Romstal Leasing Concluded Contracts Worth 139.2 Mln EUR In 2006

In 2006, Romstal Leasing financed 4.650 leasing contracts, worth 139.2 million euros, increasing by 93% compared to 2005. The value of financed goods amounted to 116.8 million euros, up 93% compared to last year.

Launched in March 2006, real estate leasing accounted for 6% of total financings, the company concluding 48 contracts totalling 9.5 million euro. At the end of 2006, the company"s portofolio included cars (43%), commercial vehicles (42%), motorcycles (2.5%), equipment (6.5%) and real estate leasing (6%).

Romstal Leasing Marketing Manager Ionut Chirila said: "Instant leasing is the only financial product in Romania offering an on-line instant answer to financing applications, by using the company"s Single Registration Code (CUI). As of February 2007, we will expand this product to legal persons, so that clients will be able to send the CUI from their mobile phone, to the number 1401, and they will receive an instant SMS answer for their financing request." In 2006, instant leasing accounted for 9.5 million euros, that is 8% of total Romstal Leasing financings and it was available only through the Internet.

For 2007, Romstal Leasing intends to reach a 4.6% market share and an increase in the number of contracts that will exceed the estimated growth for the leasing market, which is 15-20%. As far as the market is concerned, the company expects the increase on the automobile sector to decelerate, while anticipating increase in real estate leasing, which could reach 7-8% market share.

Romstal Leasing has a network of 20 territorial offices located in Arad, Bacau, Baia Mare, Bistrita, Braila, Brasov, Constanta, Cluj, Galati, Iasi, Oradea, Pitesti, Ploiesti, Piatra Neamt, Ramnicu Valcea, Sibiu, Suceava, Targu Mures, Timisoara, Focsani. By the end of 2007, Romstal Leasing intends to expand its terrirorial network by 12 further offices.

At the end of 2006, KBC, one of the most important financial groups in Central and Eastern Europe, acquired the majority stake in Romstal Leasing for 70 million euros. The transaction will be finalized by March this year.

Romstal Leasing IFN SA has a market share of 4.2%, 20 offices throughout the country and ranks 5th among Romanian leasing companies, according to a classification made by the Association of Leasing Companies in Romania (ASLR). Romstal Leasing funds purchases of cars, utility vans, motorcycles, heavy commercial vehicles, equipment and real estate, under a financial and operational leasing system.