UniCredit Leasing is number 1 in Bulgaria

The company has financed assets for over 80 mln euro winning the leading position with 26% of market share.
 
UniCredit Leasing is leader in Bulgaria in terms of market share and new business volume for 1HY 2009, according to the data of Bulgarian Leasing Association. For the period UniCredit Leasing placed deals for over Euro 80 mln, which gain them 26% market share, says the regular market survey of BAL. The large portfolio with more than 15 000 contracts and over 10 000 customers, raised UniCredit Leasing AD to the first place in ranking list of the main players on leasing market in Bulgaria. The biggest share of company’s new business volume is for leasing of vehicles, followed by heavy vehicles and equipment. Statistic shows that the main part of company’s clients is in the segment of SME
 
Despite the leading possition in two of the most important indicators of the top leasing companies' chart, UniCredit Leasing considers the infuence of the worsened economic environment, as a reflection of the world's economic crisis, on the the Bulgarian business. “In the best case scenario, as a new leasing business we would be expecting equal to the first half of the year volumes. I expect downfall of 60-65% on annual basis by the end of the year. At the moment, the main goal of the leasing companies is to manage their portfolios and to improve their qualities, instead of undertaking new business, which risk cannot be estimated” says Plamen Minev, CEO of UniCredit Leasing
 
UniCredit Leasing focus nowadays especially on the existing customers of UCL and Bulbank, international customers of UniCredit Group and regional co-operations. The company also has not changed the focus on SMEs where co-operate with European Investment Bank (EIB), Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in order to support the sector with funds. Actually UCL signed in November 2008 with EIB the biggest EIB deal ever in Bulgaria of 80mnEURO predominantly designed to help the SME sector.As a tendency in the market the so called green energy projects (e.g. wind farms, hydro energy, solar energy) show good potential and the Bulgarian landscape is appropriate in particular regions. The only issue is that such deals worth tens of millions of euro so that they are affordable for big financial institutions only.As the CEO of UniCredit Leasing S.p.A. Mr. Massimiliano Moi is saying “THE MARCH CONTINUES”.One of the key advantages of UniCredit Leasing AD, Bulgaria is the belonging to UniCredit Group – one of the leading financial groups in Europe with more than 10 000 branches in solid international network. This cultural diversity also embraced at UniCredit Leasing is a clear differentiating strength factor.
 
From volumes to value
 
“From volumes to value” is the motto of the sales network, as UniCredit Leasing’s new position is clearly oriented towards a value-adding scheme. The highly competitive environment as well as the particularly negative financial scenario requires a stronger attention on satisfactory risk ratios.
 
About UniCredit Leasing Bulgaria
With total portfolio of more than 15 000 contracts, ranking among the top leasing companies in Bulgaria. UniCredit Leasing AD trough UniCredit Bulbank network has presence in almost every city in the country. Our financial solutions are based on a detailed portfolio of product categories, ranging from motor vehicles and production plants, installations and equipment to property and real estate. UCL is also one of the first leasing companies to finance businesses involved in the production of renewable energy.
 
About UniCredit Leasing
As a member of UniCredit Group, one of the largest financial institutions in Europe, UniCredit Leasing has substantially strengthened and further expanded the business to create a truly international leasing network. With more than 2,800 employees in 17 countries, UniCredit Leasing is nowadays the undisputed leader in the growing markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
 
Svilena Djotolova, Marketing & Communications, Unicreditleasing AD, Bulgaria
Phone: +35 92 9765 123; e-mail: svilena.djotolova@unicreditleasing.bg