Rentals, Paul Bartley, the ex European business development manager of CIT, and Tom Dramby, director of credit at ING Lease, targets deals that fall between £500,000 and £5m in value.

£1.2M Heidelberg Deal

£1.2M Heidelberg Deal Print solutions company Hickling and Squires has taken delivery of a new Heidelberg CD74 10 colour printing press leased by Lombard

Italian leasing company makes record securitisation of ?318m

Italian leasing company makes record securitisation of 318m A-Leasing S.p.A, an Italian company part owned by Raiffeisen Leasing, has securitised 320m of its assets in the first deal of its kind by the Austrian-based international lessor The move demonstrates an easing in the liquidity crisis, although due to difficulties finding acquirers it took over a year to complete. A-Leasing, 49 per cent of which is owned by Raiffeisen Leasing and the remainder by regional arms of Raiffeisen, has built up considerable assets in the seven years since its launch.