All articles by Antonio Fabrizio
Antonio Fabrizio
French factoring down 3.6% in 2009
Frances factoring business declined 3.6 percent in 2009, according to the countrys leasing and factoring association, Association Franaise des Socits Financires (ASF). ASF figures revealed a drop to 128.2 billion from 135 billion in 2008, which followed a period of constant growth (on average, a 15 percent growth yearly between 2004 and 2008). New factoring business dropped during the first three quarters of 2009 by an average of 6 percent, and achieved a modest growth only in the fourth quarter of the year (3.2 percent compared to the same quarter in 2008).
Used van values still increasing, says BCA
Britains used van values increased 2.7 percent in December 2009, according to the latest figures from British Car Auctions (BCA). Average values increased from £3,902 to £4,008, establishing a new high point for light commercial vehicles, the auction house said.
Italian lessor to cut 100 jobs
Around 100 employees at Italys Centro Leasing are being laid off in the midst of a company restructuring carried out by the lessors parent company, the Intesa Sanpaolo banking group. Trade unionist Alessandro Martinuzzo told Italys La Repubblica newspaper that unions fear the future of the whole company could be at stake.
3 Step IT acquires BPLG’s Nordic business
Finnish lessor 3 Step IT has acquired BNP Paribas Lease Groups subsidiaries in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, it has been announced.
DLL, Soc Gen and BPLG win stakes in Microsoft Financing battle
BNP Paribas Lease Group (BPLG) has emerged as a lead funder of Microsoft Financing alongside SG Equipment Finance (SGEF) and De Lage Landen (DLL), Leasing Life has learned.
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Lessors under greater ratings scrutiny
In the most dramatic move, Fitch has just issued new and onerous criteria focusing on lessors asset quality, profitability, funding, capitalisation and ownership to determine the true value of leasing companies.
FLA takes on DEFRA over EU green laws
These broadly establish that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be reduced by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, with the EU setting an overall target of a 20 percent cut in greenhouse emissions by 2020.
A year for CV leasing?
As the commercial vehicle sector begins to inch its way out of the downturn, industry experts are convinced the worst is over Across Europe, the commercial vehicle leasing market is not giving out clear signs of recovery
Tips on start-up technology
It is not uncommon for smaller leasing companies to have little focus on technology they might be using older systems, or simply relying on spreadsheets for their transactions.
Italy’s SMEs choose moratorium scheme
Italian banks and lessors have already approved some 83,000 requests from SME-sized businesses to postpone their lease and loan payments, according to figures just published by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). According to MEF data, by December 31, 2009 around 117,000 applications from SMEs were received following the launch of the payment holyday scheme during the summer.