Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 16% in January 2021 compared with the same month in 2020.
The plant and machinery finance sector reported a fall in new business of 3% in January compared with the same month in 2020. The IT equipment finance and business equipment finance sectors reported falls in new business of 32% and 30% respectively, over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Director of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said “The asset finance market provided more than £2.1 billion of new finance to businesses in January despite the ongoing restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Several sectors – agriculture, printing equipment, machine tools – reported higher levels of new business than in January 2020.”
“If the UK economy is going to improve its long-term growth potential, there needs to be a significant increase in investment by businesses that enhances productivity and builds a sustainable future. With as much as 40% of equipment investment funded by FLA members, the asset finance market will play a vital role in helping businesses achieve these goals.”
|
Jan 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
3 months to Jan 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
12 months to Jan 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
|
| Total FLA asset finance (£m) |
2,124 |
-16 |
7,268 |
-11 |
26,934 |
-24 |
| Total excluding high value (£m) |
1,919 |
-18 |
6,749 |
-9 |
25,245 |
-23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Data Extracts:
By asset: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Plant and machinery finance (£m) |
464 |
-3 |
1,437 |
-7 |
5,858 |
-18 |
| Commercial vehicle finance (£m) |
552 |
-12 |
1,964 |
-3 |
6,943 |
-24 |
| IT equipment finance (£m) |
153 |
-32 |
603 |
-27 |
2,421 |
-15 |
| Business equipment finance (£m) |
117 |
-30 |
452 |
-21 |
1,719 |
-26 |
| Car finance (£m) |
579 |
-16 |
1,996 |
-8 |
7,114 |
-29 |
| Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m) |
39 |
-44 |
69 |
-49 |
313 |
-49 |
|
By channel: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Direct finance (£m) |
887 |
-25 |
3,192 |
-14 |
12,000 |
-28 |
| Broker-introduced finance (£m) |
413 |
-16 |
1,440 |
-5 |
5,355 |
-21 |
| Sales finance (£m) |
618 |
-5 |
2,117 |
-2 |
7,890 |
-17 |
|
By product: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Finance leasing (£m) |
249 |
-6 |
860 |
-6 |
3,474 |
-20 |
| Operating leasing (£m) |
426 |
-17 |
1,496 |
-13 |
5,182 |
-26 |
| Lease/Hire purchase (£m) |
1,162 |
-11 |
3,856 |
-7 |
14,308 |
-25 |
| Other finance (£m) |
235 |
-37 |
726 |
-25 |
3,156 |
-12 |
